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oprn Samba Member

Joined: November 13, 2016 Posts: 10614 Location: Western Canada
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Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2022 11:13 pm Post subject: 1.8T |
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I am looking at buying an Audi A4 with a 1.8T engine. Anyone had experience with these? Does VW state in the owner's manual that they require premium fuel? _________________ I never finish anything, I have a black belt in partial arts! |
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TDCTDI Samba Advocatus Diaboli

Joined: August 31, 2013 Posts: 12296 Location: North Carolina
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Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2022 7:50 am Post subject: Re: 1.8T |
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IMO, the 1.8t (up to 2005) is arguably the best engine that VW has ever made. The biggest issue that it had was “sludging” due to manufacturer suggested 7-10,000 mile oil service intervals, and then the engines not getting the proper synthetic oil put in them (even at the dealer).
The engines ran hot enough internally to “cook” the oil, which built up as carbon on the inside of the block (like cooking oil in a frying pan.). Most of the engine failures were due to this carbon coming off (usually after a quick lube type place upsold an “engine flush”.), and blocking the oil pump pickup screen. This obviously led to oil pressure loss & subsequent failure of the engine and/or turbo.
Past that, most of the other issues (check engine light) were vacuum related.
They do require premium. You can run low grade, but the fuel economy plummets & any $ saved is lost in the difference of mpg. _________________ Everybody born before 1975 has a story, good, bad, or indifferent, about a VW.
GOFUNDYOURSELF, quit asking everyone to do it for you!
An air cooled VW will make you a hoarder.
Do something, anything, to your project every day, and you will eventually complete it. |
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Butcher Samba Member
Joined: December 05, 2015 Posts: 1281 Location: Right Here
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Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2022 8:47 am Post subject: Re: 1.8T |
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I would agree with that assessment. Don't forget to maintain the timing belt. Too early is better than too late.
Come to think of it, too late is not good at all. |
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oprn Samba Member

Joined: November 13, 2016 Posts: 10614 Location: Western Canada
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Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2022 9:15 am Post subject: Re: 1.8T |
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This is a 2007 with 48 K miles so hopefully still ok. I am a 3000 miles/oil change kind of guy, always have been. _________________ I never finish anything, I have a black belt in partial arts! |
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ps2375 Samba Member

Joined: April 24, 2014 Posts: 2460 Location: Meridian,ID
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Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2022 5:31 pm Post subject: Re: 1.8T |
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I have to agree also. If I ever end up with one, the first mod would be an Oil Cooler w/ a thermostatic sandwich plate. |
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TDCTDI Samba Advocatus Diaboli

Joined: August 31, 2013 Posts: 12296 Location: North Carolina
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Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2022 5:59 pm Post subject: Re: 1.8T |
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The 2.0t FSI engine is horrible, the 09+ 2.0t TSI engine is far worse.
The FSI regularly wiped out camshafts due to driving the high pressure fuel pump with a flat tappet.
The TSI shits timing chains around 70,000 miles, and then the piston rings/pistons start their oil consumption issues starting around 50,000. 1qt oil/1,000 miles is “within spec”. _________________ Everybody born before 1975 has a story, good, bad, or indifferent, about a VW.
GOFUNDYOURSELF, quit asking everyone to do it for you!
An air cooled VW will make you a hoarder.
Do something, anything, to your project every day, and you will eventually complete it. |
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oprn Samba Member

Joined: November 13, 2016 Posts: 10614 Location: Western Canada
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Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2022 8:26 pm Post subject: Re: 1.8T |
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ps2375 wrote: |
I have to agree also. If I ever end up with one, the first mod would be an Oil Cooler w/ a thermostatic sandwich plate. |
I was thinking about that after reading that they run hot. Is there a source of sandwich plates for those engines that springs to mind? _________________ I never finish anything, I have a black belt in partial arts!
Last edited by oprn on Wed Nov 16, 2022 8:37 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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oprn Samba Member

Joined: November 13, 2016 Posts: 10614 Location: Western Canada
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Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2022 8:32 pm Post subject: Re: 1.8T |
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TDCTDI wrote: |
The 2.0t FSI engine is horrible, the 09+ 2.0t TSI engine is far worse.
The FSI regularly wiped out camshafts due to driving the high pressure fuel pump with a flat tappet.
The TSI shits timing chains around 70,000 miles, and then the piston rings/pistons start their oil consumption issues starting around 50,000. 1qt oil/1,000 miles is “within spec”. |
Interesting! The German car specialist (he only works on VW, Audi, BMW and Porsche) that I have used for years and trust told me that the '06 & '07 2.0L TSI was a good one and recommended it. His sister in law had one that he serviced and it gave her 275,000 trouble free miles before it failed. Maybe different years had different issues? _________________ I never finish anything, I have a black belt in partial arts! |
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TDCTDI Samba Advocatus Diaboli

Joined: August 31, 2013 Posts: 12296 Location: North Carolina
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Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2022 7:09 am Post subject: Re: 1.8T |
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The FSI is an extraordinary engine…. When compared to aTSI.
The 1.8t is a far better engine.
I wouldn’t worry about the high internal temps, it helps them run more efficiently. Just keep the proper synthetic oil in it & change it out every 5,000 miles. _________________ Everybody born before 1975 has a story, good, bad, or indifferent, about a VW.
GOFUNDYOURSELF, quit asking everyone to do it for you!
An air cooled VW will make you a hoarder.
Do something, anything, to your project every day, and you will eventually complete it. |
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oprn Samba Member

Joined: November 13, 2016 Posts: 10614 Location: Western Canada
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Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2022 8:31 am Post subject: Re: 1.8T |
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What about the CVT transmission? Any issues with those? _________________ I never finish anything, I have a black belt in partial arts! |
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ps2375 Samba Member

Joined: April 24, 2014 Posts: 2460 Location: Meridian,ID
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Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2022 8:58 pm Post subject: Re: 1.8T |
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oprn wrote: |
What about the CVT transmission? Any issues with those? |
Don't start that.
I'll just say I'm not a fan. Never worked on one and never plan to own one. |
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ps2375 Samba Member

Joined: April 24, 2014 Posts: 2460 Location: Meridian,ID
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Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2022 9:01 pm Post subject: Re: 1.8T |
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oprn wrote: |
ps2375 wrote: |
I have to agree also. If I ever end up with one, the first mod would be an Oil Cooler w/ a thermostatic sandwich plate. |
I was thinking about that after reading that they run hot. Is there a source of sandwich plates for those engines that springs to mind? |
My current car (MKIII 2.slow) has one from a Volvo, but I'm sure there are plenty of suppliers selling good ones out there in the kits or separate. |
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Butcher Samba Member
Joined: December 05, 2015 Posts: 1281 Location: Right Here
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Posted: Fri Nov 18, 2022 9:23 am Post subject: Re: 1.8T |
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Although CVT's have been out awhile [I believe the Subaru Justy had them first in the USA, mid 80's] they have improved. They are basically a throw away transmission that cannot be rebuilt. Getting a used one is not a good idea because those are probably just as bad as the one you are replacing.
It's one part in the car that will total it real quick. |
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Butcher Samba Member
Joined: December 05, 2015 Posts: 1281 Location: Right Here
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Posted: Fri Nov 18, 2022 9:25 am Post subject: Re: 1.8T |
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As for the oil cooler, I believe the stock V6 coolers are similar but larger. With the right stand pipe, I believe it is a simple swap.
There are two camps about oil cooling. Those that love air and those that love liquid. There is no right way so pick you camp and be happy with it. |
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ps2375 Samba Member

Joined: April 24, 2014 Posts: 2460 Location: Meridian,ID
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Posted: Fri Nov 18, 2022 9:54 am Post subject: Re: 1.8T |
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I have both on my car, liquid is good for warming the oil and the air cools the oil. If the liquid coolers were bigger to give more time for heat transfer, I'd be good with that, but for the actual diff in temps between the cooling media and the liquid to be cooled, the amount of time the oil is there just doesn't seem to cool it enough for me. |
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TDCTDI Samba Advocatus Diaboli

Joined: August 31, 2013 Posts: 12296 Location: North Carolina
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Posted: Fri Nov 18, 2022 9:59 am Post subject: Re: 1.8T |
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Oil temperature is not the problem, the problem is where the oil comes in contact with the walls of the block & cylinder head that causes the oil to burn. This only happens with conventional oil, not the synthetic.
I believe that the CVT transmission was only for front wheel drive models, I gots two of them on the floor, it was cheaper to buy whole wrecked cars than getting an engine for one. _________________ Everybody born before 1975 has a story, good, bad, or indifferent, about a VW.
GOFUNDYOURSELF, quit asking everyone to do it for you!
An air cooled VW will make you a hoarder.
Do something, anything, to your project every day, and you will eventually complete it. |
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oprn Samba Member

Joined: November 13, 2016 Posts: 10614 Location: Western Canada
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Posted: Fri Nov 18, 2022 3:40 pm Post subject: Re: 1.8T |
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ps2375 wrote: |
I have both on my car, liquid is good for warming the oil and the air cools the oil. If the liquid coolers were bigger to give more time for heat transfer, I'd be good with that, but for the actual diff in temps between the cooling media and the liquid to be cooled, the amount of time the oil is there just doesn't seem to cool it enough for me. |
My thoughts exactly! The liquid to liquid ones are oil heaters for quick warm ups not coolers really. And that's all good but they do very little to cool the oil. Essential really on the diesels because without them the oil would rarely reach proper operating temps.
I will drop a temp probe down the dipstick hole and see what the actual running temps are before changing anything. I have no issue running synthetic, we run it now in our Jetta ALH engine.
I will avoid the CVT like the plague then! We wanted a standard transmission but those are like looking for hen's teeth now! I am not disabled or anything... don't need a computer to find the gears for me. Funny thing, the general public is all for grinding their own coffee beans these days but not their own gears... personally I get more joy out of doing the gears.  _________________ I never finish anything, I have a black belt in partial arts! |
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Butcher Samba Member
Joined: December 05, 2015 Posts: 1281 Location: Right Here
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Posted: Sat Nov 19, 2022 9:25 am Post subject: Re: 1.8T |
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Not trying to convince anyone which is better, but if the oil is at 130C and the coolant is 90C, I would suspect the oil to come out cooler. If the oil is at 60C and the coolant is at 90C, then I suspect the oil will come out warmer. Getting the oil at operating temperature sooner does not really have any drawbacks.
As for CVT's, I agree, they only came in 2WD that I know of. Good thing Audi makes a lot of Quattro's. |
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oprn Samba Member

Joined: November 13, 2016 Posts: 10614 Location: Western Canada
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Posted: Sun Nov 20, 2022 5:57 am Post subject: Re: 1.8T |
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Well I missed out on that car.
I will see what comes up next and shoot for a 1.8T or a 2.0 FSI then in a Passat wagon or an Audi A4 wagon. Too bad VW never put the standard gearbox in those. _________________ I never finish anything, I have a black belt in partial arts! |
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danfromsyr Samba Member

Joined: March 01, 2004 Posts: 14845 Location: Syracuse, NY
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Posted: Mon Dec 05, 2022 11:08 pm Post subject: Re: 1.8T |
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I'm fairly certain I've had a 1.8T 5spd passat wagon before..  _________________
Abscate wrote: |
These are the reasons we have words like “wanker” |
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