2014-2016 1.2 TSi engine - Any good? Problems?

[anonymous-user]

Hi all,

I've decided to buy a daily runabout for around £8000, and it looks like the Skoda Rapid Estate (Spaceback?) in top of the range SE Sport/Tech trim looks very decent value for this kind of money, and quite a good looking car to be honest.

I've found I can buy a 2014-2016 example for my budget (with anywhere from 30-50k miles on) and the engine of choice seems to be the 1.2 TSi.

The issue is, I've had a few people telling me 'not to touch a VAG TSi engine with a barge pole' and all that kind of thing.
They cite stretching and snapping cam chains, cam pullies falling off, horrific oil consumption problems and so on.

Can the knowledge folk on PH please put me straight on the good and bad of these engines please. Are they ok? Where there any revisions or changes done to them over the years to solve the issues?

Thanks!

[MDMA .]

I "think" the 1.2tsi engine in these are not too bad. I believe the problems were with the older twin charged 1.2tsi engine. The newer ones are alloy block, not iron and have belt driven cams instead of the chain on the previous generation engine.

[cuprabob]

As far as I am aware, the oil consumption and piston cracking issues were with the twin charged 1.4 TSI engine and that the 1.2 TSI engine has no major reliability issues.

[SAS Tom]

The earlier ea111 engine is known for some problems. The later EA211 engine doesn’t seem to be known for any major problems.

I have the later engine in my Fabia. I’ve had no issues with it in 30k miles and it has had some hard days on track. It’s used no oil and given no signs of trouble.

[quimbles]

1.2 ea111 engine was revised many many many times. should be ok after last revision in pretty sure 2013. as above ea211 is belt driven apparently for life.....

[anonymous-user]

See... I knew PH would be the fountain of knowledge!

Thanks to the replies, I have just this hour bought a 2016 1.2 TSi

Thanks again to all

[YorkshirePudding]

Bit late but I've had 3 cars with the 1.2TSI engine, 1 Fabia and 2 Polos, not one issue and none of them used any oil.

[anonymous-user]

YorkshirePudding said:

Bit late but I've had 3 cars with the 1.2TSI engine, 1 Fabia and 2 Polos, not one issue and none of them used any oil.

Your reply is fully appreciated!

Thanks

[Lawzies]

Im thinking of buying a VW Beetle 2015 plate but am being warned about the engine. Its a 1.2 TSI, apparently they have had problems. Can anyone shed some light?

[rzot9]

Lawzies said:

Im thinking of buying a VW Beetle 2015 plate but am being warned about the engine. Its a 1.2 TSI, apparently they have had problems. Can anyone shed some light?

I have an Audi A3 with 1.2 TFSI 81kw, with a timing belt, manufactured 11/2015. Drive it now for over 47k miles.
No problems so far. After reading forums, I believe they fixed the issues that were in the earlier engines that had a timing chain. Now it is an alloy block with timing belt (vs older iron block and timing chain). Did not hear anyone complain about new versions.

As for me, majority miles are motorway miles. I purchased the car in Germany and lived there for 4 years, went to Madrid and back quite a few times.
As far as servicing goes, have done the normal Audi servicing as suggested by onboard computer. Mine's set-up for Variable service (Oil change every 18k miles or 2 years whichever comes sooner).
Brake fluid change is coming up next week.

I plan to take her to 100k miles or more, let see if any issues come up.

[Niffty951]

This is a pleasing thread to read having just bought a 2015 1.2 TSi 110PS, I wonder if with a few more years somewhere issues may have come to light, but buying the run-out version of an engine usually has the benefits of a bit more Warranty based 'design validation' than the early versions.

I'll report back my mpg too as I bought this to be as cheap as long distance motoring can be in 2024.

[The Cardinal]

I ran a Fabia with the 1.2 110 and DSG 'box for a couple of years. It was a great drivetrain, if a little jerky around town at times - but that's not the engine. I liked the noise it made and thought it was pretty rapid.

At the sort of steady 60-65mph cruise I do a lot of in my cars, I found its low 50s mpg to be as expected rather than stellar. But the diesels are in another class and even the high output 2.0 TFSIs can get quite close on a warm day.

[Tank84]

I also bought a 1.2 TSI engine Octavia Hatchback (2013 reg) back in 2019 from a Skoda Dealership with a 12 month warranty. I wish I had never bothered. Only two years into ownership (so the car was only 8 years old) it began losing oil and fast, and it has only worsened since then. I'm now topping it up at least once or more per week. It isn't leaking, it's burning through it, probably piston rings are banjaxed. Although the engine does tick over nicely, no bad sounds or judders. Even so, I'll never buy a VW TSI engine ever again. German engineering my arse. They lied about emissions and they were caught out on that, so what else have they lied about which they never got caught out on? And the used car market is terrible. Cars really are just endless money pits. If the UK had a good public transport system I'd give up driving, alas that'll never happen.

[johng1970]

Tank84 said:

I also bought a 1.2 TSI engine Octavia Hatchback (2013 reg) back in 2019 from a Skoda Dealership with a 12 month warranty. I wish I had never bothered. Only two years into ownership (so the car was only 8 years old) it began losing oil and fast, and it has only worsened since then. I'm now topping it up at least once or more per week. It isn't leaking, it's burning through it, probably piston rings are banjaxed. Although the engine does tick over nicely, no bad sounds or judders. Even so, I'll never buy a VW TSI engine ever again. German engineering my arse. They lied about emissions and they were caught out on that, so what else have they lied about which they never got caught out on? And the used car market is terrible. Cars really are just endless money pits. If the UK had a good public transport system I'd give up driving, alas that'll never happen.

I have EXACTLY the same issue and have done for quite a while now. I could have written this it's uncanny. Same engine and car, same year same exact same problem. I know nothing about motors but a garage i took it to suggested i could try a new PCV valve which i replaced but still losing it. Problem is i'm guessing until they crack it open then they can't tell as i've asked garages their opinion and i receive different anwers all the time. PCV valve, piston rings, valve seals, gasket rocker cover i've heard the lot. What i do know is my MOT from last August showed blue smoke acceleration at idle. Same quandry as you mate. Is it worth repair , obviously hugely dependant on what the problem is or do i suck it up and enter the highly inflated used market again . 100k on the clock by the way but it hasn't been hammered since i got it at about 12k miles 8 and a half year ago,

[ubbs]

We had a 1.0tsi manual rapid fastback shop/tip car, great little car till it got written off