Re: Fatal flaw in VW diesel engines

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Joseph Meehan 18 years ago

Well I guess every manufacturer out there is turning out engines with a fatal flaw. Many modern engines, including both diesel and gasoline from every? manufacturer are "Interference" type and when that belt breaks so goes the engine.

Every one of them comes with a maintenance schedule and on that schedule is a recommended timing belt change, usually 60,000 to 120,000 miles or X number of months which ever comes first.

I take it your timing belt broke? If so how many miles on the car? how long since the last timing belt change?

It is not a flaw, it is just one choice of designs for an engine were there are tradeoffs.

Timing belt. When it skips or breaks your engine's toast.
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> Needs redesign for cam drive through gears or roller chain.
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pfjw 18 years ago

Well...

There is a truism in about any industry: You can have it cheap, you can have it good, you can have it fast. Pick any two.

In the case of diesel engines - inherently more expensive than equivalent-displacement gasoline engines - the choice is only between cheap and good. Mercedes uses chains, even in their present generation of TDI engines. They ain't nohow cheap either. Most other larger diesels use chains or gears. Not all, however.

VW uses belts. That cuts a *BIG CHUNK* out of the cost of the engine - short-run savings. And a big chunk out of the weight of the engine - long-run savings. You, the owner, are required to subsidize those savings by paying for belt replacements at regular and specified intervals - and keeping a record of said changes for warranty purposes. You got it cheap, so qwitcherbitchin and suck it up.

VW has a fatal flaw - If the oil is never changed or checked, their engines sieze. They need to design an engine that does not require oil...

GAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!

Peter Wieck Melrose Park, PA

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Josh S 18 years ago

A flaw in many modern high HP engines, which is a terrible problem if they are of the interference type. Inadequate maintenance leads to inadequate engine life. What does the next chapter of your Cars for Dummies say?

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Craig 18 years ago

Even a chain is not a guarantee. I worked at an MB dealer for 7 years & changed PLENTY of chains & chain guides on diesels because they were worn out & in danger of breaking. It was a gravy job though if you just needed to change the chain.

Well...

There is a truism in about any industry: You can have it cheap, you can have it good, you can have it fast. Pick any two.

In the case of diesel engines - inherently more expensive than equivalent-displacement gasoline engines - the choice is only between cheap and good. Mercedes uses chains, even in their present generation of TDI engines. They ain't nohow cheap either. Most other larger diesels use chains or gears. Not all, however.

VW uses belts. That cuts a *BIG CHUNK* out of the cost of the engine - short-run savings. And a big chunk out of the weight of the engine - long-run savings. You, the owner, are required to subsidize those savings by paying for belt replacements at regular and specified intervals - and keeping a record of said changes for warranty purposes. You got it cheap, so qwitcherbitchin and suck it up.

VW has a fatal flaw - If the oil is never changed or checked, their engines sieze. They need to design an engine that does not require oil...

GAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!

Peter Wieck Melrose Park, PA

Vote

S

Sean 18 years ago

So, since the spark timing is all computerized, why isn't the valve timing? Why can't they use spring-return solenoids and eliminate the whole mess?

...Sean.

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Jim Behning 18 years ago

Cost.

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Re: Fatal flaw in VW diesel engines

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