103 TSI engine reliability

[Byron Jetta]

I found someone over at Whirlpool who says they're buying the diesel Octavia because of concerns over the reliability of the 1.4 TSI engine.

Thread is here:
Any small petrol engine outputting those kind of numbers has a ? over longevity.

[GTR27]

Unfounded. The 1.4 twin charged was unreliable, but the new 103 is a totally different design. The 90tsi which is similar has no reliability issues. Totally unfounded

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[muli]

There are golf 90tsi's around that use oil but nowhere at the rate that the twincharge engines do.

Oil consumption a reliability issue?

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[KWICKS]

Very much so if you don't watch it closely. Most people aren't car enthusiasts like the forum crowd.

[GTR27]

I have found that people that nanna their car, or flog it relentlessly are the ones that get consumption issues. If you drive normally with the occasional Italian tune up you rarely get consumption issues. If your not prepared to check your oil weekly your not prepared to own a car. I check tires, oil, fluids each week when I wash/vacuum the car. 2 mins effort ensures you aren't ever caught out. Some engines can consume a little oil (and in truth all engines do but it can be masked by blow-by allowing fuel into the oil, keeping the oil level the same). Topping a little up is perfectly normal. 103kw from 1.4l isn't that much. 1000cc sports bikes make 130-150kw, Rev to 14k rpm and are good for over 150000ks without excess oil consumption. I'm sure the 1.4tsi will be good for 300000ks without any major issues with just regular servicing.

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[Byron Jetta]

Both my VW TDIs used oil when they were newish (first 30,000km) but were fine after that.

I just want a car that goes. I don't want to check the oil every week, and I don't want to service the car every 10,000km/6 months like you have to with Mazdas, Hondas etc. Total rip off! Watch the Checkout from last year:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBISqS9oNB4

[brad]

I found someone over at Whirlpool who says they're buying the diesel Octavia because of concerns over the reliability of the 1.4 TSI engine.

Thread is here:
Any small petrol engine outputting those kind of numbers has a ? over longevity.

That's one person at a forum that is known as wingepool.

I'd put as much credence in what he says as the other guy that didn't buy the RS becasuse you have to put 98 in it. All VW petrol engines require PULP of some description (95 or 9 and with the economy they are getting, it's a non-issue. The only people I know that worry about having to use PULP are my father & father-in-law & they are both in there 80s. I've done the sums before on the extra cost of PULP98. I do 20,000km/pa & it's worth about 1 cup of coffee a week.

I also note they describe the Octavia as a "heavy car". My "heavy" Mk2 weighs less than 1500kg with a full tank of fuel. As I mentioned previously, in Europe the Superb is pretty popular with the 1.4 engine.

I've read the last three pages of that thread & there's about 3 people that have a clue & the usual 20 peaople that will go & look at a Skoda, love it & buy a Golf

[GTR27]

Ha ha it's true. Whirlpool can be a fantastic resource, with people that genuinely help. But there can also be a lot of trolls with personal adgenda's that sprout fiction rather than fact. Like guys saying vw's are crazy expensive to service, then recommending a mazda......

EDIT: in my experience, VAG make engines that are fantastic to drive with an excellent spread of power/torque combined with brilliant economy (especially for the power ratings!). They require slightly more care than other non-turbo engines, however the same can be said of all turbo charged engines, regardless of manufacturer.

[brad]

Both my VW TDIs used oil when they were newish (first 30,000km) but were fine after that.

I just want a car that goes. I don't want to check the oil every week, and I don't want to service the car every 10,000km/6 months like you have to with Mazdas, Hondas etc. Total rip off! Watch the Checkout from last year:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBISqS9oNB4

How many km do you do every year?

While I think every 10,000km is OK, every 6 months is silly when the average Austarlian driver only does ~15,000km per year.

[Byron Jetta]

How many km do you do every year?

I've had Jetta for almost 8 years and its just done 120,000kms, so roughly 15,000kms/year. At least half of those would be highway kms.

The Octavia would be used similarly.

[Mountainman]

I have found that people that nanna their car, or flog it relentlessly are the ones that get consumption issues.

This is what I had always been told, but with this new mk7 90 TSI I had to basically run it in on 2 return trips to Cairns which meant it really got "nannad" with most of the running sitting on cruise control at 100km/h. It rarely saw more than 2500rpm. In the 10 months I've driven it I have done 38,000km and it has been perfect - used no oil and I've reached the stage where I don't even check it for at least 5000km.

[brad]

You could get away with yearly/15,000km. If you or your brother have a bit of mech ability it wouldn't hurt to do your own interim oil & filter. <$100 in parts.

[GTR27]

Last car I bought new (the vrs) I picked it up, and the wife and I took it for a ~300k drive in the mountains where I gave it a firm run in. Plenty of on/off throttle, engine breaking and firm acceleration. Dropped the oil early and then drive it normally after that. Never used any oil and got fantastic economy. Probably excessive but worked for me. Will do the same when the new one turns up.

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[Byron Jetta]

You could get away with yearly/15,000km. If you or your brother have a bit of mech ability it wouldn't hurt to do your own interim oil & filter. <$100 in parts.

I can change oil and filter but really don't want to. Service schedule says get car serviced every year/15,000km so that's what I will do. Like I said, I just want a car that goes. My brother lives 800km away.

[Byron Jetta]

but with this new mk7 90 TSI I had to basically run it in on 2 return trips to Cairns

This is precisely the situation -- long trips to Queensland -- that my brother reckons the 1.4 TSI will "blow up" because Europeans don't know how to build cars for Australian heat and poor fuel quality.