cambelt change intervals

J400uk

Active Member
Jan 7, 2010
1,978
3
London, UK
Can confirm for 100% that the new 1.2 TSI and 1.4 TSI are ea211 based belt driven units with no change interval. This applies to all power outputs (85, 105, 122 and 140) and includes the new leon, golf, a3 and octavia. These engines are new generation compared to those fitted in the Ibiza and mk2 leon.

Unsure on the 1.8 TSI but I'd wager its a chain
 

dieselface

Active Member
Jul 1, 2010
647
3
I'm finding conflicts of information regarding the 1.8.

VW manage and develop the 1.2/1.4 and they are EA211 engines (as above)...

However the Audi developed 1.8/2.0 are EA888 (3rd generation) but the 1.8 is only up to 125kw (the older 170PS). The new generation 1.8 (132kw 180PS) is what? Is it EA888 gen 3 with revisions or is it also EA211 which is what some Skoda people are saying?
 

derelyth

Active Member
Jun 11, 2011
293
0
Portsmouth
As far as I am aware, the older EA888 1.8 as you say was an Audi-built engine. The new 1.8 is a member of the EA211 but is chain driven and built by Skoda somewhere in the Czech Rep.
 

dephead2004

Active Member
Aug 3, 2013
918
12
So interesting, as my dealer (service dpt.) enquiry of yesterday said 100% chain after some background keyboard clicking where he was looking up engine info in a brand new unbuilt 1.2TSI DSG!!
Amazing.
I'd have thought the engine was a belt as the pics look like a belt and the EA211 say they are belts.
 

Gamichea

Guest
There is an interesting document "Volkswagen Group Powertrain & Fuel Strategy" that clearly shows that the EA211 series covers petrols in the 1.0 - 1.6 litre range and the EA888 gen.3 covers petrols in the 1.8 - 2.0 litre range indicating the 1.8 in the Mk3 Leon is an EA888 unit.

Unfortunately forum rules disallow me posting the URL for reasons whose relevance (I have yet to post 15 times!) escape me, so those interested will have to google for it.

The illustration on page 16 clearly shows the EA211 series features belt drive for the camshafts. The illustrations of the EA888 on page 23 are less helpful but the camshaft drive wheels appear more suited to belt than chain and there is a reference bottom right to a "belt drive system", however the adjacent illustration omits the camshafts :( .

HTH
 
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dephead2004

Active Member
Aug 3, 2013
918
12
Here's something from SEAT Switzerland:
Timing belt change intervals for SEAT
market Switzerland
The factory preset service intervals or
Intervals for additional work are valid worldwide.
The timing belt is on all motors
recommended at least 5 years, although in the
the maintenance tables specified mileage
has not been reached.
The decision of such precautionary
Measures lies with the customer and can by SEAT
Service Partners are offered individually.

Or if you'd like to try your hand at Deutsch to English:
Zahnriemenwechselintervalle bei SEAT
Markt Schweiz
Die ab Werk vorgegebenen Serviceintervalle bzw. die
Intervalle für Zusatzarbeiten haben weltweit Gültigkeit.
Der Zahnriemenwechsel ist bei allen Motoren nach
spätestens 5 Jahren zu empfehlen, auch wenn die in
den Wartungstabellen angegebene Kilometerleistung
noch nicht erreicht wurde.
Die Entscheidung einer solchen vorsorglichen
Massnahmen liegt beim Kunden und kann vom SEAT
Service Partner individuell angeboten werden.
 

dephead2004

Active Member
Aug 3, 2013
918
12
OK so now have received the final confirmation based on a chassis number that my 1.2 TSI is a belt driven engine. Cannot believe that mine is specially made so I guess that confirms that all 1.2 TSI's are belts. As per J400UK above. So now I just need to have SEAT confirm the service intervals. Expect J400UK will be right again!:D
 

dephead2004

Active Member
Aug 3, 2013
918
12
Some more info from the helpful people at SEAT CS (they really are very good you know). Service intervals for the 1.2TSI engine are check belt at 60,000 then every 20,000 miles until it must be replaced at 120,000 if not before. Interesting how long these change intervals are. Anyone got a view on this longevity?
 

derelyth

Active Member
Jun 11, 2011
293
0
Portsmouth
Some more info from the helpful people at SEAT CS (they really are very good you know). Service intervals for the 1.2TSI engine are check belt at 60,000 then every 20,000 miles until it must be replaced at 120,000 if not before. Interesting how long these change intervals are. Anyone got a view on this longevity?

I read that the belts are sprayed with a special lubricant to aid longevity now - can't recall where I read that though. Possibly a car website article.
 

Seastormer

Cupra Leon VZ2 300/CBF1000
Apr 25, 2014
5,007
693
68
Edinburgh (Scotland)
Had my Cupra 280 over 4.5 years and only just found out from my dealer that it actually has a timing chain and not a belt. It does not get changed unless it has a fault, so next service will be a lot less than I thought. Wonder if I should get the water pump changed though like they reccomend doing when you have a belt change.
 

Walone

Active Member
Feb 10, 2016
1,538
421
Near Heathrow
Had my Cupra 280 over 4.5 years and only just found out from my dealer that it actually has a timing chain and not a belt. It does not get changed unless it has a fault, so next service will be a lot less than I thought. Wonder if I should get the water pump changed though like they reccomend doing when you have a belt change.
On some of the engines the water pump is driven by a separate belt off the back of the exhaust camshaft.
 

Raglits

Active Member
Jan 1, 2019
34
16
From memory the EA111 engine (the 8v 1.2TSi) is chain driven, the newer 16v ones (EA211) are belt driven. Think that works out as the 85 and 105PS engines are chain, the 90 and 110PS engines are belts.
 

Sticklebricks

Active Member
Jan 12, 2019
28
18
United Kingdom
Our 1.4 EcoTsi 150 FR has a CZEA engine with toothed belt and we were told by Marshall SEAT Leicester service department that the belt is 5 years and 120k miles whichever came first. Not long after being told this the parts department phoned me and said there wasn't a schedules belt change for our car and as such he tried telling me it would be advisable to get it done at 3 years as ours has just passed 60k miles.

The SEAT workshop maintenance file is blank for petrols in regards to toothed belt in normal conditions but stated 80k miles for countries with high dust conditions. Strangely enough they seem capable of putting a schedule of 130k miles for all diesel engines with toothed belt in normal conditions. I cannot see why their would be any difference in normal conditions for petrol cars with toothed belt considering they have put the same schdule for petrol and diesel (80k miles) for countries with high dust condition schedule.

It seems to me that SEAT are wanting you to believe that the belt needs changing at 3 years, they then give you a 5 year warranty for the exact same belt when they replace it.
 

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From memory the EA111 engine (the 8v 1.2TSi) is chain driven, the newer 16v ones (EA211) are belt driven. Think that works out as the 85 and 105PS engines are chain, the 90 and 110PS engines are belts.
Just to confirm (quite confused still), all 16V 1.2L TSi mk3 Leons are belt, correct? :confused:
 
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