Safe remap level for 1.6 TDI?

[TDiBoraSam]

Hi all,

I have recently acquired a 2012 Golf 1.6TDI Bluemotion 105hp.

I am toying with the idea of a remap, but struggling to come up with any real evidence of what the safe remap level is for this engine (if indeed it's safe to remap at all).

Does the 1.6 share the same clutch and turbo components as any of the higher output 2.0 engines? Is the new 1.6 120hp the same engine and running gear as the 105?

Just trying to find some evidence that the clutch, turbo and driveshafts are capable of handling some extra power before taking the plunge!

The remapping guys all say that anything from 130 to 145hp is perfectly fine, but how did they arrive at these figyres?! On some forums people say that the turbo really can't cope with a remap, nor can the clutch, and a remap is courting disaster. I'm not looking to drive the car around like a nutter, but I just find it rather slow and sluggish in its standard state.

Any advice or stories from experience of a 1.6 TDI would be greatly appreciated.

[Guest 2]

I know REVO extensively test their cars before releasing the software to the public so you should be fine with any big name company, just stay away from the lesser known, back street jobs.

Make sure your car is fine mechanically, ie you don't have any egr cooler issues/dpf etc.

Don't believe all you read on forums, if the software has been tested before release and you stick with a known company you will have comeback (should!) anything go wrong.

[zollaf]

any engine is safe as sold to the public, with a margin of at least 30 0 50 ish %. they never run to their limit because too many would go bang and cost loads in warranty claims, unless they are french of course, made by psa. they run too close to their limit for cheapnastiness. vw are more sensible. so yes, a remap to 130 ish would be safe. closer to the limit yes, but still safe enough.

[TDiBoraSam]

Thanks for the advice fellas. I will have a look at Revo. The bluefin product looks ok too.

[DarrellGB]

Hi,
These engines are capable of a lot more than people think, in Europe they have been tuned (inc turbo upgrades) to 180bhp. Ive developed my own to 207bhp and 463Nm with no issues.

You can safely map to 145bhp with no other supporting mods, id always opt for custom maps but rejected tuners such as Superchips offer a 145bhp map for the 1.6tdi.

[TDiBoraSam]

This is all very interesting stuff.

I still can't decide what to do. On paper there are some very compelling reasons to have a remap, but there are lots of people on other forums saying that the turbo on the 1.6 won't take extra stress of a remap, and it is a generally weakish engine built for economy.

Also, despite the impressive claims of many remapping companies, I still find it hard to believe that a typical tuning company with a unit or two on an industrial estate, a couple of decent laptops and a rolling road can produce better ECU software than Volkswagen.

I'm still looking for that elusive concrete evidence that shows exactly what torque and bhp the various components such as clutch, DMF, turbo, gearbox, driveshafts are rated at?! If this is unknown, how do remapping companies determine what the safe remap limit is? None of them state any scientific proof of what the engine and its components will take, so it seems as though the 'safe' remap figures are just plucked out of the air?

Having said all that, the 1.6TDI in the new Passat is 120hp as standard. If I knew it shared the same components as my 105hp version, I would go for a remap to 125hp. I would also take comfort in knowing that maybe the 1.6 shares the same clutch and drivetrain components as the 2.0 engines - does anyone know if this is the case?

I just can't help feeling that if remapping companies really did test cars properly and really did know all the actual safe limits for the engine, the information would be readily available on their websites. IE: Clutch in the 1.6TDI is rated to xxx lb/ft, our remap takes it to yyy lb/ft which is within the operating limits stated by LUK or Sachs. Limits of the turbo are xxx bhp, and our remap goes to yyy bhp, which is within the limits stated by Garrett (or whoever makes them).

Remapping still remains a black art!

[as400]

Just had my 1.6tdi (CAYC so 105bhp) remapped at my home by Quantum Tuning, now proudly sporting 145bhp and car is so much more responsive and eager...£249 well worth it.

[Gazwould]

Just had my 1.6tdi (CAYC so 105bhp) remapped at my home by Quantum Tuning, now proudly sporting 145bhp and car is so much more responsive and eager...£249 well worth it.

What torque now and what does your 1.6tdi do to the gallon ?

[Pio14343]

What torque now and what does your 1.6tdi do to the gallon ?

Personally had a remap done with 'top speed remapping' and claimed 160hp/ 340nm torque. It really does feel like it.
I did this on a 127k mile engine but also replaced cambelt..and planning on upgrading intercooler. so far so good. It would still be interesting to see how much each part can really handle.
Mpg before remap on motorways avg 45.. after remap 50,

[Marno]

Sup man, know it has been a few years. How has the Remap treated you in the long run?