Topic: 1.8T

[51]

anyone having issues with the 1.8T that VW sells in their cars, I'm looking at purchasing a 99-01 Golf/Jetta..GTI perferred.  Not sure if buying one with a turbo is a good choice

[ArticSteve]

You better google it and do an in depth investigation as the 1.8T in those years were known sludge motors.

[davidm]

And the coil packs.

No problems (yet) with the 1.8T on our 04 Audi.  Dad had no issues on his 01 A4 1.8T.

[ktm525]

The 1.8T is a very tough engine as long as it was given proper TLC. On any used 1.8T I would only buy if the owner can document regular oil changes using a VW 502 approved oil (ie. good synthetic). If not, walk away. The Passat/A4 seems to have more sludging issues due to the small sump capacity compared to the Jetta/Golf/Bug.

[scrawl]

1.8T is a great engine and it is deployed in a number of cars (GTI/Jetta/A4/...). Have a look in vwvortex.com in the technical -> 1.8T forum. Read until your heart's content.

A 1999 would be the 1st year of the MarkIV generation of the VW GTI/Jetta. If your budget can take it you may be better off with on '01 or '02 to be a bit later in that generation. I just bought on '03 GTI -- but I didn't buy a VW for reliability 

As ktm suggested I will be moving to synthetic at next oil change.

They other car is a Honda though 

[onearmed]

Some things you have to make sure when you get a 1.8T

1-Update the coolant sensor if it hasn't been updated ($6 part)
2-Timing Belt and water pump change every 100000km (Make sur ethe new waterpump is an aftermarket one with a metal impellar, OEM ones are pure garbage and break prematurely)
3-Make sure you have updated coils,both our cars have over 60000km on the updated coils without an issue.


If you take care of these issues, I believe your engine will live a long long life.

You should always check the usual (oil changes etc)  I would prefer to buy one that has had synthetic oil. 

Good Luck if you decide to buy one!

[kavatski]

The coil pack problem was on the later 1.8Ts (170/180 hp) anyway. My sister's '97 1.8T never had a single problem. My mother's '02 1.8T had the coil packs replaced and has been flawless, ditto for a co-worker's '02.

[tpl]

The 1.8T is bulletproof if it has regular synth oil changes.  I had a 150hp '00 A4 which I chipped with a chip from  apr (  www.goapr.com)  upto  205 bhp and 220lbs feet.  made all the difference in the world.

and

the fuel economy basically stayed the same

and

with that tiny turbo it still had very little lag.


I agree about the coolant sensor, mine went funny.
the MAF can go as well  ( solid CEL, no apparent change in engine performance)

the ignition coils were a 2001 thing

[Snowman]

  Why is then when I look at reliability trends, past and present, all German made cars are at the bottom of the reliability list.

[avtoller]

Why is then when I look at reliability trends, past and present, all German made cars are at the bottom of the reliability list.

Perhaps because they tend to have more reliability problems than other cars? 

[onearmed]

Why is then when I look at reliability trends, past and present, all German made cars are at the bottom of the reliability list.

Perhaps because they tend to have more reliability problems than other cars? 

what he said

[Traum]

My 2000 Volkswagen has the 150hp 1.8T engine. I do regular oil changes with traditional dino oil and preventive maintenance, and the car has only given me a small number of hiccups, most of which were taken care of under warranty. The engine itself is an absolute piece of engineering marvel, and is mostly bullet-proof (save for a few small parts).

The sludge build-up problem only affects the longitudinally mounted 1.8Ts, which means Passats (and A4 as well, I think). But to run into that problem, you have to be an idiot in the first place and neglect your oil changes. Also, pre-2001 1.8T Golf / GTI / Jetta are actually quite reliable for the most part, with only the occassional MAF malfunction. The MAF sensor malfunction can generally be cured by cleaning the sensor with 99% isopropyl alcohol, and even if a replacement is needed, the pre-2001 sensor is only a $60 - $70 dollar part. (Later model years uses a significantly more expensive sensor, for some reason.)

If you do get a post-2001 model, the coil packs is a recalled item that will almost certainly go wrong if it hadn't been replaced yet. Window regulators will likely die on you as well, dropping the window down all the way into door when it malfunctions.

Regardless of model year, the diverter valve (DV) is also a part that is prone to fail every few years. It needs to be replaced when it leaks, otherwise, the engine will not hold boost nearly as well and you lose power. I am fairly certain that the 225hp TT's diverter value will work in the 150hp and 180hp 1.8T engines, and that one will last longer than the stock one on the Golf / Jetta / GTI. You can also get a Forge DV that will never fail, although it needs to be cleaned regularly.

If you are into modding, the 1.8T is a gem to work with. Tons of aftermarket parts are available, with chipping being the most cost-effective thing you can possibly do.

Numerous VW dealerships have been (rightly) accused of refusing warranty service unless the problematic part has completely failed. Reputable VW dealerships do exist (I know some in Vancouver, near Toronto, and in Waterloo), but they seem to be the exception rather than the rule. Be wary of this fact before venturning into the VW world.

-Rick

[tgr_clw]

Agree with everything stated above.

Yes, the TT 225 diverter valve fits any 1.8T.

If buying a 1.8T make sure that the oil used was always a full synthetic with a maximum of 8000 km between oil changes.

Ahh... 1.8T and modding... Possibilities are endless. I've decided to go with a K04 upgrade/chip/injectors for my A4 ;-)