Interesting info on the 1.4TSI GTI engine - Comments

[Lucas_R]

Hawkedit:
Original Thread Here: http://www.vwwatercooled.com/forums/...d*-109098.html
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Very interesting - there's even more issues than i've come to learn about already. Unbelievable that a company such as VW would develop and engine with so many flaws without realising the consequences.

Amazing that Revo discovered so many little issues in the software too.

[Hail22]

It's a shame bloggers, online car magazines won't take this legitimate and unbiased review / investigation by a VW owner seriously as most of them a lined up with VW's unethical standards.

[JonW]

I think its also a shame that VW (especially dealers) wont take notice of this, most just roll their eyes and sigh when you mention the 'internet' or 'forums', if only they actually bothered to read them they might learn something. Thanks Gavin and Lucifer for a good read!

[Notso Swift]

The flip side though
This car has been modified outside its design parameters and most of those issues can be related to that in some way
The ones that cant (and there are some big ones) were rectified under normal production improvements. Goes back to that adage not to buy the first version of something

[gavs]

The flip side though
This car has been modified outside its design parameters and most of those issues can be related to that in some way
The ones that cant (and there are some big ones) were rectified under normal production improvements. Goes back to that adage not to buy the first version of something

That's a pretty bloody long bow to draw there Robin!!! You're saying that the inherent design flaws that have been highlighted due to engines being torn down and evaluated (granted in fault finding mode to chase more power) are not to blame, it is the person trying to make more power to blame....

That might not be exactly what you're saying but it sounds like it is and isn't overly comforting to people that are into their 3rd engine.....

[The_Hawk]

It sounds like there are some interesting little tweaks that could be made to our engines to improve their lifespan (and if you ever have the need to tear an engine down it would be worth upgrading everything you can in the spirit of do it right, do it once.

For normal users plugs and fuel are easy enough, an oil catch can is relatively simple and cheap too, and finally of course, servicing is a bit of a no brainer really (although plenty of people seem to fail at that).

The upgraded radiator starts to get a little more serious and I'd hazard a guess that most people wouldn't bother until the stock unit fails, but coupled with say an S3 intercooler upgrade it's probably money well spent if it really does deliver that much more performance.

When it comes to rings, pistons, PCV check valves and the custom oil restrictor, now you're getting into far more serious tear down territory that your average user isn't going attempt unless there is an issue (at which point it may be too late). From what I understand these are more extreme upgrades needed for people hunting for more power.

[jimmedy]

I feel quite relieved to have a CTHE engine! And certainly a level of empathy for those who bought twincharged before me and through levying various amounts of public pressure on VW, got them to slowly address these issues!

I've taken away from this some mental notes if I ever pursue a hybrid turbo upgrade path!
I will look into the Pace radiator perhaps just for the longevity and general good of my engine.....

And the only other thing that seems to be particularly relevant is the issue of timing chain reliance on oil pressure. As I'm getting others to service my car for me; Audi until my 3 year corporate plan runs out, then my local VAG specialist.. I can only hope they know not to drain the sump totally dry when they change my oil....! Thanks for the post gavs!

[Sydneykid]

I can only hope they know not to drain the sump totally dry when they change my oil.

I'm not so sure about draining the sump dry being the issue. For all of the oil to drain out of the cam chain tensioner would take some time, in fact for it to occur at all it would require noticeable clearances in the oil pump for a start. Without the ingress of foreign material, oil pumps, being self lubricating, very rarely suffer increased clearances due to wear. There is far more likely to be an air pocket between the oil pump and the oil pick up, but that happens in every wet sump engine.

The other issues I can understand, but this one is baffling.

Cheers
Gary

[mr gee]

I had a mk6 golf 118TSI probably from the first shipment and had a few of the teething problems like supercharger clutch squeak, juddering dsg which were all fixed under warranty. I did not have any issues with failed piston or high oil consumption maybe because I was running Bluefin stage 1 and the extra fueling probably kept the metal bits cooler. All in all, 65,000km in just over two years before I traded it in for another VW.
My other car with the twin charger has a CTHD engine and has not had any mechanical issues to date (two years)