Lost faith in affordable modern "performance" engines

[tyranical]

The latest generation of modern performance engines in affordable cars appear to be plagued with issues imo..

VAG:

1.4 TSI/TFSI engine, serious issues with oil consumption
2.0 TSI/TFSI engine, serious issues with oil consumption

MINI/Peugeot/citroen:

1.6 turbo - Serious issues with oil consumption, rattly chain which is prone to snapping and in my personaly case, a valve going pop after 45,000 miles

Vauxhall:

1.6 turbo - already tuned to within an inch of its life, prone to piston 4 compression loss.

There are others which I could go on to list.

The previous generation was so much more reliable imo, the 1.8t lump was absolute bulletproof, wanted to get myself a 09/10/11 plate car that was pretty quick but everything I look at has well documented engine issues of some form or another. I use the 1.8t as my example because the VAG range goes through so many different cars

I understand that on the internet you always read the bad things but if you look up older engines like the 1.8t problems with them were very much in the minority so you knew that it wasn't common, you look up the 1.4tsi engine and theres 100 page threads all over the place of people with an engine drinking the sump dry in a few thousand miles.

No point specifically to this thread, just a bit of a brain dump.

[4key]

Im going to hazard a guess that it has something to do with manufacturers trying to meet emission standards.

[LaurasOtherHalf]

Borrowed a mini cooper works last week, got to admit standing by the bonnet the thing sounded like a rattley old diesel had 700 miles on the clock..

[Panda76]

4key said:

Im going to hazard a guess that it has something to do with manufacturers trying to meet emission standards.

I'm agreeing with this and adding in :

Manufacturers squeezing more bhp from the smaller engine could actually be ruining it.

[FreeLitres]

For a moment there, I thought you would be talking about performance engines!

[tyranical]

FreeLitres said:

For a moment there, I thought you would be talking about performance engines!

I did say affordable but then I forgot this was a forum full of high rollers who look down on those VAG peasants.

[rhinochopig]

Panda76 said:

4key said:

Im going to hazard a guess that it has something to do with manufacturers trying to meet emission standards.

I'm agreeing with this and adding in :

Manufacturers squeezing more bhp from the smaller engine could actually be ruining it.

Except bike engines have been producing incredible BHP/Litre for years, and very reliably too. The old Honda CBR250RRs would rev to just shy of 20,000rpm and go for ever.

I think it's more an emissions thing personally and the race for extended maintenance schedules.

[FreeLitres]

tyranical said:

FreeLitres said:

For a moment there, I thought you would be talking about performance engines!

I did say affordable but then I forgot this was a forum full of high rollers who look down on those VAG peasants.

I know what you are saying.

Don't get me wrong, I love a Vag as much as the next man.

[DeaconFrost]

Just to chip in the vag 1.4 engine doesn't have anywhere near as many problems in the golf or scirocco, etc in 160bhp trim, it seems to be the 180bhp trim in the Ibiza, polo, etc that are plagued with problems.

[4key]

so what those in charge have done by forcing stricter emission controls is to half the life of a vehicle, creating more waste.

[Debaser]

What constitutes a serious issue with oil consumption?

[SuperHangOn]

rhinochopig said:

Except bike engines have been producing incredible BHP/Litre for years, and very reliably too.

Not having to lug the weight of a modern car around though.

[Studio117]

The worst thing about them is that they all sound rubbish. The 1.8t was the first, now they all sound shicacka.

[tyranical]

Debaser said:

What constitutes a serious issue with oil consumption?

Most manufacturers see anything more than 1L/1000km as an issue which is ridiculous in itself, if a car is using 1L in 2000km thats pretty heavy consumption considering some engines can go 10,000 miles and not even use 1 drop!

[All that jazz]

You can also add the 330 petrol engine to the list as well. 1 litre of oil required per 1000 miles.

[Ozzie Osmond]

You gotta laugh.

Time was that "engine trouble" meant something breaking, not just a bit of oil consumption!!

[GrumpyTwig]

tyranical said:

Debaser said:

What constitutes a serious issue with oil consumption?

Most manufacturers see anything more than 1L/1000km as an issue which is ridiculous in itself, if a car is using 1L in 2000km thats pretty heavy consumption considering some engines can go 10,000 miles and not even use 1 drop!

Mine goes 12,000, gets a good number of thrashings a year on track as well as numerous weekend hoons, is my only therefore daily runabout and still drinks so little oil I've only ever had to put maybe 1/2 litre in when it was running in. The engine design is 10+ years old now and french too, progress eh?

I'm sure VAG must have known the engine was thirsty but it must have got so far through production they couldn't take a it back to the drawing board.

[interloper]

Ozzie Osmond said:

You gotta laugh.

Time was that "engine trouble" meant something breaking, not just a bit of oil consumption!!

Blimey I am in agreement with you on this one!

Some engines burn a little oil, particularly high performance ones (BMW M3-5s from about ten years ago would use up to half a litre per thousand miles and it was considered normal), I'm guessing that its better to burn off a little excess oil than have a lubrication failure.

Keeping half an eye on the levels and topping up occasionally is hardly a chore, just ask anyone with a classic car or a rotary powered one.

[jbi]

f*ck turbo's

N/A petrol's forever

[GokTweed]

With all the effort going into trying to make them more efficient and still kick out some decent power per litre why are they using so much oil all of a sudden?