103 TSI engine reliability

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Originally Posted by Byron Jetta

Are there any mechanics or engineers here who have any thoughts on this?

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Sure i agree. If engineers were allowed free reign then you'd end up with lots of complicated & over-priced widgets that appeal to an engineer but not many others - just like when Homer Simpson designed a car.

VW could make much better engines than what they do but there'd be a cost (not just $$). Then again, so could Ford, Holden, Honda, Toyota, etc.

I'd suggest you have a good look at the turbo-diesels you own & compare them to diesels of 20 years back. The power, torque & overall powerband are pretty outrageous now compared to the older stuff. Did these "high powered, overstressed" diesels give you any trouble?

Just as comparison, a 103tsi is 74kw/litre ex-factory. My 1.8tsi is 66kw/litre ex-factory & 75kw/L mapped (83kw/L if you believe the tuning company). I fully expect to drive it to 300,000km without issues.
There are plenty of Golf R daily drivers out there running 95kw/L without issues.

I just see the little engine with reasonable power is a potential grenade argument as being a bit of a falacy. to be honest, I doubt I could go back to an N/A engine.

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?

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

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Byron Jetta

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?

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

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VW doesn't say 250nm is the limit of the DQ250s ability it says its more effective with that size engine output. Also Skoda make most of the 1.4l and 1,2 TSI engines for Audi and VW as well.

Should I be wary of Skoda engines? - Telegraph

Reading that Telegraph link am I correct in thinking that all the current Mk 3 Octavias now have belt drive OHC's petrol engines rather than the chain driven OHC's (at least the 118's are chain drive) in the Mk2 series?

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Originally Posted by notflyingscot

Reading that Telegraph link am I correct in thinking that all the current Mk 3 Octavias now have belt drive OHC's petrol engines rather than the chain driven OHC's (at least the 118's are chain drive) in the Mk2 series?

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The facelift mk2 118tsi & 147tsi (rs) engines r both chain driven - ea888.

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.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Byron Jetta

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?

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

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

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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.

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.

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.

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.

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