Why Volkswagen Engines Fail

Here's an in-depth teardown of the Volkswagen EA888 2.0 TSI engine!
The EA888 engine was introduced in the late 2000's and is still in production today across many Volkswagen, Audi and Porsche model. It is a cast iron 2.0 L turbocharged 4 cylinder engine, offered in both front wheel (transverse) and rear wheel drive (longitudinal) configurations.
In this video, we teardown an EA888 engine out of a 2011 VW GTI to see what's inside, how it works and to examine the common failure points on these engines across its three different generations. Common failure points include the plastic water pump and thermostat housing, timing chain tensioners, stretched timing chains, weak or clogged PCV systems, oil leaks, and carbon build up in the intake valves due to it only having direct injection.
Overall the EA888 engine has its share of issues, that if addressed with updated parts, can make the engine reliable, though at a cost that would be higher than its competitors in the vehicle segment to maintain.
Skip to section in the video:
0:00 Introduction
1:40 Teardown
12:46 Component Analysis
18:10 Final Thoughts
Keep your Volkswagen engine maintained with parts that can be purchased here:
VW oil filter tool:
amzn.to/3x4EIoH (US)
amzn.to/3pqyHAc (Canada)
Triple square socket set:
amzn.to/3z7X7Tp (US)
amzn.to/34QnIGQ (Canada)
Torx socket set:
amzn.to/3x2NB2k (US)
amzn.to/3uYpkZR (Canada)
Timing chain tool:
amzn.to/3pqF2vy (US)
amzn.to/3z4ml5b (Canada)
This is the Camera I use:
amzn.to/2Y24ixX (US)
amzn.to/2Yhb3eo (Canada)
Link to Etsy shop where you can purchase speedkar99's brother's socks, t-shirts or hoodies:
www.etsy.com/ca/shop/Speedkar
Check out the speedkar99 Facebook page:
/ speedkar9
Check out the speedkar99 Linkedin page:
/ speedkar99
Follow speedkar9 on Instagram for behind the scenes coverage:
/ speedkar9
Subscribe for more videos just like this:
kzbin.info_...

[@BMPellogia]

A PLASTIC water pump driven by a hidden belt that requires half the car to be dismantled to be repaired...WHYYY?!!

[@wills5482]

The finest of German Engineering

[@aluisious]

Because it's light and cheap and makes the spec sheet look good, and it's not their problem when every single one fails outside of warranty. Vat are you, cheap? Yust buy anozer car vrom us.

[@speedkar99]

Because warranty hours

[@Bartonovich52]

Germans. Making cars more complex than they have to be since 1896.

[@Kwameyoo]

It's not that bad to replace the thermostat assembly, only takes about a couple hours in total

[@FlyingDelorean1]

Hans, we designed this engine with 3 separate timing chains so there is no room for the water pump on the front of the engine. Where is there room for the water pump? On the back of the engine under the intake. Brilliant! But how will we drive the water pump? We can drive it using the balance shaft! But there is no room to drive it directly. Put some pulleys and a belt there. Brilliant! But Hans, what if the belt needs to be replaced? Don't worry, we will make the water pump out of plastic so it will start leaking before the belt needs to be replaced. Brilliant!

[@candlestyx8517]

This is even funnier when you read it in a german accent

[@vincecarlo]

German Automation Das Auto

[@dokterkarel]

"old cars are not reliable. I'll buy a new one! This will cost me a lot less on maintenance"

[@395PRS]

Underrated.

[@EarlFaulk]

Laughs in angry German

[@jaylensmith6308]

Here’s how to preform an oil change on that engine. Step 1: unbolt the transmission

[@speedkar99]

Extract the oil

[@simonshotter8960]

Personally found it a really easy car to do basic maintenance on

[@sienile]

The basic maintenance isn't an issue. It's the repairs that are insane. Nothing on these is less than 4 hours book time, and the guys writing that up knew this engine like the back of their hand.

[@paulbruen4247]

@@simonshotter8960 has

[@simonshotter8960]

@@paulbruen4247 what

[@pstrap1311]

Man, this guy is very, very good at breaking these engines down, literally and figuratively. He is providing a valuable public service and I hope he is being adequately compensated in some way. You know, by money or whatever.

[@speedkar99]

I wish haha. Thanks

[@michaelstrongbow2336]

@@speedkar99 Thanks friend for all that you do, I watch your videos on my down time. They help me relax, that sounds strange I bet. But you should be getting paid well to make these videos. We appreciate you and your channel.

[@Gromitdog1]

@@michaelstrongbow2336 They help you relax? They give me nightmares as i own 2 of the fn cars with these engines!

[@henkholdingastate]

@@Gromitdog1 afther 2000 the engines qualitiy to junk and to complex

[@tairus0139]

By watching his videos, he gets paid by KZbin. Keep on watching past 2 minutes of the video for your "view" to get counted. KZbin pays according to the number of views.

[@ynibclimG220]

This engine is like a horror movie. It just gets worse and worse further into the review 😳

[@vincecarlo]

Absurd design Poor material combination Absolute Nightmare UNRELIABLE to say the least

[@MrGoogelaar]

@@vincecarlo VW...that says it all...

[@16cliffedge]

had my 2.0tsi in my scirocco, 2008 model, 166k miles, remapped to 335bhp, no big problems if you look after all the right things,

[@16cliffedge]

oil leaks I admit mustn't be ignored , but only happened once in owning it for 5 yrs

[@l33tnobody1337]

@@16cliffedge I have three friends with cars that have variations of the EA888 and I will get one with it next year as well. They have had some minor things here and there but none of them have ever had oil leaks. And they all have well over 125000km on them.

[@t_money_third9654]

Them some evil engineers to put a water pump and belt in that hidden location.

[@xnopyt13]

Laughs in engines that sandwich the starter between the block and the intake

[@677dm5]

@@xnopyt13 Laughs in BMW N52

[@Techie1224]

@@xnopyt13 my previous vw car starter was sandwiched between the engine and suspension , in order to remove it the easiest way is to to remove air box ,unbolt engine mounts and support the engine and lift it up a little so you can extract the unbolted starter from underneath ,it was funny to see mechanics removing it then try to figure a way to get it out the vehicle as the starter is bigger then the space around it 😂😂

[@puregsr]

It is a known fact that VW engineers would walk past 10 supermodels to f* a mechanic.

[@uhtred7860]

@@puregsr LOL.

[@test40323]

When one mentions timing chain, life time comes to mind. VW found a way to destroy that.

[@pliedtka]

Just like life time ATFs ;)

[@kevinbarry71]

Fine German engineering

[@nicholasvinen]

It does last for the lifetime of the engine though. It's fine right up until the engine dies from timing chain failure! 😆

[@einfelder8262]

You're dreaming if you think timing chains are lifetime on any engine. The chains on this are multi throw chains, unlike many other engines which are single row and stretch much more easily.

[@einfelder8262]

@@pliedtka Agreed. VW does not believe in lifetime ATF - the DSGs have an oil change schedule.

[@victorborges9523]

This video is a jewel. But, instead installing a timed dinamite charge, VW added all technological flaws to that engine in order to self destruct. More successful than its reassembly, will be making time-travel possible.

[@speedkar99]

Lol a dynamite charge

[@alexandreoliveira5712]

achei um brazuka!

[@ellisjackson3355]

Lol. The way this comment is phrased make it even funnier

[@wvpolosdi]

After 26 years of working in vw service, I concluded that volkswagen lives on the old glory of golf 1 and 2

[@luisgpr1]

Jetta MK5 TDI 1.9 owner here, some models still have it. Some definitley don't. Too bad the 2.0T's chains are so flimsy. The 1.8T had its flaws also but nothing like this.

[@Tonyx.yt.]

1.9 tdi was a reliable engine, 1.8t not too bad, but their replacing 2.0 tdi and 1.8/2.0 tfsi not so...

[@rokokurtagic1646]

Mk3 Has the AFN engine (1.9TDi) from the mk2 and i have a Mk3 AAZ 1.9TD 75HP 370k kilometers works like new so i think the mk3 has the part of the glory from VW's old age

[@norsethenomad5978]

Was planning on swapping my shitty 98 Kia Sephia’s engine with a 2000 Golf engine due to it being a 2 liter and apparently reliable as far as 4 cylinders are concerned

[@RundeKatze]

Golf MK3 is not bad too. There are some engines untill redesign the whole family in 1995 that are not shipped to the US market like the AAM Engine. It's based on the old EA827 block with lowered compression ratio to fit regular gasoline and with 1800cc displacement. It has a single point electronic injection system from Bosch called "Mono-Motronic". It had full support for the old OBD standard self diagnosis via KWP1281. This engines run and run and run and run. When they have issues it's mostly to bad gaskets or hoses for the vacuum. But since the Bosch system did not use mass airflow sensors and working only with throttle signal and the exhaust lambda probe there is no way minor vacuum leaks cause problems like engines with airflow sensors in the intake. Only downside is a less efficient fuel economy and only 75HP. But that's okay. This engines can make 300k to 400k without any major wear on the engine internals. Greetings from Germany.

[@Matraka2000]

Remember Vw not only sells autos but auto parts. They feed an entire population in Wolfsburg. That is the main reason they put a plastic water pump for example.

[@speedkar99]

Agreed. It's an industry

[@kindlyhelpmereach50ksubscr77]

Vw designer in 2020 : let’s put a pump water in a place that owner doesn’t expect Vw designer in 2030 : let’s put a pump water inside the piston

[@irshicosmos3233]

pump water by elfs??? or do you mean water pump?? :)

[@LuizStocklerHenrique]

Designed for leasing followed by disposal and recycling.

[@tsevetgestoorde]

Spot on

[@thebeldam5823]

Absolutely correct 👍

[@kristianhermann5971]

Thanks to consumers that continue to buy them. No thanks, I'll keep my Kia.

[@speedkar99]

It's wasteful in some sense

[@kamalabbady6778]

Well said

[@robbflynn4325]

I usually watch videos like this at 1.5 speed to save time, no need with you!

[@speedkar99]

Thanks. I like to make it short and to the point

[@robinbinder8658]

1.5x? casuall. i do 2x :)

[@eligaller9190]

I ve been reading internet forums abaout this engine for tens of hours but you explained it by far better in not even 20mins, respect sir and many thanks.

[@adolfshitler]

Stopped buying VW products when the quality left in the 90s, when VW decided that profit over quality and reliability was king!

[@mistermr2147]

This seems like the definitive "designed for you to service at a dealer ONLY". There's no other explanation for all of these engineering decisions.

[@Haddedam]

Reminds me of my friends vw up. Not only cant the best of germany engineer interior that covers bare metal but they made the air filter removal require special tools and bw a nightmare to resch meanwhile oil filter, which is a job people living in cities dont do, is the easiest to reach ive seen in a long time

[@ronchabale]

"Why Volkswagen engines fail ?" Too many parts doing a bad job of cooperating with each other

[@dogsbyfire]

Your analysis is astoundingly thorough. I bought a 2009 Audi A4 2.0 new while it was still on the boat in the Atlantic. I gave that engine everything. I cared for it as meticulously as anyone possibly could. It was a glorious car when it ran. Nonetheless, it chewed through three heads in 142,000 miles. I gave up at that point and bought a Subaru.

[@MrDAvIx63]

This was a year ago, how many head gaskets have you done by now?

[@chriszandler3643]

@@MrDAvIx63 I was going to say, moving to subaru complaining about VAG reliability is interesting lol

[@lordcorgi6481]

VW President: How many Timing Chains should a car have? VW Engineer: Yes!

[@s4nder86]

Congratulations, you are the last person on Earth to make that joke.

[@nintend0huy]

More like- Ja!

[@jonesy66691]

If you think that's cool you should look up the 4.2 Audi V8.

[@hobbes4204]

"Although if it does fail it will eventually end up in catastrophic engine damage." His dialogue is unwritten poetry.

[@peglor]

More like instantly rather than eventually. A quirk of the 1.4 engines was that if the car was left in gear and rolled in such a way as to drive the engine backwards, sometimes the timing chain would jump a tooth, leading to the engine either running badly or self destructing next time it is started.

[@gerritburgel3048]

@@peglor golden

[@KenyaSG]

Had one fail freshly after selling to my best friends mom, 60,000km and a friendship ruined. Volkswagen owes me a lifelong friendship for failing me.

[@speedkar99]

Tensioner?

[@OhPhuckYou]

That's why I'll never sale a car to friends or family or loan them money.

[@Peppermint1]

When the many car reviewers praise a new car, always remember that that's when it's new. They don't talk about the long - or even short - term costs. I had this engine on a Q5 and it was breathtaking at high revs. Truth is German designs work amazing when new but the overly complexity finally catches up. I think the last quality VW were build 20 years ago

[@olly1oo6]

I have a 2.0 TSI in a GTI which has also been tuned. Never had a single issue, ever. Serviced at normal intervals. 225k and still happy and fast as ever. Most reliable car I've ever owned.

[@Peppermint1]

@@olly1oo6 I don't like when people say "never had a single problem". We hear this too often from people who didn't own the car from new. What is more, it's way too easy to say anything on internet.

[@olly1oo6]

@@Peppermint1 Don't like it because it doesn't fit your narrative? Your broad statement about VW reliability is completely anecdotal, as is mine. Having said that, I've owned three TSI cars and they have all been flawless. VW make some astonishingly reliable and resilient cars, that operate at very low service and running costs.

[@nightdriver7216]

@@olly1oo6 These engines can push 600+ bhp when tuned, but somehow they're "unreliable".

[@JAM_2024]

@@nightdriver7216 fanboys talk a lot of crap.

[@ae8992]

Thanks! I swear, nobody does these kinds of "explanation" videos better on KZbin. Keep it up!!

[@chrisfreemesser5707]

3:29 The poor brother having some fun on the swing set, oblivious to the fact that the EA888 would be consuming half of his wardrobe that afternoon...

[@speedkar99]

Haha that's actually the wife

[@MarioDallaRiva]

Looks like she was texting her parents asking if they’d seen your video…

[@chrisfreemesser5707]

@@MarioDallaRiva More like texting her parents asking if they'd seen her floral blouse anywhere

[@MarioDallaRiva]

@@chrisfreemesser5707 😹

[@DanielEismann]

Here in Brazil sometimes we have to replace the high pressure fuel pump, the injectors and the spark plugs because some of those engines run on 100% sugar cane ethanol which has too much water And off course we replace the plastic water pump

[@matiasfpm]

Southern Cone: we specialized on wiring with wire, even the SOPHISTICATED FUTURISTIC volkswagen crap 😂😅

[@charleslowe522]

You guys Brazil I believe have to pay like a 100% markup on a new vehicle.

[@matiasfpm]

@@charleslowe522 dunno about HUEzil, but here in argentina , cars are taxed at 64%. Pls, get me out of this shithole m8

[@DanielEismann]

@@charleslowe522 haha some companies stated they weren't making profits and ford closed all their factories here, but the cars are getting really expensive

[@DanielEismann]

@@matiasfpm someone will help you only if you admit that Pelé is way better than Maradona

[@highplainnsdrifter3050]

So much for German Engineering. Another fine in depth mechanics video that actually shows how these engines are supposed to work, but often don't. Nice video, dude, once again.

[@bracket0398]

I like the knowledge taken from each video you do sir. I also like the clothing choices with the previous owner disclosure put in there as well. Very nice!

[@georgehoma3839]

Are the clothing sizes metric?

[@Vedad1944]

Actually one of the best recommendations from KZbin Quick info, condensed into one video, and the entire engine design explained, pretty much 😁

[@noahboy6349]

You’re knowledge of car engines are amazing. Thank you for your great videos.

[@smartman123]

straight to the point no boring intro no boring music great job

[@uhtred7860]

No arm waving or pics of animals "laughing". :-)

[@speedkar99]

That's my style!

[@chrisreynolds3700]

Very interesting video. Here in Scotland, I own a Skoda Octavia 1.8 TSI ea 888 gen 2 engine. Similar to the one in your video. It consumes a lot of oil,but it drives well enough. Powerful engine and smooth engine. I enjoy driving it. It has the old timing chain tensioner and I just hope that it doesn't fail anytime soon !! Thanks again for an interesting video!

[@brostelio]

200,000 km on mine (TFSI), and zero issues other than one thermostat replacement (and anything else under ordinary service).

[@AudiophileTubes]

My 2003 24v VR6 GTI has been going strong now for 19 years as my daily driver! No major issues or problems, other than a broken cooling fan and sensor (MAF?). This engine is a bulletproof beast!

[@firewaterforgeofarizona4304]

Your videos are GOLD!

[@kombinezon]

GOLD speedkar99, GOLD

[@speedkar99]

Thanks

[@Stelios.Posantzis]

Very informative and useful tear-down.

[@eekamoose]

So much information in such a short video. Superb.

[@jasonharris996]

Shout out to this dude's family for supplying shirts, dresses, socks, and blouses to wipe shit up!

[@danielandries3240]

Please do a 2.0 TDI engine next time , because this is what 90% of all VW have in Europe.

[@speedkar99]

I'd love to if I can get an TDI

[@leneanderthalien]

2L TDI 140 was not better, was a piece of crap...

[@soso94940]

75%

[@RonnyJakobsson]

The TSI engine's is THE main reason to always buy a VW, Skoda, Seat with a 2.0TDI.

[@aldo3g]

This video put me in perspective about to even consider have an old VW with a TSI engine, thanks good sir!

[@acefighterpilot]

Your research has gotten really good. It's worth noting the early style timing chain tensioner can be replaced with an updated unit, meaning you can get these engines on the cheap from people terrified of failure, and then do a day's work to make it fairly reliable. Add in $1500 for a K04 turbo kit while you're in there and you have one of the cheapest ways to get a 350hp daily. Certainly when compared to a WRX for instance.

[@speedkar99]

Thanks. Yep if you kept this engine updated it can be reliable

[@VamsiMohanKrishnaVadrevu]

I like how you've "re-purposed" your brother's sock, your wife's toothbrush and top and other stuff. 😁

[@sienile]

You must be new. He does that a lot. Odd how it's never "his".

[@AlexR_44]

Thank You! By the time we got to 4 minutes in, I've already decided what my next car's engine won't be.

[@speedkar99]

Haha Well that's true

[@aldinnukicic3458]

No need brotha, I can send you a list of parts that are super cheap for this car and how to improve this engines reliability!

[@AlexR_44]

@@aldinnukicic3458 ehh.. it's more about not wanting the excessive amount of work. Compared to my current 1.8t, that 2.0 engine looks like it was designed by fired Mercedes engineer.. it's needlessly complicated. Why does a four cylinder need any balance shaft?... Let alone two... Which is probably because they added one😂

[@aldinnukicic3458]

@@AlexR_44 so yes Alex this design looks complicated to the untrained eye but it’s super easy to understand especially if you watched the video. Now I work on these, I’d even call myself a specialist because of how many I do. Anyways the chain system is super easy as everything is run by the chains. Now I wouldn’t go to say it’s super completed because if you have experience working with engines, for the most part you can figure out how to set things up. Now of course a balance shaft is requires because a balance shaft absorbs any vibration caused in the engine, that’s why this engine uses two, unlike your ordinary v6. Hope this cleared some things up.

[@AlexR_44]

@@aldinnukicic3458 I'm not looking to start an internet debate, but... About 20 years ago I swapped a '96 2.0ABA block mated to a '91 1.8 head, with a mild cam and adjustable cam gear, plus some external stuff like lightened pulley, exhaust goodies, and flywheel and a transmission that I had ordered with a diesel 5th gear. I put that in a MK II jetta. I was told by the kid that bought it over a decade later, that it did almost 140WHP on a dyno. So although I'm not technically a trained eye... I do think I'm correct in saying a well designed 4 cylinder, or any inline engine, should not NEED a balance shaft. I currently have a 1.8t gti that I've done the timing belt and water pump on, with over 180k on it and it too is plenty smooth without balance shafts. (unless there's one I don't know about, I haven't had to take the engine apart. and won't, because the car is rusting away. Thanks for the factory side skirts that allowed for rocker panel rust VW.) I'm sure an engineer could talk me into balance shafts and loving that new 2.0T, I'm sure it's brilliant for at least 99k miles, but I doubt anyone will ever convince me it is not needlessly complicated.

[@dogsbyfire]

First of all let me say that your analysis is astoundingly thorough.

[@EdgeRoofCleaningCanada]

If anything the flaws on these engines have progressively got worse. Had a 16 golf R waterpump / thermostat housing gaskets fail at 32,000 kms. In this video it looks like the waterpump material is still aluminum which they have done away with now and switched to plastic as well. These videos are so good. Keep it up!

[@9Epicman]

Great video! A video about the 2.5 5 cylinder would be pretty interesting! 👍

[@speedkar99]

That would be good but I really want to take apart a TDI

[@johnburgess4941]

Hands down the best breakdown videos on youtube. Dude you deserve alot of credit. Thanks for doing this, love your videos.

[@speedkar99]

Thanks i appreciate you feedback, sure is alot of effort!

[@MrSamPhoenix]

Awesome video as always. I can’t wait for this guy to get his hands on new 2021 Acura TLX Type-S for a look over.

[@eugenpirvu2931]

This video is one of the best about this subject! Well done!

[@dondrap513]

I've got one of these boosted to 400hp using the golf r turbo. 70k miles and doing great. I do have a full garage shop and am very comfortable doing my own work. These engines generally don't "fail" as in catastrophe, even at modded levels. Leaky h20 pumps, possibly leaking rms, yes. But generally nothing that can't be repaired reasonably. Engine in vid may very well have never had its oil changed or otherwise poorly maintained.

[@mannyjeet]

I agree, these engines have great potential and are mostly very reliable. Most failures occur due to lack of or poor quality in service/maintenance. The technology used in German engines are more advanced than Japanese who rely on more proven technology like port injection and being naturally aspirated.

[@J3ymzi]

German engineering is not what it used to be.

[@dirkmohrmann8960]

Depends on how you look at it. Maybe high level (German or otherwise) engineering is ultimately about making things profitable. Back in the 80s or 90s, that probably meant making the cars very durable. In today's market, technology moves along faster and people replace their car because it doesn't support the latest version of CarPlay or whatever, so the engineering goal has changed. It's still "precisely" engineered, just "precisely" to last until the warranty is up.

[@belskyautoworks89]

Things used to be overbuilt in the 80s and 90s because we had the computer tech to machine and measure for precise tolerances, but not the computing power to economically simulate when a part will fail (actual physical tests had to be performed instead, which is expensive). So it was safer and cheaper to just overbuild parts so that they wouldn't fail during the warranty period. Today, and since the about the 2000s, we have computer technology to run a computer simulation (rather than doing expensive actual physical lab and field tests). and can design parts to be only as strong as they need to be for the warranty period, and to fail after a certain number of miles, a certain number of heat cycles, certain number of engine hours, etc. (to save on production costs and create planned obsolescence).

[@maybeiam3367]

@@belskyautoworks89 such practices should be made illegal

[@belskyautoworks89]

@@maybeiam3367 Yup. It's wasteful, greedy, and short-sighted.

[@flowgangsemaudamartoz7062]

@@belskyautoworks89 It happens across all industries, sadly.

[@biryaniofbodyhair]

On the flip side older vw were so good, my buddy got 820,000 miles out of his 1.6td! and he’d never take care of it, change oil every 60/70,000 miles, gave him a lot of problems towards the end of course but that was to be expected I guess...we both have the straight 1.9d in our t25’s, slow but amazingly reliable engines, get about 40mpg as well which isn’t too bad...vw just over complicate everything nowadays ... great video man, subscribed now and looking forward to watching your other vids:)

[@speedbuggy16v]

this, I have not owned a VW in a decade now, but I still have a few spare diesel engines, and one gasser laying around. The 80s was peak reliability for vw powerplants in my eyes.

[@mynameisnotcory]

Glad they slightly improved in the mk7…i love the ea888 but i havent had one fail yet 🤞

[@captric8237]

I love watching your teardown videos. I would be so delighted if one day you teardown a direct injected honda L15b7 sitting inside civics and accords. It would be very intresting to see how honda adressed carbon buildup issue in their not so old DI engines.

[@speedkar99]

I'd like to tear one down to see what the oil dilution issue is about

[@captric8237]

@@speedkar99 Well, that one too. I missed to say that maybe because there has not been any such issue reported in the area i live in where coldest air temp could go down to 23 deg C as the lowest we can get throughout a year.

[@Bartonovich52]

Ours had issues. We can get to -40C. Before the recall it was just about impossible to get the engine to warm up.. the gauge would only just come up onto the scale. I was hoping that the engine would last a long time but I’m not so sure now.

[@bimssmann]

Assalamualaikum Akhi, good content as usual

[@speedkar99]

Thanks

[@sxb080511]

Very interesting video, thanks. Please post a video on Honda's 1.5L Turbo (used in many models), some have oil dilution issues, would be interesting to see carbon buildup at 100k miles.

[@danielcollins2617]

I just stumbled,across your videos. They are AWESOME. Thank you for them. The wife’s toothrush is epic.

[@MrGrossbaff]

Now i love my K20 even more ... Good job sir, interresting vidéo !

[@speedkar99]

Thanks I have a K-series engine teardown video, check it out

[@jimsego172]

Great video, thanks. I will however mention I don't find parts to be more expensive due to these being German cars. There are any number of parts vendors selling low to high priced parts depending on the performance expectations

[@X786BBF]

This explanations are so good, subscribed

[@speedkar99]

Thanks!!

[@trillmixin6999]

loved my 08 gti. the fsi engine was a champ at 130,000

[@michaelstrongbow2336]

Baby miles! My first car was an 85' Gti 1.8L 8V, still running when I traded her in at 425k. lol Single cam and that engine would rev so high and shoot flames out the tail pipe. I miss that car.

[@trillmixin6999]

@@michaelstrongbow2336 revved quick too aint it. that car was revolutionary

[@calebloper6896]

As a shop owner specializing in European cars I can say this is the absolute worst engine VW/Audi has ever made. Has a laundry list of common failures. Got much better starting in model year '14 but still not one I would ever own.

[@Visionery1]

One would think VW engineers are competent enough to design something better, then again, they don't want it to last.

[@xg5zm]

Mine has 200k miles. Through its live it needed: waterpump (leakimg), vacuum pump (leaking oil), belt tensioner (as a precaution), coils (one packed up, changed 4) and that will be it. Change oil every 20k miles as recomended Mobil ESP 5w30. I think it is not that bad.

[@PseudoSpaceMarine]

Have you had experience with VW’s 2.5L 5-cylinder engine because I’ve heard that they are better than the ones that you normally see in their newer vehicles.

[@Visionery1]

@@PseudoSpaceMarine the one from the old 1990s Audi 500? They were very reliable, as far as I know.

[@ChubiChan]

No, man, didn't you read the comments above? Clearly it's all that "emissions crap" 😂😂😂 Everything would be perfect if not whatever it is they're talking about. They're experts in engine design. Really tho, this engine is so needlessly complicated. It's "over engineered" like they got paid by the hour to redesign everything they possibly could, for better for worse (usually worse)

[@bradmotl2083]

I’ve got 157k miles on mine…. But that’s because I’ve watched videos like these and read up about them on forums, so I’ve been very careful. Mine has been dependable. I’ve got a stage 1 tune and it’s a lot of fun to drive. But it has also scared the shit out of a couple of times just reading what could happen.

[@charleslowe522]

Well I put 188k on my 2.2L s10. The engine was still running when I sold it, the problem was the rest of the vehicle fell apart.

[@davemarks7322]

Your rapid delivery and clear explanation make your vids a pleasure to watch, even for someone like me not involved with automotive mechanics. Would you like me to send you my old toothbrush?

[@paulioshak9438]

Super wise mechanic. Love the commentary..

[@BigHeadClan]

Well at least VW was nice enough to engineer a motor that used mostly the same bolts. The rest of it though. XD

[@speedkar99]

I like that t30

[@zxrcanada]

my 2007 audi a3 sure had a taste of this great engine's issues.... had an engine swap at 72k km (fortunately under warranty at the time). Had my check engine light came on while driving on the highway, then the car just stopped accelerating and shutted itself down. Found out from mechanic afterwards that it was a bent valve.

[@speedkar99]

Ouch! Did it skip timing?

[@zxrcanada]

@@speedkar99 I dont know anymore details than a bent valve. DIdn't get to meet the mechanic when picked up the car from the AUDI dealership in Chatham, Ontario, they also damaged my radiator fan, which i found out months after.

[@Deandre2200]

Damn I could not work on this engine at all. Perfect video great job so much knowledge.

[@dmr9042]

I am not a mechanic but i can tell " this engine is meant to give someone a headache after few years. thanks for a super content.

[@ssudarso]

Super informative video. I am wondering how to re install all those parts back without missing any parts 🤕😊

[@speedkar99]

Ah who cares! The fun is in the tear down

[@reefy664]

Never seen a newer vw motor tear down and I think after seeing this I never want to work on one

[@jothain]

Same. I've never been vw fan and only had one (didn't like it). Now been thinking about what would be my next car make and I almost took vw into consideration, but after seeing this. No-way-in-hell 😲

[@cattlerepairmancattlerepai9414]

In fairness, the water pump driven by the timing chain exists in quite a few engine designs; Subaru's 3.6 liter comes to mind. I wanted to say - excellent video, narrated by someone who appears to be a very competent mechanic. Not a "parts exchanger", but somebody that truly understands the intricacies of modern engine design.

[@speedkar99]

I'm an engineer not a mechanic. I didn't know that other designs exist that drive the waterpump through the balance shaft.

[@Ethan007Hacks]

VW/Audi tech here. The accessory bracket doesn’t need to be removed to remove belt tensioner, there’s a 5mm Allen on the back side that you remove to slide the belt tensioner out of the bracket. Also that is not a valve cover, it’s a cam ladder/girdle/bridge as the bearings are part of that assembly. Also the oil pump isn’t timed. Also he kept referring to the vacuum pump as the HPFP, the HPFP bolts to the vacuum pump and runs off the 4 lobe part of the exhaust cam

[@speedkar99]

Thanks for the correction.

[@Ethan007Hacks]

@@speedkar99 no prob, great video as always. Just wanted to clarify some stuff since I work on these engines basically all day every day haha

[@spk8989pl]

I had passat B8 (EU version) 2.0 220 ps, 2017. It was greatest car I’ve ever had. Simply fantastic, no problems, zero oil usage. After 150 kkm I change it to new touareg - also simply great car.

[@speedkar99]

Enjoy

[@adrianqx]

Holy crap ! can only imagine the sound it created when this engine gaveup it's ghost ! I always choose Japanese cars any day ! great video

[@jefferysmith3930]

The sound is a 2 - 3 second light knock followed by several warning lights and total loss of power. The noise it makes when you try to restart is ball bearings in a coffee can..... ask me how I know. RIP little Tiguan.

[@ilovesheen7446]

Well japanese cars are gay, b5 passat is the way to go

[@jefferysmith3930]

@@ilovesheen7446 I still have my 2000 Passat 1.8T that brings me joy everyday

[@adrianqx]

@@ilovesheen7446 how old are u?

[@BabyBugBug]

They’re incredibly boring.

[@VombatPictures]

love the way you explain, learned alot from this

[@speedkar99]

Thanks

[@Rahgone]

Couples of years a go I bought my first volkswagen. Never making such a mistake anymore. Ever!

[@danielsheltonmenezes8728]

You have got a lot of knowledge sir.

[@speedkar99]

I learn as I go

[@JRiddledickDangerfield]

Forget just the engines,,,Volkswagen has a long list of issues through out their cars

[@davidorama6690]

Don’t mention the transmissions.

[@jellyd4889]

And all other car makes. They have all given up on ice anyway....

[@TheNecromancer6666]

And what would that be

[@Haddedam]

@Euro Ultimate not really, only issues my toyotas have had have been rust, just like all vws. And some rubber parts breakign around drive shafts. Every time it gets to first colds tou have roadsides littered with vws that have hazards on and car groups are littered with people aksing about stuck doors and car not moving after engaging parking brake. Vws are poorly designed and built cars. Just cause they have leather seats dont mean they're good or fancy. Theyre cheap trash.

[@Haddedam]

@Euro Ultimate Sounds fine. Toyota engines are actually filled with instructions and easy to work on. Tellh im to start servicing volkswagens and you will find him hanging from the ceiling by his neck after he has to take out entire engine to replace one minor detail on an audi that was not designed to last or welding cracked blocks and replacing turbos every month on exact same car. Germans can't engineer cars.

[@HellaMeiste]

I have 2016 ea888 2.0 tfsi gen3 , it has been 5 years now without any single prob I just think this engine is still like yesterday I also got another 1.8 TTQ gen1 and it’s still running like a champ for almost 20 years without any issue too Another one is my R53 Mini Cooper S 15 years old runner:) I don’t like dealer stealership, so basically I’m doing standard maintenance myself at most and I’m not a mechanic either now I’m 38 “ simple care “. Will make the most of it Maybe !!

[@alexandrunita8229]

Your videos are amazing, you can learn so much from them!!! Thank you! I would like to ask, do the 1.8 tfsi engines face the same issues as the 2.0 ones? Do they share the same faulty parts (timing chain tensioner, water pump, etc)?

[@speedkar99]

You are welcome. No experience with the 1.8

[@Alexandru-T.]

Yes, they're the same.

[@petermolnar8667]

Same engine family, similar issues. Heard about cylinder head problems with those. But pay attention to which generation it is, the gen3 version is fairly reliable thankfully

[@whuzzzup]

The EA888 exist in 2.0 and 1.8, so yes it should be the same. gen1 was shit, gen2 was meh, gen3 is kinda ok (started ~2014 or so depending on the car model).

[@ahmadmajed8753]

Always wanted to buy a Golf GTI, until now!

[@12ladi]

Don't do that mate It would be a money pit 😕 Honestly only mercedes is good from all german plastics. Go for Japanese they are very reliable specially Hondas cus they make the best engines in the world .

[@giancarlolugo9586]

@@12ladi Not mention 90s Civics with lightly modded B series and H series engines alone eat early and mid 2000s GTI's for breakfast , (I don't mention the K series because it's even more brutal) and to be honest the Audi inline 5 and VR6 have poor power per liter , and unreliability but is not that it's the weight of the engine for the power they give barely 185hp out of a 2.8 and they are a pain to work on , my teacher from the mechanic school used to own a 04'' RS4 literally was a money pit .

[@12ladi]

@@giancarlolugo9586 Indeed mate 👍👌

[@vanvan143]

Just buy one from the pre TSI era

[@Haddedam]

They suck to drive anyway. Boring, numb, lack of engagement for driver and assists you cant disable, ever. Awful cars considering every other hot hatch is better and often cheaper too. Vw makes boring cars for boring people who think holding down gas when passing people on highway is all sportscars are for

[@peterv1602]

Just watched this video again. My VW has 57k miles and I think it's time to get a mechanic to check on the timing chain tension and the carbon buildup on the intake valves.

[@speedkar99]

Yes. And if yours is the old tensioner, have it swapped out.

[@fearlesspancake9817]

Love these videos keep it up 👍

[@jellyd4889]

Super video, thank you. This looks like the motor that is in my vw t6 tsi multivan.

[@thursdaythe20th4]

Of course this gets recommended to me the day after I get a gti… time do start doing some preventative maintenance

[@speedkar99]

Change the tensioner

[@jonathin5852]

Can you create a video explaining what carbon build up is, and where it comes from? How does it get on the other side of the valve and intake runners. Why does it stick to the combustion chamber, and how do products like Seafoam remove it better than fuel spray/combustion process itself?

[@speedkar99]

Good idea

[@riceburner4747]

U KNOW u owe ur brother & wife a new wardrobe.😂😂🤣🤣. Another great video. My neighbor jst replaced an engine in his passat.

[@speedkar99]

No I don't owe them anything

[@garysgarage3669]

Another great video, thank you.

[@michaelsmdk]

Dam I feel smarter after watching your videos! thank you!

[@FriendlyNeighborhoodCrow]

As a Mk6 GTI owner these are the scariest 20 minutes of my life xD

[@operationhighjump4656]

Thank you awsomly explained very interesting

[@luisgonzalez-qw7bp]

“Here I have my dog’s collar to hold up the brake caliper” lol I’m new to the channel and I find it funny how you always say who’s old shirt you use to clean. 😂

[@seangoldsworth5921]

I have a 2012 Passat with the 2.5 5 cylinder engine and I was told that I got the better of the engines that were put in these cars. Now I Know why that is. My god too much crap to deal with. I've been very happy with mine it has 176,000 miles on it no issues other than a starter.

[@speedkar99]

I'd assume that the naturally aspirated engines would be more reliable

[@TheMapleDaily]

I just spent a week nonstop watching your videos.. some say I need help.. I say I need more car info.. xD

[@speedkar99]

I'm glad you binge watch and enjoy them

[@PsychedMedia]

Would love to see a teardown on the BMW/MINI/Peugeot Prince engine , the N14 motor. Have both the ea888 and the Prince engine cars at home. All i can say is, nightmare!

[@tototakto4611]

I used to own a VW Scirocco 2010 with this engine, it completely failed at 54 thousand kilometers and I had to buy a new engine... good to know why, and also good to know that I didnt make a mistake by selling the car

[@bmuns6445]

Interesting video. I had my 2014 VW GLI walnut blasted at 165K. Had timing chain replaced at 190k. Gets 40 mpg on highway and maybe 26 in the city. I have a Unitronicstage 1 tune so my gas mileage is better than stock,

[@bilaltariq7819]

This engine really reminds me of the N14 engine that was in the r56 minis

[@speedkar99]

Ok

[@THESHADOW97139]

I confirm!! I'm french, the n14 is an engine of the psa group (peugeot / citroen) and ..... it's another kind of poison just as deadly. The two liters diesel from bmw, was not better .... like almost all their engines elsewhere

[@alannewhall2323]

So would a regular use of a intake cleaner and fuel additive help with the carbon build up?

[@ethancntower8850]

Interesting. I would love to see a video about the 3.2 vr6 engine. Im sure they have issues like all vw engines but they can make insane amounts of power with a few part swaps..