103 TSI engine reliability

[Byron Jetta]

EA211 engines have belts not chains:
VW going back to Cam belts - TDIClub Forums

"Until recently a timing belt was perceived as a burdensome service item rendered obsolete by maintenance-free chain drives. Volkswagen's new EA211 series of inline-fours bucks the stigma, boasting a 150,000-mile timing belt. Belt drives are significantly lighter and potentially quieter, resulting in lower parasitic losses and better NVH characteristics. Ford immerses the belt in it's new turbo three in oil for further noise reduction, and Honda's SOHC 3.5-liter V-6 also soldiers on with a belt instead of a chain."

Some links I've found suggest that the service interval is 120,000 miles, or there is no service interval on the belt, or that they're good for the lifetime of the engine (whatever that means). Either way, I can't see myself keeping the car for 120,000 miles (almost 200,000 km).

But having a timing belt (that doesn't need to be changed) is the kind of thing that would have my brother shaking his head and saying you'd be mad to buy a car with that engine.

[brad]

Thanks Brad.

BTW, I read somewhere that the 90 TSI engine that's in the base model Golf 7 is the exact same engine as the 103 TSI engine in Octavias and higher spec Golfs, but with different software.

Is that true?

no idea but quite probable. Octavi RS had the same engine as Golf GTI but 7kw less due to ECU changes

Also, that the 103 TSI could easily produce more power and torque (with different software) but the 7 speed DSG can only handle 250Nm.

It's an engineering rating not a limit.

eg: If I design a lifting jib it might be rated at 100kg but the actual limit where it permanently deforms will be at least 250kg.

The DQ250 is rated at 350nm IIRC (maybe 400nm?) but there's plenty of people putting a lot more through them than that without issue.

[brad]

Keep in mind that in the past a replacement intervals in Europe tend to get reduced for Australian conditions (I assume heat & dust are an issue). eg: Holden Astra went from 100k to 60k; various Alfas were 60k; many VW diesels were 180k but are 105k in AUS.

[Byron Jetta]

Does anyone know what the replacement intervals are for a 103 TSI engine in Australia? If its 60k I might think again, but if its 200k it wouldn't be an issue.

[GTR27]

It's not 60k - you can tell by the capped price services. A timing belt change is in the $1k region at a dealer and called price services go to 90k without exceeding mid $400s.

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

[Byron Jetta]

True but it could be 105k. My 2.0 TDI had an expensive service at 105k (water pump IIRC) which was when I realised I could get much better service and lower prices if I didn't service my car at a dealer!

[brad]

Does anyone know what the replacement intervals are for a 103 TSI engine in Australia? If its 60k I might think again, but if its 200k it wouldn't be an issue.

No idea. Won't be 60k. 105k at worst

I'm a bit confused. Most of the questions you've asked would be applicable to the 2x VW diesels you've owned (with similar answers). Why all the concern?

[golfboy2020]

103 TSI is chain driven not belt

[brad]

103 TSI is chain driven not belt

o rly?

We Sample the EA211, Volkswagen’s Next Global Four-Cylinder Engine Series | Car and Driver Blog

Skoda Octavia III не получит двигатель 1.2 TSI : Статьи и обзоры : Skoda-Ural.ru : Блог о Skoda, Audi, Volkswagen, Seat, Porsche. Клубные новости, мероприятия.

[Byron Jetta]

I'm a bit confused. Most of the questions you've asked would be applicable to the 2x VW diesels you've owned (with similar answers). Why all the concern?

Because I have a car enthusiast brother who keeps telling me a small-capacity high-output petrol engine will "blow up". This rule does not apply to diesels apparently.

If I buy the car, and it does blow up, I will never hear the end of it!

[brad]

If I buy the car, and it does blow up, I will never hear the end of it!

On this point I can empathise.

Just look on it as a trial of what marriage is like. ;-p

Imagine how he'd be freaking out if they'd brought the Skoda Superb 1.4L to Australia and you wanted that!!

[Mountainman]

103 TSI is chain driven not belt

No. The new range of mk7 90 TSI & 103 TSI engines are belt drive EA211 alloy block. The mk6 EA111 engines were chain drive, iron block.

[PassatB6]

Because I have a car enthusiast brother who keeps telling me a small-capacity high-output petrol engine will "blow up". This rule does not apply to diesels apparently.

If I buy the car, and it does blow up, I will never hear the end of it!

Don't spend 30 k getting a car your brother wants, get the car you want. Most VW engines are built to last 300,000 km in my experience. Your brother hasn't kept up with newer technology by the sounds of it.

[Byron Jetta]

Personally my main concern is having to put 95 or 98 in it, which is much more expensive than diesel around here. A manual diesel in Ambition spec would be my ideal car, but sadly not available in Australia.

[woofy]

Don't stress too much about the 95/98 prices, the economy evens it out. I have both and RS using 98 and a diesel Santa Fe, the price is usually around the same, with either being more or less at times. My parents used to do all kinds of things to avoid it, including adding little tablets that smelt bad until I pointed out that they economy was suffering. 91 Octane really should go, it was a stupid idea to use it when Super was higher octane already. We should have been on 95 from the get to. 98 is pretty common now, just there might only a be one pump for it. Usually with some dottering person taking forever using the 91 pump there instead of the 8 others they could have used......

"premium" fuel also tends to have a bit less issues as it has higher QC and is a bit cleaner so the benefits of that are there as well. I'm not talking about the additives either, just the grade is higher in general.

Anyway definitely agree that for whatever reason, your brother has 80s turbo logic in his head. Euro cars have been turbo for many years, even longer if you think about diesels. The only known issue is the DSGs which I still don't trust. 6 cylinders are dead.

Sounds like you want the car, but don't want the harassment of told you so's from your brother. I would get it, and then "told you so" back when the car is awesome. Usually they want to buy one then.