Quote from: MrIncredible on February 08, 2010, 07:40:27 AM
Roughly the worst thing you could do for your car.

Why don't you walk?

or ride a bicycle?

Quote from: herm (not herb) on February 09, 2010, 04:37:37 PM
or ride a bicycle?

Because he would have to cross the highway.


It's one of the few highways in Ohio that was specifically designed so there would be no way around the highway, not even one that's slightly less convenient.

Quote from: cyrus buelton on February 08, 2010, 11:49:21 AM
I will occasionally run the crap out of it to burn off carbon.

I love passing cars on two lane roads and just see that big plum of black smoke behind me!



I've been running Diesel Kleene in it for about a 5.5wks now (only 2tanks of fuel) and seems to start a little easier in the cold.

I checked out the TDI Forum and appears to be the most recommended product.

Is the car stock?  Should these cars be letting out black smoke when stock?  Acalles?  My 99.5 didn't smoke at all till chip and injectors, and now it's just a light haze.  Great cars though.  It's a shame they only made the PD for one year.

Quote from: turbodude on February 10, 2010, 03:08:18 AM
Is the car stock?  Should these cars be letting out black smoke when stock?  Acalles?  My 99.5 didn't smoke at all till chip and injectors, and now it's just a light haze.  Great cars though.  It's a shame they only made the PD for one year.

they made the PD from 04-05 in the MK4 chassis, and 06 in the MK5 chassis.

yeah, they did smoke a bit, is yours a manual? they had a smaller injection pump and were actually more efficent. to tell you the truth, for reliability I like the VE engnes much better. if maintained and gasoline or bio diesel over B20 is NEVER put in the vehicle they seem to run for a very, very long time, and they run like new with 250k miles on them. some of them did leak after the switch to ULSD but its the head seal and fairly easy to replace.

the PD cams are a real weak link, the BEW like cyrus's doesn't seem to develop the cam wear unless incorrect oil is used.

the BRM engine found in the MK5, they all wear the cams out, around 120k miles no matter the oil used they wear the cam and your forced to change camshaft and followers, possibly the cyl head if it was driven too far. I think the reason is they wanted more power from it so they installed a cam with a steeper lobe, when I find these failed I always replace with the BEW engine code camshaft. I honestly find no difference in power.


the PD did smoke a bit, but they all smoke a bit in my experience.. if yours doesn't smoke your start of injection timing is probably on the advanced side or your not driving it hard enough 

Thanks for the info.  You are correct my injection timing is advanced. 

I guess the old VE engine isn't so bad after all.  It's been a good car still hanging on to the original LUK clutch somehow. 

I was considering a TDI in a year for my high mileage commuter duty. Did they fix the cam issue you mention yet? I look for 300k out of a commuter and I'd bump into that cam replacement within two years time. What are some of the other maintainance issue that pop up on them. My Mazda 3 has been damn rock solid with just a plug failure and a bad coil pack in the 220k I've had it so far. This makes me lean towards just getting another one of those.

Quote from: lethe on February 10, 2010, 05:27:17 AM
I was considering a TDI in a year for my high mileage commuter duty. Did they fix the cam issue you mention yet? I look for 300k out of a commuter and I'd bump into that cam replacement within two years time. What are some of the other maintainance issue that pop up on them. My Mazda 3 has been damn rock solid with just a plug failure and a bad coil pack in the 220k I've had it so far. This makes me lean towards just getting another one of those.

if your looking for new, the new engine is a different design and shouldn't place as much stress on the cams since its a common rail system. the PD had a "injector unit" that was pressurized by a lobe on the cam. because of this design there were lots of weird stresses placed on these cams.. in fact they are the only ones that have actual cam bearings rather then just ridding in journals in the head because of these stresses. 

I cannot tell you how the new ones are holding up, they haven't been around long enough. From everything I've read, they seem like a really good design. I cannot see a weak point except maybe the HPFP since is making over 30,000 psi. but other then the cam wear VW engines hold up extreamly well when maintained. its the other things that break.. for some one looking for super high mileage, get a manual trans rather then a DSG. don't get me wrong, I love me some (and own a) dsg but for longevity you can't beat the manual trans.


the highest mileage I've seen from them is about 35k miles, this customer has a 09 jetta sport wagon TDI he drives around the country for work. he says he averages about 50mpg and it gets better as he drives it.

he also has two older passat TDI's (B4 chassis) both of these over 300k, one on original engine, the other he ran grease threw and were rebuilding the engine for the second time  might give you an idea of what I think about grease burners.

Quote from: acalles on February 10, 2010, 05:56:13 AM
if your looking for new, the new engine is a different design and shouldn't place as much stress on the cams since its a common rail system. the PD had a "injector unit" that was pressurized by a lobe on the cam. because of this design there were lots of weird stresses placed on these cams.. in fact they are the only ones that have actual cam bearings rather then just ridding in journals in the head because of these stresses. 

I cannot tell you how the new ones are holding up, they haven't been around long enough. From everything I've read, they seem like a really good design. I cannot see a weak point except maybe the HPFP since is making over 30,000 psi. but other then the cam wear VW engines hold up extreamly well when maintained. its the other things that break.. for some one looking for super high mileage, get a manual trans rather then a DSG. don't get me wrong, I love me some (and own a) dsg but for longevity you can't beat the manual trans.


the highest mileage I've seen from them is about 35k miles, this customer has a 09 jetta sport wagon TDI he drives around the country for work. he says he averages about 50mpg and it gets better as he drives it.

he also has two older passat TDI's (B4 chassis) both of these over 300k, one on original engine, the other he ran grease threw and were rebuilding the engine for the second time  might give you an idea of what I think about grease burners.

Ok that's good to hear, so it's still in the running. How much maintainance work absolutely has to be done by the dealership? I'm above average in terms of mechanical aptitude, my 3 drove off the lot and never has seen it again.

None of it *has* to be done at the dealership.  If you want a TDI and have one out of warranty, it's almost a must to have a good independant shop that know's how to work on TDI's.  The average dealership wrench has no clue about diesels.  I do all my own work with the exception of the first timing belt job.  I watched someone do it, and will be doing my own next time. 

Timing belts are an absolute must do on time.  If they break its' $,$$$ to fix.

Quote from: turbodude on February 10, 2010, 07:00:55 AM
None of it *has* to be done at the dealership.  If you want a TDI and have one out of warranty, it's almost a must to have a good independant shop that know's how to work on TDI's.  The average dealership wrench has no clue about diesels.  I do all my own work with the exception of the first timing belt job.  I watched someone do it, and will be doing my own next time. 

Timing belts are an absolute must do on time.  If they break its' $,$$$ to fix.

Anything different than doing a timing belt on a gas engine or just the normal pain-in-the-assness of tight space on a transverse engine?

Quote from: MrIncredible on February 09, 2010, 06:19:41 PM
Because he would have to cross the highway.


It's one of the few highways in Ohio that was specifically designed so there would be no way around the highway, not even one that's slightly less convenient.

Yeah, there is a way around it that would take me 6 miles out of my way to get to work.


Sorry I am not as "green" as some.

Not to mention, my work does not have a showering facility, so riding a bicycle to work in my nice work clothes is not really an option.

Quote from: lethe on February 10, 2010, 06:06:41 AM
Ok that's good to hear, so it's still in the running. How much maintainance work absolutely has to be done by the dealership? I'm above average in terms of mechanical aptitude, my 3 drove off the lot and never has seen it again.

they give the first 35k miles worth of services for free (well, you paid for it in the price of the car ) unless you go with the audi A3 tdi, the you have to pay for your own services.

oil changes every 10k, using factory correct oil only (castrol SLX LL03, specification 504.00 and 507.00) correct oil is a ABSOLUTE must, especially with this new engine. the wrong stuff will toast the particulate filter.

fuel filter changes every 20k, pollen filter every 20k and air filer every 40k (I like to change them more often but its much more dusty here then in other places) the new ones have a particulate filter that needs to be replaced at 120k miles, I have no idea the cost but its probably not cheap. timing belt/water pump will also be about a $1200 service (100k miles)

the DSG has a few more mainteneces (oil/ filter change every 40k that requires a scan tool to perform)

the timing belts aren't that big of deal, I haven't looked too deeply into the new tdi to find out whats required but its probably easier then a VE timing belt.. the PD's were simple, required many special tools but almost idiot proof, I expect the new engine to be the same way.

Quote from: cyrus buelton on February 10, 2010, 07:24:48 AM
Yeah, there is a way around it that would take me 6 miles out of my way to get to work.


Sorry I am not as "green" as some.

Not to mention, my work does not have a showering facility, so riding a bicycle to work in my nice work clothes is not really an option.

I'd picture you more as a unicycle type of guy anyway.

Quote from: acalles on February 10, 2010, 07:25:25 AM
they give the first 35k miles worth of services for free (well, you paid for it in the price of the car ) unless you go with the audi A3 tdi, the you have to pay for your own services.

oil changes every 10k, using factory correct oil only (castrol SLX LL03, specification 504.00 and 507.00) correct oil is a ABSOLUTE must, especially with this new engine. the wrong stuff will toast the particulate filter.

fuel filter changes every 20k, pollen filter every 20k and air filer every 40k (I like to change them more often but its much more dusty here then in other places) the new ones have a particulate filter that needs to be replaced at 120k miles, I have no idea the cost but its probably not cheap. timing belt/water pump will also be about a $1200 service (100k miles)

the DSG has a few more mainteneces (oil/ filter change every 40k that requires a scan tool to perform)

the timing belts aren't that big of deal, I haven't looked too deeply into the new tdi to find out whats required but its probably easier then a VE timing belt.. the PD's were simple, required many special tools but almost idiot proof, I expect the new engine to be the same way.

35k is only a little more than 6 months 

Sounds like nothing crazy. I'd buy a few cases of the proper oil and be set for the life of the car. It would be a fun thing to learn more about diesels I think. 

wow, that maintenance schedules sure have changed since my 2004.


My 80k is coming up.

100k is the pricey one as that is when they change the timing belts (guess they are located under the engine, so basically, the engine is removed) and while down there, change out the water pump just because it is a 100$ part and you are right there because if it went out later, you are out all that maintenance time to get to it.

Quote from: cyrus buelton on February 10, 2010, 07:37:20 AM
wow, that maintenance schedules sure have changed since my 2004.


My 80k is coming up.

100k is the pricey one as that is when they change the timing belts (guess they are located under the engine, so basically, the engine is removed) and while down there, change out the water pump just because it is a 100$ part and you are right there because if it went out later, you are out all that maintenance time to get to it.

If it's like any other conventional tranversely mounted inline 4, it's all at the "front" of the engine which would be the passenger side of the engine compartment. Mighty tight usually but engine removal shouldn't be required, bandaids and patience would be though.