Timing Belt on 2.0 TDI's - Replacement Interval

[Alchemy]

Timing Belt on 2.0 TDI\'s - Replacement Interval

Just curious if anyone can tell me what the timing belt replacement interval is specified at on the 2.0 TDI in the Passat? Mine is on order (the car, not the belt), but curiosity has the cat.

Thanks,

Steve

 

[Drivbiwire]

Timing Belt on 2.0 TDI\'s - Replacement Interval

100,000 miles.

DB

 

[€hief™]

Timing Belt on 2.0 TDI\'s - Replacement Interval

Thanks for posting the timing belt info. I have been waiting and watching to see if VW finally would go with a gear driven cam drive. This is a HUGE dissappointment and most likely, I will not purchase based on this. In my opinion, the timing belt is a design flaw. My Cummins has a gear drive and designed to go 400,000 miles between rebuilds or major maintenance. The cost of the timing belt replacement defeats and off sets the fuel economy savings and benefit of the diesel engine. I may be misinformed here. I would appreciate it if anyone could shed some light on this. /images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[Mbmaring]

Timing Belt on 2.0 TDI\'s - Replacement Interval

On a overhead cam engine I think it is the most efficient way to turn the cam. If you figure out the cost of an 100,000 mile timing belt it costs less than a 1/2 cent a mile installed. Even less than that considering you could get 200,000 miles on the car and just replace the belt once.

 

[outthere]

Timing Belt on 2.0 TDI\'s - Replacement Interval

If diesel is .30 gal cheaper, and you go 15-20 miles further per gallon, you'd need a very expensive TB change that occurs more than every hundred thousand miles to make your statement true. I'm guessing 400-500 bucks, and the 100k mile interval is longer than any gas powered cars I've owned in the past.
Finally, TDI's with 100k miles are selling quickly for way over blue book value. Not many gas powered cars can say that.
Out of curiousity, what's plan B? Drop a cummins into a cadillac? (cool idea!) I don't expect there to be many passenger diesels from the US auto mfg for a long time....and most of the euro/jap mfg. use belts just like VW.

 

[mchalkley]

Timing Belt on 2.0 TDI\'s - Replacement Interval

[ QUOTE ]
Out of curiousity, what's plan B? Drop a cummins into a cadillac? (cool idea!)

[/ QUOTE ]

Hmmm. As the proud owner of a '93 W250 Dodge with a Cummins in it, I'd say that dropping one of those engines "into" a Cadillac is roughly analogous to dropping a white shark into a bathtub... /images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[CarlUman]

Timing Belt on 2.0 TDI\'s - Replacement Interval

I don't expect there to be many passenger diesels from the US auto mfg for a long time....and most of the euro/jap mfg. use belts just like VW.

Maybe, maybe not. Jeep Liberty is suppose to be available for order this month with a diesel.

ON EDIT:
Anyone have intructions on how to change these? I'd rather do this myself when the time comes. Does or how is the timing checked/set?

Thanks much Carl

 

[Drivbiwire]

Timing Belt on 2.0 TDI\'s - Replacement Interval

Thanks for posting the timing belt info. I have been waiting and watching to see if VW finally would go with a gear driven cam drive. This is a HUGE dissappointment and most likely, I will not purchase based on this. In my opinion, the timing belt is a design flaw. My Cummins has a gear drive and designed to go 400,000 miles between rebuilds or major maintenance. The cost of the timing belt replacement defeats and off sets the fuel economy savings and benefit of the diesel engine. I may be misinformed here. I would appreciate it if anyone could shed some light on this.

Buy a gas engine oh wait even those have a timing belt. Then get a chain..oh wait those have to be replaced but at 2-3 time the cost of a belt.

This belt change thing is over rated. Belts are superior to chains in every regard in terms of cost and simplicity.

Gears are superior but they are also superior in terms of cost.

Every 100,000 miles simply replace the belt and water pump. Its maintenance and if you own a car its just a matter you have to accept.

DB

 

[HammerMTB]

Re: Timing Belt on 2.0 TDI\'s - Replacement Interval

This is comparing apples to oranges. The Cummins is a medium & industrial duty engine adapted to automotive use. The life expectancies are greater, and the valve train load is greater.
The TDI does just what it is designed to do- operate the cam at the lowest cost per mile. This includes initial cost and maintenance cost, which would be less for the anticipated life using a belt.
P.S. I have a '95 Cummins/Dodge, and a 2004.5 Passat TDI. I teach Diesel Power Technology, so I spend my days checking my info...

 

[PlaneCrazy]

Re: Timing Belt on 2.0 TDI\'s - Replacement Interval

The belt thing wasn't perhaps overrated when the change interval was only 60,000 km (40,000 miles) for automatics and 90,000 km (55,000 miles) for manuals.

But now that they are all 160,000 km across the board, it's a non-issue; even my Hondas needed a belt change earlier than that. (note: both my Passat and Jetta owner's manuals state a belt change at 144,000 and 160,000 km...go figure. I think 144,000 is supposed to be "check and change if necessary", but it's written-in French in my case-check AND change. Period; is it just me or does VW documentation suck?)