Jetta TDI info please

[JNeiman]

I may be interested in buying a Volkswagon Jetta TDI in the next year or so and want you take on them. It would be a 5spd, and 2000 or newer. Did the engine displacement chance from 1. 7 to 1. 9 at some point in there? How reliable, efficient, and powerful are these cars?

 

[B9Mile]

http://www.tdiclub.com/



Lots of useful info in the FAQs, as well as the Forums.



Its a free site. You don't have to be a member to use the Search function.

 

[Futures1]

TDI;

HI J... The site that B9Mile shows is the best information you can find on what you are looking for. I would strongly suggest that you look for as new a model as you can afford. The first couple of years of the A4 TDI had a real problems with the crankcase vent system and related components. The intake manifolds were plugging up solid with carbon. They seem to have eliminated most of that in 02. An alternative would be to find a pre 99. 5 (pre A4) jetta with low milage.

Not as much power, speed and handling, but a solid, comfortable and economical vehicle !!



If you find something close to 100k, be sure that it has had the timing belt done !! If not, have them do it with the newest belt before you lay your money down. . otherwise borrow an extre $500 to $800 for the belt and idler change and components (they usually do the water pump while they have it apart) And... never EVER add anything other than VW's Autobahn anti freeze to the cooling system !!

If I can be of more help to you, let me know... Dick S.

 

[RDHamill]

why is it taboo to use any other coolant??

 

[FATCAT]

The anti-freeze used by VW is special for the metals and seals and whatnot used in the engine. Plus, the Warrenty SAYS SO!!!



So do what the Warrenty says ... at least for the warrenty period.



Love my little 2003 Jetta. Have to get the 5-speed.



Get at least a 2002 or greater.



Next year there will be a more powerful 1. 9L diesel, I think its going to be 110 hp, up from 90hp. But you can always get one of those little electronic boxes and add 40hp to the current VW TDI's.

 

[HoleshotHolset]

I love my TDI and I plan to keep on buying them.



I romp the crap out of it and it still gets 49mpg.



Powerful? - in OEM form not exactly... . bolt-on stuff makes 'em go like slot cars (That's what Wheaties said about my TDI when he drove it last time... . ).



Reliable? - a plain and simple yes... very reliable. The cars they wrap around these engines are also very nice and reliable as well.



The VW diesels used to be 1. 6L - but those were not TDI's. TDI = Turbo Direct Injection. The 1. 6L's were indirect injection, all mechanical injection, and available with or without turbo - no intercooler. The TDI's are variable geometry turboed, intercooled, heavily and quite intelligently electronically controlled (hence the great fuel mileage... . ).



All 90hp TDI's available in the US are pump-nozzle injection setups. There is a 110hp and 150hp version of this engine (called the Pump-Deusse... . I think I hacked that German phrase... )that is common rail injection, like the new ISBe.



200hp and 300+ ft-lbs. is relatively easy to get with these... . if you want more... it starts to get radical... . and pricey. 140hp is really easy by comparison. It feels like more going down the road... but that's the torque... . just like the Cummins.



If you have any questions - feel free to ask.



Matt

\x/ Hillfolk Race Team!

 

[Futures1]

TDI Anti Freeze;

A buddy of mine brought his TDI to a local service garage for a cooling system "drain, flush & fill". The engine overheated and ruined the head before he got a mile away from the garage.

Come to find out, they filled it with conventional anti freeze instead of the Autobahn G12 (VCBR86384A) !! The garage owner would not help to make it right, and the cost to correct the problem was high. If you need to add, use water, (I use distilled) until you can get to the Autobahn fluid... or keep a quart of mixed or straight in the trunk !! Trust me on this one !!

It contains no Silicate or Phosphate...

I plan to use it in my Dodge when I do the change,

It may be a good item to use in some of these "Bombed" trucks... ??



BTW, Be sure to use a premium Synthetic oil in the TDI engine, the little 1. 9 puts out 90 HP and runs high combustion temps !!

 

[HoleshotHolset]

I disagree on the high combustion temps..... they're not any higher than any other turbo diesel.



I have an EGT gauge on mine and the probe is literally darn near inside one of the exhaust ports... . I have seen a maximum of 1400°F in 90°F ambient temps - and that's with the big honkin' injectors I have in mine. Cruising temps are slightly less than the 6BT in my truck.



We may never know the real reason for the full synthetic, but my bet is to support the extended drain intervals (owner's manual states 10k between changes... . ).



Matt