oilhammer
Certified Volkswagen Nut & Vendor
At TDI fest this past weekend, I was able to admire quite a few B5s, and was able to listen to a few of them running as well.
While I was asked many questions, and tried my best to give conclusive answers, I still feel some may have some gray areas on the actual problem, and I wanted to make a thread to hopefully do my best to clarify.
Let me start by saying this thread and the problem I am discussing only applies to the BHW engine, as found in every B5 TDI sold in North America. I would like to limit any responses, comments, or questions to those of us that own these cars and/or may service them.
The issue is engine noise, and the source is in the lower end of the engine, specifically the dual balance shaft module, its drive chain, and the hex shaft that drives the oil pump.
My general opinion, after listening to a few of these engines, as that they ALL will sooner or later need to have some attention given to the engine in this area. My feeling is the noise itself is coming from the hex shaft, NOT the chain. However, the chains DO have a few instances that I know of that they broke...from what I can gather, this happens without much warning, however the hex shaft noise may or may not be present before any chain issue.
As of right now, I cannot confirm the quality of any replacement parts. They are of the same design, however do have some minor differences that I cannot say one way or the other if they address any durability concerns.
Volkswagen, be it VOA, VAG, or whatever, has essentially no idea of this concern. This is a RARE engine, as it only is used in this specific car. Most B5s, sold globally with diesels, use a 1.9L engine, a 16 valve 2.0L engine, a V6 diesel engine, and/or are equipped with a manual transmission. Any of those combinations means they do not use a balance shaft assembly. Again, this is limited to JUST the BHW engine.
While there was some talk of someone in the aftermarket making (or trying to make) an improved hex shaft, that seems to have faded away and I won't pester that person anymore. I do not know the reason(s).
Mileage that this concern arises seems varied. Most cars start getting noisier around 60k miles, with some getting quite audible before 100k, and others being relatively quiet beyond 100k. I listened to one this weekend that at 139k miles was pretty quiet, and another at not even 90k was substantially louder. There was one car there that I heard run that sounded like imminent doom, but I was not able to tell the owner and I am not certain of its odometer reading currently.
I presently have a B5 in the shop with 244k miles on it, its chain broke, but I am unaware of the history, and someone (who should not ever have touched a Volkswagen with tools) attempted to repair it and it is in dire shape.
To 'quantify' the repair, I would put a price of $1700 or so on it, given it is done at the same time the 100k mile service is performed with the timing belt. Meaning, that is $1700 PLUS the 100k service (yes, I know this is a chunk of change).
If anyone wanted to talk to me this weekend and was unable to, I apologize. There were actually a LOT more B5s there than I expected!
Previous thread on the subject, if you want to do some reading:
http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=202297
UPDATE! Volkswagen has come up with a gear driven balance shaft assembly for these. This is discussed later in this thread!
While I was asked many questions, and tried my best to give conclusive answers, I still feel some may have some gray areas on the actual problem, and I wanted to make a thread to hopefully do my best to clarify.
Let me start by saying this thread and the problem I am discussing only applies to the BHW engine, as found in every B5 TDI sold in North America. I would like to limit any responses, comments, or questions to those of us that own these cars and/or may service them.
The issue is engine noise, and the source is in the lower end of the engine, specifically the dual balance shaft module, its drive chain, and the hex shaft that drives the oil pump.
My general opinion, after listening to a few of these engines, as that they ALL will sooner or later need to have some attention given to the engine in this area. My feeling is the noise itself is coming from the hex shaft, NOT the chain. However, the chains DO have a few instances that I know of that they broke...from what I can gather, this happens without much warning, however the hex shaft noise may or may not be present before any chain issue.
As of right now, I cannot confirm the quality of any replacement parts. They are of the same design, however do have some minor differences that I cannot say one way or the other if they address any durability concerns.
Volkswagen, be it VOA, VAG, or whatever, has essentially no idea of this concern. This is a RARE engine, as it only is used in this specific car. Most B5s, sold globally with diesels, use a 1.9L engine, a 16 valve 2.0L engine, a V6 diesel engine, and/or are equipped with a manual transmission. Any of those combinations means they do not use a balance shaft assembly. Again, this is limited to JUST the BHW engine.
While there was some talk of someone in the aftermarket making (or trying to make) an improved hex shaft, that seems to have faded away and I won't pester that person anymore. I do not know the reason(s).
Mileage that this concern arises seems varied. Most cars start getting noisier around 60k miles, with some getting quite audible before 100k, and others being relatively quiet beyond 100k. I listened to one this weekend that at 139k miles was pretty quiet, and another at not even 90k was substantially louder. There was one car there that I heard run that sounded like imminent doom, but I was not able to tell the owner and I am not certain of its odometer reading currently.
I presently have a B5 in the shop with 244k miles on it, its chain broke, but I am unaware of the history, and someone (who should not ever have touched a Volkswagen with tools) attempted to repair it and it is in dire shape.
To 'quantify' the repair, I would put a price of $1700 or so on it, given it is done at the same time the 100k mile service is performed with the timing belt. Meaning, that is $1700 PLUS the 100k service (yes, I know this is a chunk of change).
If anyone wanted to talk to me this weekend and was unable to, I apologize. There were actually a LOT more B5s there than I expected!
Previous thread on the subject, if you want to do some reading:
http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=202297
UPDATE! Volkswagen has come up with a gear driven balance shaft assembly for these. This is discussed later in this thread!
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