Either I'm sad or this is a worthwhile tweak ...

[craig-pd130]

I'd noticed on my 3-year-old Passat that I had been getting intermittent, extra "lag" on booting the throttle -- only a half-second pause before the boost kicks in, but sometimes a little frustrating.

Also, I thought some of the vacuum hoses for the EGR / boost control may not be connected as snug as they could be.

Especially where the fat fabric-braided hose connects to the N75, and the hose from N75 to the VNT actuator. I also wondered why the hose to the EGR valve is clamped in place, but the hoses to the N75 and VNT actuator are not clamped.

Anyway, I got some hose clips like this:

https://secure.thorite.co.uk/Products_Plastic_hose_clamps_43.html

in 8mm, 9mm and 10mm sizes and clamped up where the fabric hoses connect to valves etc.

No lag at all now -- instant go when I need it. Total cost -- £4 plus a couple of skinned knuckles.

 

[muddyboots]

Useful to know !

How many miles has your Passat done Craig ?
I'm looking for a similar age Passat 130 (Estate) with high miles (to get the price down) - just wondered what they're like after a lot of miles...by all accounts as good as new if serviced properly.

 

[craig-pd130]

40,000 miles up of all sorts of driving, total problems apart from me having a light frontal collision have been 1 brake light bulb.

Mine's a Sport saloon (6-speed box and lowered suspension), I'd try and get this trim level if possible because it has all the toys. The interior is very hard-wearing, I've got the light grey cloth and its unblemished despite the best efforts of my two kids

I'm still very pleased with the car, goes great and has averaged 47mpg from new (real mpg, not from the computer). Will give up to 55mpg on a run providing you keep it below 90mph

 

[sssstew]

that makes sense. im sure ive read over on TDI club they tend to renew the vacuum hoses now and again, and to try and fix probs.

 

[raymondbreen]

My old car was a normal passat 110bhp and had done over 140k, was still getting mid/high 50's out of it and was as solid as a tank

 

[muddyboots]

Best arm myself with some new vacuum hoses then, as a 90k Passat will be mine on Saturday

 

[craig-pd130]

Cool! Which variant did you get?

I found it was worth checking the vac lines, as the ones on mine were not routed ideally .... the runs were not always smooth curves etc.

 

[muddyboots]

Think I'm going to check my hoses soon. The car drives & accelerates well, but I'm sure I can hear an air/vacuum leak somewhere.

First embarrassing question: how do I get the engine cover off ? I'm guessing I shouldn't just yank at it like the Ibiza, presume it's screwed down ?

Also, I was a bit disappointed with the MPG over the weekend - only just averaging about 40, but on my run to work today it seems to have improved slightly. Maybe it's still adapting to my journey type and driving style. I'll give it a week and see how it's looking.

 

[craig-pd130]

Hi muddy,

the engine cover is retained by 3 x 10mm bolts, which are hidden under the three little round plastic covers.

There's one by the dipstick and two on the left side of the cover. You need to use a small screwdriver to flip the covers out.

Be careful of the dipstick tube when lifting the cover off, I remove the dipstick and stick my finger down the tube to steady it while GENTLY raising the cover so the rubber seals slip over the tube. Same when replacing the cover.

Did you get an SE or Sport estate in the end?

cheers, Craig

 

[muddyboots]

Thanks Craig, will have a nosey under the cover tonight. I can see that some of the vac pipes don't have any clips on (the EGR and VNT actuator don't anyway).

Got a 51 Sport Estate in the end.
Leather, xenons, curtain airbags, cruise control, heated seats, rain sensing wipers, auto dimming mirror, VW Graphic Equaliser (Gamma stereo still sounds **** though) etc etc etc
Not my favourite choice of colour (Fresco Green), really wanted a blue one but couldn't turn it down as it was slightly lower mileage (90k) than most of the others around the same price, and all those toys too....

 

[sssstew]

40mpg.... ouch!

 

[craig-pd130]

I wouldn't worry about 40mpg pottering at weekends, mine will do the same.

As soon as you hit traffic the mpg plunges, I think it's a function of the car's weight ... 1400kg for the saloon, prolly 1450 for the estate which is about 200+ kg more than the Beeza.

On an m-way / A-road cruise I get the following: below 75mph, 55-ish mpg; below 85mph, 50 - 55mpg; below 95mph, about 45 - 48mpg.

At speed the aerodynamics come into play, oddly the Passat is very slippery indeed so you get much better figures.

Also, mine is VERY sensitive to temps below about 5 celsius on my daily 4-mile commute, below 5 degrees the mpg is crap. Once again, it's a big lump to get moving from rest.

FWIW, I run my tyres at 2.5 bar / 37 psi front and rear, which helps economy. Much lower than this and I get too much understeer.

 

[muddyboots]

Definitely think I need to investigate my vacuum hoses...

There's a distinct hiss whenever I accelerate, 99% certain it's not the turbo, and am struggling with the MPG.

I've still never seen the trip mpg go above 50mpg, in fact above 46/46 is virtually impossible - and this is on gentle cruising runs where the Ibiza would have easily been seeing over 60mpg.
On my daily commute, an enthusiastic run in the Ibiza (which is chipped, remember) would be showing mid-50s by the end of the 40-odd miles. The same run, in a gentle style, in the UNchipped Passat, is showing around 43-44mpg on the computer.

I'm suspecting it's related to the EGR system. As soon as I accelerate - even very gently from low revs before the turbo spins up, I start hearing a distinct hiss - I assume these are the conditions where the EGR valve should close.

Craig -> Do you know which valve is which ? There appear to be 2 on the bulkhead towards the passenger side, and one just inline with the hoses above the airfilter housing.

 

[craig-pd130]

Hi Muddy, on mine the N75 and N18 are NOT on the bulkhead. Mine doesn't hiss audibly within the car, I only ever hear the turbo when accelerating from cold, and then it's a whine / whistle, not a hiss.

On mine the N18 for the EGR is mounted on the rear of the engine, on the passenger side. To get at it, I unscrew the mounts for the coolant header tank, unplug the level sensor and gently move the tank aside (leaving the water hoses intact).

The N75 for VNT actuation is mounted down at the front of the engine, just in front of the turbo itself.

The solenoid valve on the airfilter housing controls the anti-shudder valve, should only work when you switch off. According to the manual, when you turn the key to switch off, the solenoid switches to apply residual vacuum to the valve for 3 seconds.

You should be able to find which is which easily, the N18 for EGR has a thick hose which ducks under the big plastic inlet pipe at the back of the engine and up to the actual EGR valve on the engine.

One of the jumble of pipes above the airbox should connect direct to a spigot on the airbox lid (to allow filtered air into the vacuum system).

Might be worth checking the IC plumbing too, esp. the pipe joints from IC top to the engine.

Good luck, just ask if I can help at all. I don't have a dig. camera so can't show you easily!

cheers, Craig

 

[muddyboots]

Thanks Craig.

I can only hear the turbo with the window open, and as you describe it's an obvious whine/whistle noise. With the radio off I can hear a hiss quite noticeably when accelerating.

I'll try and get a photo sometime, because it sounds like the valves on mine might be different to yours - it looks like I have two next to each other on the bulkhead behind the coolant tank.

Wish the weather was a bit better, I'd be more inclined to have a good poke round ! Maybe if the Ibiza sells on Ebay this weekend I'll be able to pull it into the garage for a bit of shelter

 

[muddyboots]

Craig -> I don't suppose your excellent knowledge of vacuum hoses extends to what size hose (ie I/D and O/D) I need to buy to replace all the original bits ?

 

[craig-pd130]

Lee -- sorry I don't, I've never removed any of the buggers .... I wonder if the VAG dealer lists them individually or as a kit?

 

[muddyboots]

NP, actually I think I remember seeing them listed somewhere recently on an ETKA printout.

 

[basstard]

Craig -> I don't suppose your excellent knowledge of vacuum hoses extends to what size hose (ie I/D and O/D) I need to buy to replace all the original bits ?

*IF* it's the same as the non PD you gotta buy two sets, 3mm ID and 5mm ID, whatever the OD.
When changing them you absolutely need to cut them longitudinally with a cutter [or a stanley knife or whatever you call this stuff in english] at the nipples or you are going to break something,,, trust me, talking from experience,,,

 

[muddyboots]

Thanks for the warning Carlo