Piston Slap - New engine?

[rach108]

Does piston slap mean a new engine? The engine in question is a 4 year old R32 engine and VW have said the engine needs replacing and they want £5k fitted. Advice please.

[stevieturbo]

It certainly doesnt.

Depends how annoyed about the noise you are. I assume its mostly when cold ?

And if it is a problem at this stage...it most certainly was when it was under VW's warranty.

[Boosted LS1]

Look at it from another angle, it'll be harder to sieze it! GM had piston slap with a lot of the chevy ls1's. It was never considered an issue even if it did irritate a few customers. What oil are you using and when do you notice the slap?

[wildoliver]

I'm not going to add to this it's been covered above. You can try a slightly (slightly note) thicker oil, it could even be someone is using too thin oil in the car at the moment, try an oil change with the recommended summer weight oil in your handbook.

But really if it is only piston slap don't worry about it, and if the only alternative being offered is a new engine you have very little incentive to do anything other than run the current engine till it pops which it won't with piston slap, my girfriends car has shocking slap when cold it sounds like a horde of small nazi's marching, but even though I'm a mechanic and can change the engine no problem for very little cost what is the point?

[OJ]

Sounds like the dealer is trying it on to me

[Mikey-S]

Is it only when cold? I used to be a VAG tech and have changed many brand new and low mileage engines due to bad piston slap when hot. If it slaps when hot then I'd look at getting it sorted before it 'pops', but I doubt the dealers will get involved with the machining of a customers engine... they just like to replace parts.

My advice is to get it looked at by a decent specialist and maybe get them to do the work..

Mike

[Mikey-S]

Also, what sort of mileage is the car and is it full service history?

If so then I'd chat with VW UK and tell them that the car shouldn't need an engine so soon and it should be changed as a gesture of goodwill...