TURBO: 2012-2014 Passat turbo failures [discussion thread]

[TomB]

Not necessarily, the oweness is on the servicing dealership to prove that the oil caused the failure. That being said, my guess is that they will try this "wrong oil" route. If the OP has admitted to using the wrong oil in a public forum it can be used against him!

Wrong. The ownership belongs to the person who used a non spec'd oil who should then have the honor, honesty and integrity to admit they F'd up and pay for it. That is what a responsible, mature adult does, not try to play semantics and foist the cost off on someone else.

I find it funny how so many have big cojones about how they know better than VW and the engineers and that they will use the oil they want until proven wrong and then when something goes wrong they run off to VW like chickens to pay for their failed experiment.

If you can't pay then don't play. Pretty common sense.

It is obvious, non spec'd oil used. Turbo fails. Cause and effect. Considering there are many with 40K miles with so few turbo issues makes it even seem more obvious.

 

[VeeDubTDI]

Correlation != Causation

 

[CNNPress]

I got my Passat TDI in March 2012, and I remembered when the weather became cold, in a very rare occasion I will encounter "power-lost" and have some smell like gasoline after 2 miles from the cold start. Then I decided to warm up the engine a little bit before running the car, and since then I never had the problem. Also I took advice from people in this forum, let the engine run for 30 seconds after I parked the car. Maybe this will help to protect the engine.

 

[phlfly]

What problem are you talking about? The one where absolutely 100% of turbochargers never fail ever?

How is it that Subaru managed to make 100% of turbochargers never fail ever? Oh wait - they didn't.

How did you calculate that there are 300 - 500 members here with 2012 Passats? Also how did you determine that the 5 failures you mentioned were actually significant turbocharger failures and not dealer misdiagnoses or electrical malfunctions?

This is nothing more than a case of made-up statistics.

It's not me it's ng3.

 

[ng3]

... Bought a subaru and not worry about failure prone cheap turbos. (of which there have been less than 5 replaced on passats based on this forum only)

less than 5...

 

[phlfly]

you got the point.

 

[psd1]

Wrong. The ownership belongs to the person who used a non spec'd oil

Nope, incorrect.

 

[VeeDubTDI]

you got the point.

Yes we did - the point being that you are arriving at false conclusions based on made-up information.

 

[ng3]

If the point is that you like generalizing and comparing the Passat to any random brands out there, yes, we got it. I'm going to talk to a wall now, it'll make more sense.

 

[phlfly]

So accordingly you it's ok on 20,000 miles car has turbo failed. Well than I'm talking to wall. I wonder if it's happened one of you what would you say?
And without warranty?! "Oh it's ok VW is fine blah blah blah..."
Unbelievable!!!

You are might working for VW in this case.

 

[767wrench]

VW knows how to make magic oil lmao. This forum is ridiculous. I agree with you phlfly! No excuse for a failure like this on a new car. The Dpf causes too much heat and the turbo cant take it. Without the emissions garbage this would be an excellent car. All the talk of how the oil caused this is crazy. Maybe if I was using tranny fluid or kerosene as oil this could happen! Better not mention that the muffler was removed on this car! Maybe the negligible increase in flow caused the turbo to spool too fast and it flew apart!! Obviously some people on here have never worked on anything or gone to school for any type of engine.

 

[ng3]

So accordingly you it's ok on 20,000 miles car has turbo failed. Well than I'm talking to wall. I wonder if it's happened one of you what would you say?
And without warranty?! "Oh it's ok VW is fine blah blah blah..."
Unbelievable!!!

You are might working for VW in this case.

No, I don't work for VW.
No, it's not ok for it to fail so new. But, I'd rather it fails under warranty than after. If I don't feel comfortable with it, I'd sell it after the fix.

My problem with your posts is that you're expecting the Passat to be the most reliable VW ever. That's not going to be true. VW still has A Lot of things to fix, HPFP, electrical issues, turbos yes but it seems they're working on some like the intercooler.

My other problem is you comparing this with everything else under the sun when nobody else offers a similar drive-train in North America. It's not a BMW 550, it's not an Audi, it's not a Subaru etc. I noticed you haven't driven the same car for more than 4 years, do you just like switching or did they all have problems (not the crashed M3).

To the OP, I don't believe a turbo would have gone because of 1 oil change with non-magic VW oil.
A 11 Jetta I drive regularly has not had one single oil change on vw approved oil or a DSG service ever and runs perfect, never had any engine or tranny issues and it's close to 100k miles.
This forum is a gathering of a lot of gearheads most of which know their sh%t and I don't pretend to be one of them. How sensitive can the Passats be that one oil change with "unapproved" oil kills the car?

 

[phlfly]

No, I don't work for VW.
No, it's not ok for it to fail so new. But, I'd rather it fails under warranty than after. If I don't feel comfortable with it, I'd sell it after the fix.

My problem with your posts is that you're expecting the Passat to be the most reliable VW ever. That's not going to be true. VW still has A Lot of things to fix, HPFP, electrical issues, turbos yes but it seems they're working on some like the intercooler.

My other problem is you comparing this with everything else under the sun when nobody else offers a similar drive-train in North America. It's not a BMW 550, it's not an Audi, it's not a Subaru etc. I noticed you haven't driven the same car for more than 4 years, do you just like switching or did they all have problems (not the crashed M3).

To the OP, I don't believe a turbo would have gone because of 1 oil change with non-magic VW oil.
A 11 Jetta I drive regularly has not had one single oil change on vw approved oil or a DSG service ever and runs perfect, never had any engine or tranny issues and it's close to 100k miles.
This forum is a gathering of a lot of gearheads most of which know their sh%t and I don't pretend to be one of them. How sensitive can the Passats be that one oil change with "unapproved" oil kills the car?

Yes most time I don't keep for long, 3-4 years may be 5, my older kid is using one. I'm generally like cars, any cars (I’m reading, testing new models and ect), by switching cars I learned a lot, since I do lot things myself, or I have very good friends with auto shop and they’re allowing me to use their shop and they help me a lot. The most my car were very used from 60,000 + miles. I learned a lot at my friend's shop (european auto shop) as well, how Audi/VW are not very reliable particular Audi compare to BMW or Benz (we are talking about only German made cars, since they are using same vendors a lot). The BMW 550 was most unreliable car from bimmers I had. If I ask me about BMW I can tell all problems for each model till current ones. There are many cars is turbo equipped, but VW was using this technologies for almost two decade, and I think they should solve this problem.

Also OP is right it’s myth about oil. The cert VW 507 is just for sulfur engines with DPF, but you can use any LL –series oil and will not affect the turbo. The most important parameter for oil is HTHS number. All LL-series oils are have HTHS 3.5 and above, but if you are not racing or your driving style is not aggressive it don’t matter. I used Mobil Synth 5W-30 a lot, but replaced each 4000- 5000 miles. I did this on BMW's and never had problem (valve gaskets, venting system, and ect), while 15,000 miles intervals oil gave a lot problems, ask BMW service advisers about this, they will tell you.

 

[WutGas?]

Yet you still bought a VW despite knowing they weren't reliable?

 

[phlfly]

Yes I'm, I always like VW. For same reason BMW.

 

[Rockwell]

Not saying Im right but two separate Tdi technicians at different dealers have said T6 was ok to use. One when I purchased the car and one when I was purchasing oil filters at the dealer. Both said that they were Tdi qualified.

Technicans dont know, they are not engineers. I'm an aircraft technician (looks like you are too?) and I have no authority to say what kind of oil can go in the jet engines. How would a technician know that information?

 

[VeeDubTDI]

VW knows how to make magic oil lmao. This forum is ridiculous. I agree with you phlfly! No excuse for a failure like this on a new car. The Dpf causes too much heat and the turbo cant take it. Without the emissions garbage this would be an excellent car. All the talk of how the oil caused this is crazy. Maybe if I was using tranny fluid or kerosene as oil this could happen! Better not mention that the muffler was removed on this car! Maybe the negligible increase in flow caused the turbo to spool too fast and it flew apart!! Obviously some people on here have never worked on anything or gone to school for any type of engine.

TomB is the only one who blamed your turbo failure on you using the wrong oil. The rest of us said it had nothing to do with the turbo failure but could eventually cause ash buildup in the DPF. Don't generalize and say the entire forum is ridiculous because one person said the wrong oil caused your turbo to fail.

The claim that a mufflerectomy would cause a turbo failure is just as ridiculous.

 

[VeeDubTDI]

Technicans dont know, they are not engineers. I'm an aircraft technician (looks like you are too?) and I have no authority to say what kind of oil can go in the jet engines. How would a technician know that information?

Bingo!

In fact, you should call VW customer service and tell them that their mechanics are suggesting people use the wrong oil in their TDIs - see what they say about that.

 

[767wrench]

Ya he tends to get on my nerves. I apologize. There is alot of good information on here even with the radicals. Mufflerectomy hahaha!! I was kidding about that!

 

[SilverGhost]

Ah, maybe not on our cars but I have been warned about that failure on RX7. The reduction of back pressure caused burnt valves and resulting heat damaged the turbo.

I have seen issues with the BEW that can't control boost (boost creep?) when the muffler and/or cat is removed. The variable vane turbo can't regulate down enough.

I'm a technician and get attacked from both sides. There are "technically challenged" co workers who ruin it for the few of us who do care. We are supposed to know what goes in the car (oils and fluids, etc.). However most customers never meet us. Stuff like what oil to use, ends up answered by parts counter people and service writers who know next to nothing about these cars.

Back to the OP - could cold water/ice have gotten to the impeller blades, the resulting heat shock causing it to shatter? There have been inter cooler icing issues with smaller cars, I wonder if some condensation is still happening?

Also I would question why the DOC/DPF was or is not replaced. Through personal experience and from BMW service you should alway suspect anything downstream of the turbo. If the impeller shattered then it would go to the intake, the turbine would go to the exhaust (DOC cat and DPF).

Sorry if I rant sometimes.

Jason

 

[WVU TDI]

Lost turbo on 2013 Passat with 9500 miles last Sunday. Car now at the dealer. the turbo has to come from Germany. Dealer said may be 2 weeks. Road side asstiance was quick to get a tow truck, and assisted in getting a rental at 6:30 pm on a Sunday evening. With the fact we was 120 miles away from home. Will be very happy to get my car back, dealer said maybe Monday...... Not liking the Kia....rental.

 

[phlfly]

Bad it's a problem. The heat kills everything. But what do I know?

 

[psd1]

Lost turbo on 2013 Passat with 9500 miles last Sunday. Car now at the dealer. the turbo has to come from Germany. Dealer said may be 2 weeks. Road side asstiance was quick to get a tow truck, and assisted in getting a rental at 6:30 pm on a Sunday evening. With the fact we was 120 miles away from home. Will be very happy to get my car back, dealer said maybe Monday...... Not liking the Kia....rental.

Crap! Mind sharing your build date?

 

[767wrench]

Ah, maybe not on our cars but I have been warned about that failure on RX7. The reduction of back pressure caused burnt valves and resulting heat damaged the turbo.

I have seen issues with the BEW that can't control boost (boost creep?) when the muffler and/or cat is removed. The variable vane turbo can't regulate down enough.

I'm a technician and get attacked from both sides. There are "technically challenged" co workers who ruin it for the few of us who do care. We are supposed to know what goes in the car (oils and fluids, etc.). However most customers never meet us. Stuff like what oil to use, ends up answered by parts counter people and service writers who know next to nothing about these cars.

Back to the OP - could cold water/ice have gotten to the impeller blades, the resulting heat shock causing it to shatter? There have been inter cooler icing issues with smaller cars, I wonder if some condensation is still happening?

Also I would question why the DOC/DPF was or is not replaced. Through personal experience and from BMW service you should alway suspect anything downstream of the turbo. If the impeller shattered then it would go to the intake, the turbine would go to the exhaust (DOC cat and DPF).

Sorry if I rant sometimes.

Jason

After voicing my concerns of further damage they said they will look farther when they remove the turbo. Currently its all put back together in the lot. They showed me pics of the compressor side missing a few blades. They havent taken apart the exhaust side yet. Just sent pics to vw of the inlet. From the pics it appears to have struck the sidewalls but idk if that happened with an intact wheel or not.

 

[hellandj]

I noticed a whine in the engine on Thursday (it has been very cold here teens below zero) on my 2013 sel. Increases with throttle, my first impression of the sound was a turbo whining. Yesterday on the way home from work it went into limp mode and I was getting a flashing glow plug light. Tow truck is picking me up this morning to take me the 60 miles to the dealer. Not happy, this is the second time my car has been towed to the dealer and I currently have around 6000 miles on the car.

Last time I got a 2013 audi A4 for a loaner hopefully I get something nice again especially if they are going to have to get a turbo shipped from across the pond.



Sent from my Galaxy Nexus

 

[WVU TDI]

The build date on my was 7/12

 

[livewires250]

I have a 2010 Vw Jetta S TDI. Started great after work,sitting outside in 5 F deg. Short time down the road,lost power, took to dealer, and yes, there is a bulletin for this issue. The check engine light came on first, then glow plug light continued to flash. Invoice said it replaced the cooler, hose, and vacuum lines.

 

[phlfly]

Maybe we need to drive this cars harder so better oil flow, really it's not pressure make a difference, but oil flow rate is important. I don't know how oil pump design on VW, if depended on RPM, or any check valves. I know most of us bought this car to safe some at pump, so babying gas pedal doesn't do good for the car. Why I was thinking this because when cars is using this LL oils, most cases it's performance cars, that intend to drive hard.

 

[SilverGhost]

Ironic, I have seen more damage on cars that were "babied" than on car driven hard (not abused!). I agree that you should let the engine idle for a short time (30 seconds or so) then drive off. And follow DBW's break in advise - no WOT and redlining until engine temperature is off the cold mark.

Jason

 

[767wrench]

I noticed a whine in the engine on Thursday (it has been very cold here teens below zero) on my 2013 sel. Increases with throttle, my first impression of the sound was a turbo whining. Yesterday on the way home from work it went into limp mode and I was getting a flashing glow plug light. Tow truck is picking me up this morning to take me the 60 miles to the dealer. Not happy, this is the second time my car has been towed to the dealer and I currently have around 6000 miles on the car.

Last time I got a 2013 audi A4 for a loaner hopefully I get something nice again especially if they are going to have to get a turbo shipped from across the pond.



Sent from my Galaxy Nexus

I wish I had gotten another vw or audi! I got a 12' nissan altima :-\