PD150 Reliability?

[tsp]

Hello

I've been sent this way by the helpful people in the off topic section... I'm thinking of buying a PD150 VAG car and I was after some advice.

I've searched the forum and I've come up with cam shaft wear issues along with the usual VAG traits but not much specific towards the PD150 in general.

I know the PD130 is a pretty good engine but then again there are millions of them about to report on but there doesn't seem to be that many PD150s.

Can anyone advise me as to where there might be a buying guide? Or should I just steer clear all together?!

Thanks

 

[Andrewcupra TDI]

so some searching mate ,

seem pretty reliable engines (obviously looked after correctly , correct oil etc)

ive heard off other forums like the ukmkiv forums , that taxi drivers in their octavias (same engines ) running 3 -400 thousand mile and still running


i fecked mine up last year by puting a detergent in it possibly chlorine/bleach i dont know ,

a few hundred pounds later its back running and on 73k miles on the clock

someone else should confirm later , that treated right , regular servicing , cam belts at correct intervals and there shouldnt be much probelms

depends on whether you keep it standard or remapped ,

remapped usually requires an uprated clutch due to increased power/torque

also known to blow intercooler hoses off

but theres others here running 200 - 270ish bhp and no issues (upgraded parts to cope mind

 

[tsp]

Brilliant. thanks mate.

I would have it re-mapped at some point, nothing else though. I've spent far too much on my Octavia and I don't want to go down that road again!

I'll do some more digging around, hopefully it'll be all good news!

Thanks again

 

[MJ]

The pd engine in any variation is reliable, camshaft issues are a thing of the past and are uncommon at the best of times so the only other issue to look out for is faulty/noisey turbos.
Just look out for one with a FSH prefferably from seat and that should put your mind at ease.

 

[RachIbiza]

Thanks MJ

Very good of you mate.

 

[MJ]

I do try mt best - cha'mone

 

[chrisp123]

i would definately get one with FSH - preferably a main dealer one as has been said!

I've just swapped my ARL Golf with 180K on the clock and been on the ukmkiv forums for years - the only ones with issues seemed to be not using the right oil as the VW PD engine has specific oil 505.01 i think for 12 month service;

My camshaft failed straight after i had it remapped at 70K

the previous owner had it serviced as a goodwill guesture for me to pickup the car - using the wrong oil! - as the remaining oil was given to me in a box!

just make sure you check the history thoroughly and you should have no probs as i know plenty of well serviced ARL with no problems

Chris

 

[muddyboots]

Have a google for "pd150 chocolate camshaft"

http://uk-mkivs.net/forums/p/264518/1972702.aspx
http://www.********************/index.php?topic=140425.0
http://www.pistonheads.com/GASSING/topic.asp?h=0&t=585253&nmt=Chipping a MK4 GT TDI 150

That middle one is:
golf gti forum
co
uk

 

[MJ]

Still all speculation and not really enough to warrent a belief of an epidemic of camshaft failures. We've been a dealer for 22 years now and sold 100s of 150 tdis and niether myslef or any of the guys i work with or spoken to at other dealerships have come across this problem.
Its just one person saying its common, then another person agreeing, and a viscious cycle forms.
Everyone appears to have heard of it but no one has actually seen it occur.

 

[chrisp123]

Still all speculation and not really enough to warrent a belief of an epidemic of camshaft failures. We've been a dealer for 22 years now and sold 100s of 150 tdis and niether myslef or any of the guys i work with or spoken to at other dealerships have come across this problem.
Its just one person saying its common, then another person agreeing, and a viscious cycle forms.
Everyone appears to have heard of it but no one has actually seen it occur.

??

Happened to me and a £1300 bill later for camshaft, followers, timing belt kit and water pump + fitting. kept two of the followers which had worn through and the lobes at the end of the camshaft had worn (on the afftected followers.)

VW specialist said it was due to the extra forces on the engine after the remap though.

 

[muddyboots]

Still all speculation and not really enough to warrent a belief of an epidemic of camshaft failures. We've been a dealer for 22 years now and sold 100s of 150 tdis and niether myslef or any of the guys i work with or spoken to at other dealerships have come across this problem.
Its just one person saying its common, then another person agreeing, and a viscious cycle forms.
Everyone appears to have heard of it but no one has actually seen it occur.

I remember one or two people on here suffered the problem.
Perhaps it tends to occur once cars are out of their warranty periods, so the work is more likely to get done outside of the dealer network.

Common enough to let the OP know about IMHO, not to put him off buying a PD150, but could save him buying a bag of nails if he knows what the symptoms are

 

[Viking]

Also, it's well enough known to VW UK that if the car has full service history through the dealer network when this fails, they offer up to 100% goodwill on the repair.

It is fairly common and is not just speculation I'm afraid. However, it was due to a bad batch of cam train components and the replacement parts are now heat treated to prevent similar wear again. Incorrect oil merely exacerbates the problem.

 

[tsp]

Oh I see... Maybe I might settle for a PD130 then.

Shame there aren't many GOOD PD130s around

Thanks again everyone.

 

[Viking]

It affects all the pd engines, but mostly the 150 for some reason. Possibly due to the logistics delivering a batch when the 150 engine was just going through a run.

 

[cuprabod]

've had two pd150 cupra's and never had any engine problems, buy a standard car with fsh,don't mess with the engine and it will be fine,if you mess with the engine then its no good complaining if it goes wrong. If you are happy to have a 130 you will be very happy with a 150,they are great cars

 

[Andrewcupra TDI]

what are the tell tale signs of cam wear then ???

i wouldnt be put off by the facts tho

as said look for a fSSH or vag service history if not seat and aslong as the correct oil is used then shouldnt be much problems ,

as with all things in life everythings pot luck , you could by a brand spanking new car and it can break

the difference in the 130 to 150 is not much more money to start with but if your going to tune then it would cost more money in the long run

Front mount intercooler 150has 130not
better suspension setup etc etc

 

[MJ]

It is fairly common and is not just speculation I'm afraid.

 

[Viking]

It is fairly common and is not just speculation I'm afraid.

You may believe what you want, but speculation is far from the truth I'm afraid. Here's a few threads I dug up on UK-mkivs where people have speculated about their camshaft failure. One guy took pictures of the damage for the purposes of outlining the problem.

Link.

Link.

Link.

Link.

Link.

Link.

There are more threads, but I'm not going to labour the point. There are also many more instances on other forums, but again I'm not going to labour the point.

 

[chris285]

not got an issue with mine atm, had it 12k and its done shy of 50k and so far got no problems at all and thats remapped as well

need to get it serviced soon when i can afford it though

 

[ChrisUK]

What are the symptoms of cam shaft failure ?

Must have missed that one, not heard of that before.

Coming upto 54k miles on mine from new (FDSH)