Passat 118 Turbo

[Cannavaro]

Hi all,

A newbie question here regarding my brand new Passat 118 TSI.

I understand the basics of how a turbo works however when does the turbo on this engine actually kick in? High Revs? Low Revs? All the time?

A friend of mine who I showed the car to said it is not a real turbo as it doesn't offer any performance gains?

Surely this is the personal view of someone who drives a Lancer Evo 10.

Cheers.

[GTI4ME]

Your friend is an ass. If he is likening a 118 passat to an evo 10 he is dreaming, they aren't even in the same league as each other.
The turbo should come on early in the rev range and stay spinning the whole way, these engines aren't designed as a laggy turbo monster with a huge boost shove, it's all about refinement.

[booba]

you should reconsider his friend status if he is going to be a penis.

[kleung]

A friend of mine who I showed the car to said it is not a real turbo as it doesn't offer any performance gains?

Just reply with "Performance gains relative to what?".

He's comparing apples with oranges. His Evo uses the turbo purely for performance reasons, while the Passat uses it for fuel economy and driveability gains - two very different goals.

Traditionally, four cylinder engines need to be revved fairly hard to give decent performance, as they tend to have a top heavy power and torque curve. Turbocharging the engine gives power and torque gains, but importantly, they occur much lower in the rev range, where you're going to be more usable.

they aren't even in the same league as each other.

Damn straight! The Passat is much more refined, luxurious and practical!

[brad]

The Passat is the 1.8TSI engine? I have the same in my Octavia.

Out of the box it will start to boost about 2000rpm (the specs say 1800 but you won't feel that.) By 2500rpm the torque is artificially limited to 250Nm & stays there all the way to about 4500rpm & then it drops off (the torque curve looks like a mesa).

If you get a conservative stage 1 remap then the boost / torque will come on a fraction earlier & smoother at about 1700rpm & the torque curve is a bit more like a bell curve & will go to about 320Nm & youl have around 135kw.

If you want more than that then the next logical step is an upgraded intercooler, then a downpipe & exhaust, improve the inlet, then get it tuned for E85 but that will need new injectors because the old ones can't keep up with the fuel requirements & you can keep on going depending on the depth of your wallet.

There's a guy in the Skoda section that has done a full K04 turbo upgrade & other stuff - I think he was reading ~160kw at the wheels which is probably 190kw at the flywheel.

The question is, do you have any intention of seeking more power or is your mate just being a nob-end?

PS: I've had a stage1 remap on mine for 60,000km - do it!

[Adamg]

Hi Brad
I also have a 2012 passat 118tsi and was considering a stage 1 chip but I had no luck finding one. Do you know a tuner that does them in Sydney/Canberra?

[brad]

Mine was done with a Bluefin hand held but mine is a MED17 ECU & maybe you are MED17.5 & therefore more encryption.

Who have you actually rang & spoken to? I can rattle off a heap of possibles to try but let me cull out who you have tried (spoken to, not just browsing web sites).

Well worth it for the in-gear improvements. Here's a copy/paste from my write-up on my home forum.

40-120 in 3rd gear. 40kmh is just off boost at just on 1500rpm (didn't really look).
Before: 10.99 / 10.92 / 10.96 - call it 10.95?
After : 8.82 / 8.80(det)/ 9.02 - call it 8.95?
~2 seconds/ 18% reduction

40-140 in 4th gear. 40kmh is way off boost at about 1000rpm
Before: 14.99 / 14.74
After : 13.79 / 13.48 / 13.72
Call it 1 second better? 6% improvement?

Then as an afterthought (and because the pull was so bloody addictive) we did an 80-120 run in 3rd. Sweet Jesus, Mary & Joseph!!!
4.83/4.32/4.26

[Marakai]

Not one who jumps on the basic statement of "not a real turbo", which is just rubbish from a technological and engineering standpoint.

Last I check a turbo is NOT technically defined as "a device to enhance vehicle performance to mitigate undersized male genitals". Nor is it always designed to "increase performance" (of male genitals or of engines). Seriously, I originally come from aircraft turbochargers (and the related supercharger beasts), where performance *gain* is often secondary, it's performance *maintenance* at altitude, high heat and other performance-affecting air conditions that it's targeted.

When I still lived in Denver my A4 with it's 1.8T would run circles around some V6 and V8 beasts on a 35C hot day up 1600m altitude. Same thing when I could safely fly a gimpy and ancient Piper Arrow with a turbo-charged engine over the Rockies while some hefty twins were grounded because they wouldn't even get over the foothills and only create a crater in the side of Pikes Peak.

[Guy_H]

Hi Brad
I also have a 2012 passat 118tsi and was considering a stage 1 chip but I had no luck finding one. Do you know a tuner that does them in Sydney/Canberra?

We can do it, same specs as here:

APR - High Performance Development for Audi, VW and Porsche Vehicles.

Updated the Passat page next week.

Canberra VW centre have all the tools to do this (and have) on this new ECU in Canberra.

APR - High Performance Development for Audi, VW and Porsche Vehicles.

[Adamg]

Thanks for your reply Gents, I have taken Guys advice and im seeing what Canberra VW centre can do this Friday. I don't won't anything to excessive bearing in mind the dry clutch situation, just a little extra zip... Just for fun.should be then the perfect balance between power and economy.

From the figures brad posted it should be a noticeable improvement in performance, just out of curiosity does the Octavia have the same 7 speed dry clutch? I'll keep you posted how I go

[brad]

I'm M6

[Cannavaro]

So...I have had my Passat 118 for a good month now and I am absolutely loving it!

For a 1.8T I am blown away by how punchy it is and how much it likes to pull away at higher speeds. I have come from a 3.0L Commodore and a 2.2L Honda Prelude and now the 1.8T Passat and soley Power vs Fuel consumption alone makes this car a winner.

Luxury with a bit of punch should be VW's motto for this car.

[kleung]

For a 1.8T I am blown away by how punchy it is and how much it likes to pull away at higher speeds

Glad to hear you're enjoying it. The reason it feels so punch is because of the way it delivers its power. Like most forced-fed engines, it delivers peak power and torque much lower in the rev-range than naturally aspirated cars like the 3.0L Commodore and even more so the Prelude, which means you don't have to work the engine as hard to get the punch you need. Essentially it translates into a more relaxed driving experience.

[momall]

I have my TSI sedan for about 2 weeks. Its a Great car. Luxurious and no slouch either. I suspect 0 - 100 is much faster than VW's claimed figures...