VW Transporter requiring new engine - What would you do?

VW Transporter requiring new engine - What would you do?

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Discussion

ChocolateFrog

25,877 posts

175 months

Sunday 28th August 2022
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I think at best you're looking at a 30% contribution from VW as per the OP but even that's unlikely if its not got FVWSH.

The 180 as you've found out is a crap design that will fail in time.

Personally I'd fit a known good engine, if you can do it yourself then probably looking at under £1k, double that if you want some to fit it for you.

No way would I be paying 5 or 10 grand just to get you back to the point where you should be, but that's just me.

Or if you have no scruples (>90% of people) just punt it on to WBAC before if becomes obvious there's an issue and buy a 140 which with a remap is just as powerful and also has better fuel efficiency and a EGR cooler that isn't as prone to self destruction.

stevieturbo

17,306 posts

249 months

Sunday 28th August 2022
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Nigel-1lqpz said:
I HAVE JUST BEEN TOLD MY ENGINE WILL NEED RELACING - MINE IS THE SAME CFCA 180 BITDI AND 4 MOTION.

WAITING ON PRICES FOR CRATE ENGINE AND REMANUFACTURED, SO MANY DIFFERENT PRICES, DARK DEVELOPMENTS HAVE QUOTED £11,000 PLUS POSSIBLE EXTRA £ BUT INCLUDES FITTING AND NEW TURBO DPF ETC ETC.

WILL ALSO LOOK FOR SOMEONE TO REBUILD - BASED IN SHREWSBURY IF THERE ARE ANY RECOMENDATIONS.

I HAVE ALSO OPENED A CASE WITH VW UK BUT EARLY DAYS.

VAN STILL DRIVES BUT COMING BACK FROM FRANCE TOOK 4 LITRES OF OIL AND COOLANT.

HOPING FOR ADVISE - HELP PLEASE
A little more info would help. And do not use block capitals.

If it still drives, how bad actually is it ? Even a quick google comes up with this ( which does say it can lead to engine failure ), although a few basic checks should give some indication if you're anywhere near that point yet.

https://www.hypermiler.co.uk/volkswagen/vw-transpo...

Although continuing to drive a known bad engine over such a distance.....certainly will not have helped your outcome.

georgefreeman918

622 posts

101 months

Monday 24th July 2023
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Unfortunately I find myself on this thread, having purchased a 2015 180 BiTdi VW Transporter 3 weeks ago, and topped up the oil twice.

Unfortunately during the process of looking for a van, I did not come across the issue with the 180 CFCA engine so were unaware until I google '180 bitdi oil consumption'.

I also have subsequently come across the revised EGR cooler, however my heart sank when I looked under the bonnet and saw that the dreaded C EGR cooler!

Fortunately, the van was purchased through a VW Dealership with 12 months warranty. I am in two minds whether to get shot of the van, or try to resolve it, however our nearest VW van centre is + 1 hour away!

Belle427

9,109 posts

235 months

Monday 24th July 2023
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I think you already know the answer.
If the oil consumption is deemed excessive at least report it to them if you intend to keep it.
Is there a chance it could be rejected on these grounds?

georgefreeman918

622 posts

101 months

Monday 24th July 2023
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Belle427 said:
I think you already know the answer.
If the oil consumption is deemed excessive at least report it to them if you intend to keep it.
Is there a chance it could be rejected on these grounds?
I’m hoping it will either have the Egr cooler replaced for the new version and confirmation that the engine is not damaged or we will be rejecting it on these grounds

DirktheDaring

337 posts

14 months

Monday 24th July 2023
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My meticulously serviced and low mileage T6 204 bitdi is at the dealers today for a 2nd crank seal replacement which is being reluctantly fixed by the main dealer as a goodwill gesture. This is the 2nd crank seal in 18 months and 8,000 miles, clearly there’s an issue with the seal design, others I know are on on their 3rd.

The All In warranty/service package doesn’t cover oil leaks, even though the crank seal leak is extremely common and is a defective part.

I still have to pay for the cambelt kit and water pump as I’m not prepared to risk these being reused, if my belt snapped 10 miles down the road the dealer will not cover the cost of a rebuild if they re-fit old parts.

My mate’s 204 has just had an egr cooler, fortunately it was not leaking into the cylinders, £1000 for the replacement, no warranty, no goodwill. rolleyes

Origin Unknown

2,313 posts

171 months

Monday 24th July 2023
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DMF failure at ~100k +/- 20k miles is not uncommon so if you have the cash and they can give you a sensible price whilst "in there", good preemptive measure.

My wife's T5.1 Sportline took the clutch with it when the DMF failed at ~110k.

*Other anecdotes are available.

Trevor555

4,466 posts

86 months

Tuesday 25th July 2023
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DirktheDaring said:
My meticulously serviced and low mileage T6 204 bitdi is at the dealers today for a 2nd crank seal replacement which is being reluctantly fixed by the main dealer as a goodwill gesture. This is the 2nd crank seal in 18 months and 8,000 miles, clearly there’s an issue with the seal design, others I know are on on their 3rd.

The All In warranty/service package doesn’t cover oil leaks, even though the crank seal leak is extremely common and is a defective part.

I still have to pay for the cambelt kit and water pump as I’m not prepared to risk these being reused, if my belt snapped 10 miles down the road the dealer will not cover the cost of a rebuild if they re-fit old parts.

My mate’s 204 has just had an egr cooler, fortunately it was not leaking into the cylinders, £1000 for the replacement, no warranty, no goodwill. rolleyes
I've had a few manufacturer warranty jobs done in the past, and I've never had to pay anything towards parts.

Are they really saying the oil leak isn't covered under the three year warranty?

Is this the three year warranty on a new van you're talking about?

DirktheDaring

337 posts

14 months

Wednesday 26th July 2023
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It’s the ‘All In’ warranty as the van is over 5 years old and the 5 year extended warranty expired.

Last time the crank seal went the dealer would have put the old belt and water pump back on so there was a zero cost to me.

But this time they are advising to change these items, annoying as they were changed at 4 years as per the VW spec (although that’s now changed, but a story for another day).

So the crank seal without warranty is around £1000, I’ve paid £480 for cambelt kit and water pump, so the goodwill gesture from the dealer still saved me £500ish, but it’s money I shouldn’t have needed to spend if the oil seal didn’t leak for a second time.

And I could be in the same position in a few months as the dealer says there’s no improved seal as far as they know so it could leak again.

Commercial vehicle can’t even get to 40k miles without 2 major engine defects appearing rolleyes

Trevor555

4,466 posts

86 months

Wednesday 26th July 2023
quotequote all
DirktheDaring said:
It’s the ‘All In’ warranty as the van is over 5 years old and the 5 year extended warranty expired.

Last time the crank seal went the dealer would have put the old belt and water pump back on so there was a zero cost to me.

But this time they are advising to change these items, annoying as they were changed at 4 years as per the VW spec (although that’s now changed, but a story for another day).

So the crank seal without warranty is around £1000, I’ve paid £480 for cambelt kit and water pump, so the goodwill gesture from the dealer still saved me £500ish, but it’s money I shouldn’t have needed to spend if the oil seal didn’t leak for a second time.

And I could be in the same position in a few months as the dealer says there’s no improved seal as far as they know so it could leak again.

Commercial vehicle can’t even get to 40k miles without 2 major engine defects appearing rolleyes
Have you had a good read through the terms and conditions?

I'll guess it reads similar to the aftermarket warranties?

It might mention "wear and tear"

But the ombudsman might not agree this crank seal is "wear and tear" at such low mileage.

Warranty companies have a habit of wriggling until the customer gets the ombudsman involved.

Worth you making an enquiry.

DickP

1,132 posts

152 months

Monday 31st July 2023
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Isn't that the EA288 diesel that's in loads of VAG cars too?

DirktheDaring

337 posts

14 months

Monday 31st July 2023
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Trevor555 said:
Have you had a good read through the terms and conditions?

I'll guess it reads similar to the aftermarket warranties?

It might mention "wear and tear"

But the ombudsman might not agree this crank seal is "wear and tear" at such low mileage.

Warranty companies have a habit of wriggling until the customer gets the ombudsman involved.

Worth you making an enquiry.
I’ve been up and down the warranty T&C’s and can’t see any mention of oil leaks at all, covered or not covered.

I’m not going to make too much of a fuss as I’ve got a Revo engine map and a TVS dsg map so lucky to get any warranty cover at all.

Oddly enough the dealer said that they could offer a power increase that they themselves cover, but I declined (didn’t mention my Revo obviously)

DirktheDaring

337 posts

14 months

Monday 31st July 2023
quotequote all
DickP said:
Isn't that the EA288 diesel that's in loads of VAG cars too?
Aren’t all the Euro6 engines ea288’s?

The front crank seals are failing all over the place, must be costing VW and unfortunate out of warranty owners an absolute fortune.

Not sure if this is a Transporter only issue or a VW issue or all of the VAG 288 engine variants?

Just waiting for my EGR cooler to go next, my mate with a 204 has just had to cough up £1300 for a new one.


DickP

1,132 posts

152 months

Wednesday 2nd August 2023
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Hope it's not all cars fitted with it, as my car has this engine!

Hugo Stiglitz

37,315 posts

213 months

Wednesday 2nd August 2023
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DickP said:
Hope it's not all cars fitted with it, as my car has this engine!
Are you new to VWs?

DickP

1,132 posts

152 months

Wednesday 2nd August 2023
quotequote all
Hi,

Yes, relatively. I have a 2017 Skoda Superb 150 which I've owned since 2021 and taken from 50k to 110k.

Not worked much on it myself yet apart from discs and pads as had a good service package deal when I bought it. Will soon start doing the main servicing and maintenance though as the plan ends after the next service interval. Before this car I did all maintenance and servicing myself (except when more powerful impact guns were needed! etc).

stevemcs

8,721 posts

95 months

Wednesday 2nd August 2023
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We tend to see the front crank seal on transporters, not so much on the car range so seems to be more transporter specific. But I think cambelt failure on the car range is greater than the transporter

georgefreeman918

622 posts

101 months

Wednesday 11th October 2023
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Update on our situation.

Sister garage to the dealership we purchased the van from confirmed that it was suspected cylinder housing damage (not sure if right technical term). Advised no support from VW, even though I have seen suggestions that they might contribute 30%.

This was after the trial oil consumption where they weigh the oil before and after. The van was triggering the oil light from full every 400 miles or so.

The van has been back to the supplying dealership for 2.5 weeks now with no work carried out, so we have requested our money back and they can fix it to suit them (initially issue we flagged 20 days after purchase, we are now 3 months from purchase date).

We are absolutely gutted, as we had planned to convert to a camper, and have now come to the conclusion that we are going to put off a purchase until we can get something newer with some warranty from VW.

stevemcs

8,721 posts

95 months

Wednesday 11th October 2023
quotequote all
georgefreeman918 said:
Update on our situation.

Sister garage to the dealership we purchased the van from confirmed that it was suspected cylinder housing damage (not sure if right technical term). Advised no support from VW, even though I have seen suggestions that they might contribute 30%.

This was after the trial oil consumption where they weigh the oil before and after. The van was triggering the oil light from full every 400 miles or so.

The van has been back to the supplying dealership for 2.5 weeks now with no work carried out, so we have requested our money back and they can fix it to suit them (initially issue we flagged 20 days after purchase, we are now 3 months from purchase date).

We are absolutely gutted, as we had planned to convert to a camper, and have now come to the conclusion that we are going to put off a purchase until we can get something newer with some warranty from VW.
Just avoid VW, buy a Sprinter or Vivaro

DirktheDaring

337 posts

14 months

Thursday 12th October 2023
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The 180 is a ticking time bomb and sadly you found one, the newer 150 appears less trouble.

My 204 front crank seal leak got pushed through as a goodwill gesture, the previous front crank seal was just under 2 years ago so was still covered under the first repair warranty.