TDI life in CY

[stefan]

Re: TDI life in CY

i agree. i sometimes go a little less as i am chipped, with larger injectors, and spend a lot of time driving through the mountains. But generally hold out to 16k.

[Red90]

Re: TDI life in CY

As for the oil changes being 16K apart thats what it says in my manual as well but the stealer claims 8K limits on changes due to our "special" climate etc. Personally I just do mine every 10K as it is easier to remember.

16 k is perfectly fine and very conservative if you are stock.

[Benjamin]

Re: TDI life in CY

Ok, Timing belts are 160,000 km intervals for 2003+ TDi cars. If the car is older then 96,000 for 5 speeds, 60,000 for the slush boxes.
Cost of the timing belt well that depends, my brother just spent $275 plus shipping and taxes for a timing belt kit from out east. I have the tools, so for a bit of side money I did the belt for him.
The heat, yeah you can't start the car and it will just warm up. The trick as mentioned is heated seats, get those in a tdi, it will help your resale value as well.
Um, oil changes are costly for the newer cars, I never spend more then $30 for mine a 2000 TDi. The oil is $23, and I got the filters awhile back for $4.50 a filter from world pac when I worked at the shop.
Diesel prices, yeah they are high right now but that is because heating oil and diesel are the same. So when it gets cold out, diesel prices tend to rise, winter also normally has high diesel low gas prices. In the summer though, high gas prices, and low diesel prices, so you just have to expect to pay more at one time of the year.
A TDi might not be for most, if you don't drive much, or very far a cheaper gas car will do you fine. I think 25,000 km's a year was what was needed for the TDi to pay for itself.
I personally love diesels, they are not the fastest car on the block, but with the right mods they can leave many slightly modified honda's in your soot trail. I can't say how the new engines are going to perform, but I would love to try one eventually. Oh well, if you get a tdi enjoy it and let us know how the new engine goes!

Benjamin

[stefan]

Re: TDI life in CY

yeah, i think the timing belt issue is over. most belts are the long life ones now. i had to request the longer life one for my 01 a few years back. I guess a few shops are using up the old belts though.... If you go for the new 2.0TDI, there shouldn't be an issue.

[Vulcan]

Re: TDI life in CY

In the cold days of winter I will drive from the Country Hills area to 16th ave down the Deerfoot and if I am in rush hour stop/go traffic my temp guage just moves off the cold side of the gauge when I hit 16th Ave. If I am traveling at normal speed then I get heat by McKnight. In the real cold times I also run a fuel additive which I find does make the car easy to start and gives it back some of the power that the winter fuel takes away. As for the oil changes being 16K apart thats what it says in my manual as well but the stealer claims 8K limits on changes due to our "special" climate etc. Personally I just do mine every 10K as it is easier to remember. I will be taking my car to George for the big timing belt service as I hate going to the dealerships for anything. On the timing belt note there is a lot of difference of opinion on when that service is due.....I have read a bunch about VW changing the specs of the belt which allows a longer time between changes.

[stefan]

Re: TDI life in CY

Personally I rarely see the temp drop and never has it become uncomfortable. The 100K service is only about 800$ at tunedub so it is a normal issue too. I guess the only real major maintenance issue is having to change the fuel filter every year or so other then that every thing else is pretty comparable.

maybe i just need a new thermostat.....

[VWSM]

Re: TDI life in CY

it's all about the price?
Just remember to ask and have it noted.
O.E.M
O.E
or made in china.

[Stonewall]

Re: TDI life in CY

Personally I rarely see the temp drop and never has it become uncomfortable. The 100K service is only about 800$ at tunedub so it is a normal issue too. I guess the only real major maintenance issue is having to change the fuel filter every year or so other then that every thing else is pretty comparable.

[stefan]

Re: TDI life in CY

if its really cold, my car will start dropping from regular operating temp if i sit at an idle, or am in slow traffic.
the winter diesel we get after around october-ish (i think its october anyway) prevents most gelling. (little worse mileage in winter because of this).

[Khyron]

Re: TDI life in CY

Yah I already do my own oil with 5/40 synth, so I pay the price. And 90-100K timing belt/waterpump was 700 or so on a gasser.

So the heat issue isn't really an issue after all? What about the gas gelling or whatever in really cold temps? I know it's not often but we do get a deep freeze every now and then and the car can be outside for 10-12 hours between starts...

[stefan]

Re: TDI life in CY

price not so bad at a shop like Tunedub. and yeah, 16,000km oil change pretty much negates the extra cost of synth oil.

i think the new 2.0TDI is a 15-16,000km change as well

[Bubbleboy]

Re: TDI life in CY

I enjoy my diesel but there are a few things to be aware of...

1) No heat in the winter if you are doing the 1st gear grind in heavy traffic
2) Oil changes are $$$
3) The price of diesel has gone through the roof which takes away some of the economy of driving a diesel.

Oh ya, dawn the kevlar reinforced underwear when it comes time to do the 100000KM service. If I remember it's $1600 or so. Timing belt, water pump....blah blah blah......but never skip you scheduled maintenance!

[Red90]

Re: TDI life in CY

1) No heat in the winter if you are doing the 1st gear grind in heavy traffic
2) Oil changes are $$$
3) The price of diesel has gone through the roof which takes away some of the economy of driving a diesel.

1) I never see that problem.
2) Intervals are double the gasser, so not really and besides, you SHOULD be using just as expensive an oil in your gasser as your diesel....
3) Diesel prices are always higher in the winter. They will drop in the summer. There is only a 2.5 cent difference as of today... http://www.calgarygasprices.com/index.aspx?fuel=D

[Vulcan]

Re: TDI life in CY

I enjoy my diesel but there are a few things to be aware of...

1) No heat in the winter if you are doing the 1st gear grind in heavy traffic
2) Oil changes are $$$
3) The price of diesel has gone through the roof which takes away some of the economy of driving a diesel.

[nismodrifter]

Re: TDI life in CY

No problems starting in cold weather. Ever. Both of our TDI's have started EVERY single time whether it be here in Calgary or in cold as hell weather in Saskatoon during the school year.

TDI Dub: I made a fully loaded trip from Naniamo to Calgary as well on one tank haha. Did that trip wayyy back in the day in our 300SD Turbo Diesel, it couldn't make it all the way home though....started sputtering at the intersection of Sarcee/37th street right where the new casino is hehe. My record distance was 1247kms with a decent amount of fuel left to spare (Calgary->Kelowna and back).

TDI FTW.