How many miles will a TDI go with good maintenance

[dieseljet22]

I'm just curious... does anyone know? I've heard 300k+ but...does anyone here have one with that many miles? I'd like to know if I can expect that kind of life out of mine. Thanks!

 

[POWERSTROKE]

The motors are rated at 10,000 hours. So if you drive at 55mph for 10,000 hours that is 550,000k.

 

[Lectric_Dave]

It's been called the Million Mile Motor for good reason.

I have 100k and it's running strong.

 

[TDIinTX]

Truth is, the TDI hasn't really been around long enough for anyone to really wear one out. Check back in about 15 years and I'll let you know how mine's doing.

 

[jasonTDI]

Good if you were a real highway warrior. But the average car averages between 26 and 37 mph depending on how urban their residence is. I have been in the 35-39mph range for a long time. I have had several BMW's that could track average speed and I would reset it every 6 months. So 275-400K miles should not be without reason

 

[Curious Chris]

My goal is to test the body rust warranty: 10 years driving 38,000 miles a year. A mere 380,000 miles that should be well within the expected life of a TDI engine that is taken care of.

 

[BRUSSELS BELGIAN]

No doubt, the ENGINE will go 400,000 miles. The problem is that the engine is surrounded by a VOLKSWAGEN. So at the end of 400,000 miles, you will have spent so much on repairs that you could have bought another new CAR!

 

[steam4]

I'll let you know....in about 4 more years.

 

[Curious Chris]

[ QUOTE ]
BRUSSELS BELGIAN said:
No doubt, the ENGINE will go 400,000 miles. The problem is that the engine is surrounded by a VOLKSWAGEN. So at the end of 400,000 miles, you will have spent so much on repairs that you could have bought another new CAR!

[/ QUOTE ]

There is at least a grain of truth in this statement. My 1984 Peugeot 505S TD engine was a beast; replaced the waterpump 3 times, alternator twice, rebuilt the starter 3 times.... But never had the to do any work to the mechanical working of the engine.

But technology is on our side, and so is this club. For example DeafBug is going to do my timing belt/water pump change with a kit bought from Harvieux.

 

[scooperhsd]

I plan on going 300K - 500K miles (or more)!!!

 

[ruking]

I would like to point out THREE things 1. I have averaged on a on board computer (not a VW Jetta) app 56 mph(over 54k). So with a design life of 10,000 hrs that ranges from 500-560k. Keep in mind the 10,000 hr figure is on a bell shaped curve, the middle most point. So obviously there is and will be variation. 2. Pay particular attention to the ancillary systems for the VW TDI has a self destruct design. I have seen the proper discriptive name in an article in passing, but it escapes me at this writing. What that means is when the ancillary systems break down, self destruction can happen almost in an instant. Conversely, if you keep those systems in good repair and maintenance the higher mileage numbers are definitely achievable. An obvious and pretty central example is the TB, water pump. My target is 550k and beyond. So I do stuff like monitor these ancillary systems, Use Delvac One synthetic oil... etc etc. 3. I can not overstress how important a covered enclosed garage and regular and consistent cleanliness can make. I wash, polish, the vehicle on a consistent basis etc. So I do park the vehicle in a locked almost temperature controlled garage. So time will tell! /images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[MrMopar]

Lord knows there are plenty of Toyota trucks on the road with 300,000 plus miles, and all the engines run like the day they were built while the body has succumbed to a terminal case of rust. I've also experienced the same things with several Dodge pickups that I've owned.

Both of these examples are gasoline engines too, so a diesel should last even longer. Just don't neglect the mechanicals and it will last as long as you want it to last. By that time you will be in the market for a new car having tired of the old one before it wore out.

 

[fhryder]

Hi:
My son has an early '90s Jetta with 520,000km.
did his first motor work other than tb's last winter, a head gasket. That's what convinced me to get a TDI, it's got a bit more galvanized metal in the body, should last longer, not that his looks bad, but you can see some rust.

Frank

 

[oilhammer]

Saw K5ING's '01 Golf last weekend...he's over 220k miles, and damn if I could tell that car from one just like it with 20k miles! /images/graemlins/grin.gif

My signature says the mileage of my cars, and I consider them "just broken in" /images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[bowlerman]

[ QUOTE ]
BRUSSELS BELGIAN said:
No doubt, the ENGINE will go 400,000 miles. The problem is that the engine is surrounded by a VOLKSWAGEN. So at the end of 400,000 miles, you will have spent so much on repairs that you could have bought another new CAR!

[/ QUOTE ]
i like what he has to say. i am all about diesels in a car but vw should get their act together, have to admit it mmy friend with a honda never works on his car. i always am?

 

[POWERSTROKE]

Maybe 24k. I had a clunk last night at 24k.
A joke?

 

[jck66]

Mine will go between 900-1000 miles. Then I have to maintain the fuel level. /images/graemlins/grin.gif

Honestly, I'm surprised there have been so many polite and informative answers. Oh, wait, it's "TDI 101". /images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[dieseljet22]

Jck,
The question was not how many miles per tank you can go.....it was... how long will the engine last? I was just curious to know if some real road warriors were getting 300k or more out of their tdi. I had a diesel Benz with over 300k and know of some MBZ owners with many more than 500k on an original engine. I'm sorry if you thought the question was beneith you....

Thank you to all that did understand the question and took the time to reply.

 

[K5ING]

[ QUOTE ]
oilhammer said:
Saw K5ING's '01 Golf last weekend...he's over 220k miles, and damn if I could tell that car from one just like it with 20k miles! /images/graemlins/grin.gif


[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks for the compliment, Oilhammer. /images/graemlins/grin.gif

I wish it had been a bit cleaner (it was a "working car" all of it's life), but the car itself is solid. My only secret is to do the maintainance by the book, use Delvac 1, and drive it more or less "legal". In other words, don't race it, but don't baby it either. It also helps if you have long commutes or it spends most of it's life on the road.

I expect mine to last well over 300K miles. Yours should too.

Jeff in Texas
Silver 2001 Golf GL TDI 5-speed
223,400 miles since 5/1/01 and climbing! /images/graemlins/eek.gif

 

[Cosmic Green]

My 99.5 Jetta has 333,000km on the clock. No problems, no oil consumption, original wheel bearings and front end. My first "repairs" are coming next week: I need new CV joints, and I'm going to replace the fuel injectors too. I consider those to be normal wear for such a high mileage car. I expect to get at least 700,000km out of the thing, hopefully a million!

 

[master cylinder]

My '92 Jetta (gasser) has 263K miles on it and it is all original - clutch, trans, engine, starter etc.. It looks as good as new - no rust! Everything still works and it still drives like a new car (actually I think A2's are more fun to drive than A4's). I expect this car to go well beyond 300K with no problem - I would drive it to California right now. I have several friends at work who drive older Toyotas and Hondas and they are barely holding together! Nothing on the Toyotas work anymore except for the motors and they are rotted to the point of being unsafe. The Hondas are just as rotted but also have noisey motors. They all have less miles on them than my Jetta. My car before the '92 Jetta was a '82 Rabbit Pick Up (gasser) with 327K miles and still going strong when I sold it for the '92. I couldn't wear out the '92 so I gave it to my Daughter and bought a 2002 Jetta TDI. I have the pleasure of not ever experiencing or understanding people not liking/trusting VW quality/longevity/reliability. I have had nothing but superb performance and service from all of my VW's (even the aircooleds). I am glad my VW engine is surrounded by a VW and I expect both of them to go well beyond 300K miles with no problem and still look great in ten years when all the Hondas/Toyotas and the like are dissolving down the drain!

 

[freewheel]

I buy 'em new and drive 'em until the wheels fall off. Personal preference. From first-hand experience, I can confirm master cylinder's observations about Toyota and Honda. Still have a '92 Honda Civic VX with over 167K (miles) on it. It has been mechanically faultless, but I expect the body will totally disolve in 2 or 3 more years. The Honda replaced an '84 Toyota Tercel (remember them?) which had maybe a problem or two along the way, but the Toyota didn't make it to 150K before the rust finished it off. When people ask me how I like my '01 Golf TDI with 46K, I tell them to ask me again at 200K, when I'll be able to tell them better. With good maintenance, I fully expect to get at least that out of it. MAFs and 109 relays may come and go, but rusting out is forever. Maybe what I'm really saying is that I'm expecting more YEARS out of my VW and therefore more MILES. Just my POV from the land of road salt.

 

[Lug_Nut]

I just turned 270,000 miles in my present 96 Passat TDI.
I think I'll have body work and a repaint done on it this spring. Maybe I'll have the original injectors checked. Maybe I'll have the original clutch checked too.
Maybe the more important question is: "How many miles will a TDI go with less than obsessive maintenance?"

 

[ruking]

At least 270k? /images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[itsmejerry]

Although not a TDI, the basic engine is the same. I had a 1989 Jetta 1.6L diesel that went 622,000 miles on one, unrebuilt engine. It was totaled in a wreck. It was purely a stock vehicle, with no mods. In it I ran Castrol (conventional, not synthetic) 20w/50 oil.
The TDI is the same basic engine, and assuming that, there is no reason to get less than 500,000 miles out of a TDI engine in the same (mostly highway driving) conditions, or 350-400,000 miles in a daily driving situation.

 

[Drivbiwire]

[ QUOTE ]
ruking said:
So with a design life of 10,000 hrs that ranges from 500-560k.

[/ QUOTE ]

I have no doubt that the TDI is closer to a 25,000 hour engine with normal daily use based on what I am seeing with my TDI at 3,500+ hours. I realize that things will need to be replaced but also a 25,000 hour engine does not mean it goes 25,000 without maintenance. The block, head and pistons and rings will go the distance everything else is pretty much a wear item and will more than likely need to be replaced if not once several times.

FYI: My car with 163,381 miles has 3,540.9 hours since it drove off the lot. Lifetime avarage speed...46.141 miles per hour.

Last compression check shows 550psi on all four cylinders zero differential between them, new TDI's start off at 475psi and rise to 550 once broken in and remain there till who knows when.

Will my car make it to 300,000 miles you bet your A$$ it will. Will it make it to 600,000 miles at this rate? You bet your A$$ it will... /images/graemlins/laugh.gif

The best advice to keep a high mileage TDI going:

-Follow the book regarding all maintenance recomendations
-Use a 5w40 Group IV synthetic oil like Delvac 1 or Amsoil 10w40
-Don't baby the motor
-Don't beat the motor
-Best advice of all, Enjoy the view along the way with the TDI leading the way /images/graemlins/laugh.gif

DB

 

[ruking]

[ QUOTE ]
Drivbiwire said:
[ QUOTE ]
ruking said:
So with a design life of 10,000 hrs that ranges from 500-560k.

[/ QUOTE ]

I have no doubt that the TDI is closer to a 25,000 hour engine with normal daily use based on what I am seeing with my TDI at 3,500+ hours. I realize that things will need to be replaced but also a 25,000 hour engine does not mean it goes 25,000 without maintenance. The block, head and pistons and rings will go the distance everything else is pretty much a wear item and will more than likely need to be replaced if not once several times.

FYI: My car with 163,381 miles has 3,540.9 hours since it drove off the lot. Lifetime avarage speed...46.141 miles per hour.

Last compression check shows 550psi on all four cylinders zero differential between them, new TDI's start off at 475psi and rise to 550 once broken in and remain there till who knows when.

Will my car make it to 300,000 miles you bet your A$$ it will. Will it make it to 600,000 miles at this rate? You bet your A$$ it will... /images/graemlins/laugh.gif

The best advice to keep a high mileage TDI going:

-Follow the book regarding all maintenance recomendations
-Use a 5w40 Group IV synthetic oil like Delvac 1 or Amsoil 10w40
-Don't baby the motor
-Don't beat the motor
-Best advice of all, Enjoy the view along the way with the TDI leading the way /images/graemlins/laugh.gif

DB

[/ QUOTE ]

For your sake and mine and also the TDI community in general, I hope that you are correct. It eludes me, at this writing where I read the 10,000 hr design life parameter or I would provide the link. Also, if your average speed is 46 mph, a 25,000 hr design life, again I do not know if your figure is the middle point of the bell shaped curve, the motor life is closer to 1.15 M miles. So in effect lasting EVEN longer is a additional surprise benefit. So I will be coming to YOU with 12 TB and water pump changes instead of the projected 6. /images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[scooperhsd]

Totally concur with your advice on long life cars - especially
Use it, but don't abuse it.
And Follow the maintenance schedule religiously.
(1988 Acura Integra - 221K miles
1990 Honda Civic SW - 288K miles
2000 VW NB TDI - 87K miles - the last 22K put on by me)

 

[Drivbiwire]

I got the chance to see the cylinder of a 220,000 mile TDI, the original hone marks were are clearly visible, no ridge at the top of the cylinder, no history of oil consumption, perfect compression (550psi)...This was an engine that is supposedly 1/4 of the way through it's life yet not showing the least bit wear...Who really knows how long they can go with the proper TLC. It's kinda like a Tootsie Pop... LOL

DB

 

[BRUSSELS BELGIAN]

A very valid point about rust is made here. Although I like to bad-mouth VW's, they appear to have very durable bodies. And once rust gets out of hand, it can become a hopeless battle. So maybe I am being too hard on VW, because replacing an electrical or hardware part IS a heck of a lot easier than fighting rust.