Volkswagen TSI engines

[Legend83]

Added the VW Touran to the list of potential child-luggers for my wife and am interested in the 1.4 TSI model which is more powerful and economical than the standard petrol models.

Does anyone have experience of these engines? Are they generally reliable as they sound complicated.

L83

[dhariwab]

Wasn't this the engine that kept suffering from cam chain failure and various other problems so VW dropped it?

[Legend83]

According to Parker's it still remains in the current model so perhaps not?

[Perd Hapley]

Father bought a Golf 1.4 TSI in 2009, has done 30k in it, zero problems. I've only driven it a handful of times but it's really quite good.

I think the ones with both a turbo and a supercharger were the ones suffering problems, his just has the turbo.

[Bitofbully]

Early twin-charged cars have issues with lean running, causing holed pistons, from what I understand.

Cracking engine, when they work - but I suspect a 1.6TDI is probably a better day to day option.

[LuvCars]

Any type of TSI engines are relieble with only manual geargox !

[Bitofbully]

LuvCars said:

Any type of TSI engines are relieble with only manual geargox !

Eh? How exactly does that affect the reliability of the engine?

[CraigyMc]

Bitofbully said:

LuvCars said:

Any type of TSI engines are relieble with only manual geargox !

Eh? How exactly does that affect the reliability of the engine?

Is it just me or does the poster two above come off sounding more than a little worse for wear?

[LuvCars]

Bitofbully said:

LuvCars said:

Any type of TSI engines are relieble with only manual geargox !

Eh? How exactly does that affect the reliability of the engine?

If the right gear is not selected on time, this will impact the life of the engine, this might take too much time to write down here, but beleive me there is very strong correlation between them.

[Bitofbully]

LuvCars said:

If the right gear is not selected on time, this will impact the life of the engine, this might take too much time to write down here, but beleive me there is very strong correlation between them.

Sorry, but that's the biggest load of crap I've ever heard!

[LuvCars]

Bitofbully said:

LuvCars said:

If the right gear is not selected on time, this will impact the life of the engine, this might take too much time to write down here, but beleive me there is very strong correlation between them.

Sorry, but that's the biggest load of crap I've ever heard!

I beleive there are some other buddies might agree with me.

[Riley Blue]

LuvCars said:

If the right gear is not selected on time, this will impact the life of the engine, this might take too much time to write down here, but beleive me there is very strong correlation between them.

More than on any other car or engine? Please expand/explain.

[cptsideways]

I think someone is referring to lean running if revved like they were designed not to be, (they should be driven like a diesel) there is a known issue thats fairly serious I'm sure can can explain in detail.

[Bitofbully]

I know early twin charged engines ran lean - but I believe that has been fixed, which is why Mk6 Golfs have 160bhp vs 170 in the Mk5.

Aren't they also meant to run on super unleaded?

[LuvCars]

Riley Blue said:

LuvCars said:

If the right gear is not selected on time, this will impact the life of the engine, this might take too much time to write down here, but beleive me there is very strong correlation between them.

More than on any other car or engine? Please expand/explain.

Finally Turan is good option with TSI (140 hp) with manual gearbox, DSG gearbox good but not for me, because sometimes it decides to drive 20mph on the 6th gear and when I need more acceleration it tries to go to 3rd gear by knocking the gearbox. Finally engine tries to work in-line with gearbox, it should be opposite.

[CedricN]

I have a 180hp 1.4 TSI in my cupra. Works brilliantly in combination with DSG. Problems engine wise so far is a broken boost controll valve (cheap), and now the oil consumption is rocketing, the dealer will hopefully do a piston swap. Wouldnt want to own one outside warranty, sad because its such a nice engine otherwise.

[ED209]

Had this engine in my 2009 scirocco which i owned from new in 160hp tune. Nice, nippier that you would think, not too bad on fuel.

All was sweet until 2 years old and 12500 miles when it went pop and a replacement engine was needed. It had been properly serviced at vw main dealers too.

[MoelyCrio]

I tested the 105hp 1.2 TSI in a Skoda Roomster.

Great engine (and sound), but needed revs, which seemed out of character with the car.
The 105hp 1.6 cR diesel was the same price and gets 25% better economy. It suited the car much better too.

Depends on the manner of your mileage (trips vs distance vs frequency) I suppose, but the 1.6CR diesel is a peach.