SoaceMunky said:
what about ridiculously high pressures inside the cylinders, head, all the pipes....
all there is are benefits to the italian tune up?
what if the car is 100K+, would you still beat it?
Short answer: YES! ABSOLUTELY!
My 02 Golf is only 292k+ and I drive it like I stole it all the time. I've done this since day one. The car has been modded since about 150k. To this day the car has never run better. One could argue that I've got some serious performance mods (RC4 tuning, PP520 nozzles, VR6 clutch, VNT17 turbo, DG Racepipe, EuroJet FMIC, 2.5" exhaust) and that means I'm stressing everything harder than I normally would in a stock TDI. I still drive it like I stole it even with over 292k miles on it. I plan to keep this car for at least ANOTHER 200k+ miles and will continue to drive it like I stole like I've done since day one.
For a totally bone stock TDI, pressures aren't rediculously high....they're high comparatively speaking but well within design limits. Hopefully the experts like Drivbiwire will chime in with more details (I'm not an expert). With modded performance, pressures are higher and are being pushed closer to the design limits. I'm also well aware that I am my own warranty when it comes to performance mods.
The TDI engine is a TURBO-DIESEL engine. That's a little different than a non-turbo (i.e., normally aspirated) diesel engine with a turbo added to it. A modern turbodiesel engine like a TDI is specifically designed to work with boost provided by the turbo to help piston rings form a tighter compression seal. It depends on being revved, loaded, and kept "on boost" all the time. That means you have to regularly get on the power and get the RPMs up while on the power. Haulin' arse on the highway in 5th does this too.
It's known that TDIs that are regularly driven *HARD* and operated over the entire RPM range tend to have fewer intake clogging and turbo problems and fewer problems in general. Those that are babied, lugged, shifted too early, putted around town with at low RPMs, and rarely or never driven hard tend to have more problems. Do this long enough and it can lead to problems caused by low compression due to the rings not sealing properly due to never seeing any boost during the engine's life. One of the worst things you can do a TDI engine is to baby it and never get on the power and use the RPM range. It's so "old school" too.
People on TDIclub are 100% totally SERIOUS when they recommend doing spirited driving and "driving it like you stole" it as part of doing TDI preventive maintenance. Get out there and put your foot into it and work that tach needle! Long highway on-ramps, especially uphill ramps, are best for getting on the power and getting the revs up to around 4000 RPM before each shift.
These cars are DESIGNED and BUILT to be driven hard all the time. Drive it like it's the Autobahn burner that it is. The great MPGs they return while being driven hard come as a bonus on top of that. Unless you've got some serious performance mods, there's no need to worry about breaking anything. In my 6 years of TDI ownership I have to say my 02 Golf TDI and 05 PD Jetta Wagen TDI are the most efficient Autobahn burners I've ever owned.
Good luck.