syncro TDI = trans death?

[dkoesyncro]

[hans j]

If you put a TDI on a worn out transmission or one that hasn't been built correctly, it will trash it. If you abuse the van, it will trash the trans. If you drive it kindly, it will be kind to you.

I'm a little over 40k miles on my trans so far, and it's not like I'm very easy on it. But I don't all out abuse it.

I'm also still looking for the graph that shows the diesel pulses, but here is what it actually looks like. The black trace shows the RPM change in one cylinder, at idle, in 35 milliseconds. The vertical rulers show one cylinder, and the horizontal ruler shows the high and low RPM. I changes 157 RPM from when the combustion happens at TDC to when the piston is at BTDC. It doesn't appear too sharp to me, but I need to get more data on gas engines to be able to compare it.

This is a 2012 Jetta with a 2.0 CJAA common rail TDI.

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1986 Canadian Syncro Westy TDI - 1989 Syncro Single Cab - 2001 Audi S4 - 1981 VW Caddy ABA - 1980 VW Caddy EV - 1973 VW T-181

[jackbombay]

[hans j]

I should be able to. This measurement is a new feature I found out about recently. The ALH and AHU don't have cam position sensors, but I do have a peizo pickup I can use on the injector line or injector to pick up when it fires. I'l see what I can come up with.
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1986 Canadian Syncro Westy TDI - 1989 Syncro Single Cab - 2001 Audi S4 - 1981 VW Caddy ABA - 1980 VW Caddy EV - 1973 VW T-181

[dkoesyncro]

Hans,
Thank you, I was going to post something up about you and your van/driving style. I'll I really have is SS, you mentioned before that this was an unchanged gasser box. You may have changed 3 and 4 but I honestly don't remember. Are you also using a stock ALH?

[Steve M.]

In regards to transaxles, here is a modified TDi transaxle. (2wd only.)
You'll have to do the math on the gear ratios, don't think there is going to be a problem with them. If the guy can do the injectors right I'll assume he does know what he's doing.
I just happened to run across it while looking at his injectors.

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=2212488
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This free advice is worth exactly what you paid for it.

There are seven days in a week. Someday is not one of them.

[vwwestyman]

[?Waldo?]

[hans j]

[dkoesyncro]

[tjet]

[danfromsyr]

you can also always pay a few more $ and get a Gas (Benzine) Wabasto

cheap chinese heaters are not a reason to spend thou$and$ on an upgrade
you can add a turbo to the ABA to help with altitude anemia of naturally aspirated engines.

the only 2 benefits of TDI are TORQUE (which we're discussing you'll have to manage) and Range on the fuel tank.. they do get more MPGs that does equate to greater fuel range..
but they are NOT cheaper $ per mile by enough to ever recoup your invested costs. ok.. someone will pull number from their ass and tell me around half a million miles.. whateves


know WHY you want to upgrade not just because..
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[AndyBees]

[vwwestyman]

I think when I was still in the dreaming phases of building my TDI Bus, I would think about the potential for fuel savings as a way to somehow justify it all.

But being honest, there is no way in a million years I'd ever drive it such that I'd have any notion of saving money with it.

So instead I've chosen to think of it as a learning opportunity and a chance to put together something that most other people won't ever do. Having the extra range is nice, and so is the Espar D2 heater. So is the power, when it isn't eating up the transmission.

I told Paul I was afraid that I was actually driving it kind of like how Jack described a couple days ago. His response was, "Yes, you were .. The mainshaft bearing retainer (and the ball bearing itself) couldn't take the pounding."

I thought I was driving it nicely to help save things, but I guess not! Oh well, live and learn I guess. (I can't say too much more than that, or I'll get upset!)
_________________
Dave Cook

President, Wild Westerner Club

1978 Champagne Edition Westy, repowered to '97 Jetta TDI
1973 Wild Westerner
My Thing

[Wildthings]

Just a thought for how to put more power through a VW transaxle, go with more cylinders and then detune the engine to limit the maximum torque. By going to a 6 cylinder or 8 cylinder gasser you might be able to run the same torque as a TDI, but by having 50-100% additional but smaller pulses, the tranny might be able to handle the same torque just fine, plus you will be able to get more HP by throwing her down a gear and revving the engine when passing or on long pulls.

[dkoesyncro]

Well...??? I like the TDI we have a 1Z/AHU/AFN hyprid. This has been my wife's Daily for 10 yrs. We have 425k on it, the engine has been perfect, everything else that makes up the car has been replaced or rebuilt...the engine though, regular maintenance!

I've been around diesels my working carrier, from heavy equipment, trucks, to large generators. Attending syncro events, watching overlanding videos all over the globe. It's usually a diesel tractoring along effortlessly. I suppose it's just the exposure. I'm a poster child of "easily influenced".

The past few days I've been really looking around, reaching out to folks in OZ, SA and Europe, although nothing has been backed with proof only opinions of those who've observed diesels can be mean to transmissions. The folks in SA are demanding of vehicles. I like to use them as the example. A PD engine was to much, both eating gearboxes and breaking mounts. A tuned AFN was also to much but considered to be the max! For us in the states that's a stock ALH w/ a little wiggle room.

Another consideration, and not to derail the content but the shipping industry is supposed to be switching to ulsd in 2020. According to articles; Most refineries are not set up or lack the ability to refine enough fuel to meet this demand. Speculators say that diesel prices at the pump will go up significantly. My gut is also thinking that post diesel gate/EU trying to bar the diesel that the US will impose higher taxes on it.

[flomulgator]

[AndyBees]

Thoughts...

1. Is there any feedback from FAS TDI conversions relating to transmission destruction?

2. 1.6l Diesel engines in the Vanagon.... anyone know of high miles, say more than 150k on the OE tranny without destruction?

3. Would the Diesel Tranny be stronger built than the Gasser version? Would it be the lower gearing? If so, how does that protect from a beating?


Or, is all this discussion, just that, a discussion with no real definitive proof? (Keep in mind, if you've read all the posts, there are folks who have no tranny issues [thus far] and there are reports of trannys gone bad with conversion in-line 4 gassers.)
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'84 Vanagon Tin-top, ALH TDI. 1989 Tin-top
1983 Air-cool, 225k miles, 180k miles mine. Seven trips to Alaska from 1986 thru 2003.

[Waldi]

[vw4wd]

I think a key factor with the 1.6 JX engine is that it has relatively low power compared to the TDis and was designed to operate at higher revs.

Doesn't that pick up on a lot of what's been said - use more revs and rely less on the torque?
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Garyd

1990 Transporter syncro camper with 2 litre AGG 'GTi' engine