2.5 V6 TDI 150bhp.

[LWW]

What’s the general consensus on the 2.5 V6 TDI (150bhp) engine in the Passat. Is it still in a league of its own (performance, longevity) or has it now been caught up and made largley redundant by the 130bhp 1.9TDIs?

[adamss24]

Altough a bit more dificult to work on the v6 engines for the grease monkeys, they are quite reliable( as any other Vag diesel engine), take my one as its done little over 170k and still puls like a train. There is the 1.9GTTDI that puts 150 Bhp but its rare and very expensive plus its very thirsty. If you after fun then thats what i will get(still too expensive for a golf though !). The golf will hold its resale value better than the passat. The 2.5 L engine is more suited to larger/heavier cars like the a6/a8 and the max torque they deliver is nearly at tick-over plus they are tow happy engines as long as you keep them between the limits they were designed.

[JonathanK]

IMHO the V6 is superior in every way to the 130. I'm on my second, a 54 plate 163BHP saloon with tiptronic. It replaced a 2000 estate 150BHP tiptronic that I bought with 7k up in 01 and sold last year with 117k. It was an incredible car. The only non VAG cars I could think of to replace it were an S Type 2.7 or a Chrysler 300C CRD - both too expensive compared to the value offered by the Passat. Within VAG, compare the V6 TDi Passat to an equivalent A4 or A6. They are both significantly more expensive.

I get 42 on a run, 35 ish around town. Less than the 130's but for the extra refinement and mid range go, worth it in my book.

I've had or used a number of 4 cylinder 1.9's - Bora, Seat Alhambra, the first of the B5's, a '97 110 Passat Sport and the last of the old model, a 90BHP estate. All good cars but the V6 is a class above.

I'd recommend a V6 anytime but try to get one a long way away from the 80k cambelt change. A big and expensive job involving removing the front of the car. Expect about £500 at a dealer. Personally, I would entrust the job to any old garage. Stick with a dealer or specialist.

Good luck if you go for one.

JK

[rosco]

in relation to adamss24's msg. it is possible to get the 150bhp (pd150) tdi in the passat. i know cos my dads girlfriend has literally just sold hers. how easy it will be able to get one is another matter.

[adamss24]

can you ask your girlfriend's dad what was the engine code off that car and i will tell you if it was a 130 PD or a 150 PD ! the reason i am asking is there are so many people selling their TDI claiming to have more bhp than the rated output of the output of the engine. I dont care if the badge says red D and I as they are easy to stick on !

[JonathanK]

I've never come accross a 150BHP 4 cylinder 1.9. V6 TDi pre facelift and 1.8T petrols were both 150 BHP and that's it as far as I know.

[the.dude]

Hi

I have just bought a 51 plate Passat V6 Tdi 150bhp, auto, it has covered 80k miles. it seems to be very thristy, with the first tank (combined motorway and town) returning around 25mpg. Is this normal as I was expecting around 35mpg. Is there anything that can be done to get it running right ? :confused: Thanks Dude.

[JonathanK]

34 average would be about right for a V6 150BHP with tiptronic in mixed driving. 38/39 on a long run at 75 ish. Manual should be 2-3mpg better.

That's the kind of mileage I used to get with my last one over about 100k miles.

25 is very low. Are you booting it all the time? Air filter will make a difference if it hasn't been changed but I wouldn't have thought that would account for almost 10mpg off what you should be getting. Suggest you have the car checked over.

JK

[the.dude]

Hi
Thanks for the quick reply. This is my first tank through the car, hence driving has been a little mixed, but apart from getting used to the feel of the car I have not been booting it. I did have some problems with the inlet manifold flap vacuum control, (looks like a cone with a lever) having come off it's hinge, which was caused the car to come to a standstill. After a lot of scratching and searching an ex VAG techy put it right. It's temporarily being held in place with some cable ties. I don't know whether this would have caused it. The trip computer (they can be a litlle bit out but!!) shows avg 27mpg on the trip to work. My previous passat tdi (110bhp) used to give me around 45 (actual) for the same trip. Any ideas how this could be diagnosed ?

Thanks. Dude.

[JonathanK]

27 is possible on a short run depending on the conditions. My work trip is 15 miles each way with 10 miles of that on open A road and motorway. I get between 33 and 38 depending on traffic and speed. I'd expect between 49 and 53 our of a 1.9. The V6's are definitely more for long runs if it's all about economy. there's no way you'll get anywhere near the 1.9.

To get it checked I recommend a VW/Audi specialist who has a laptop that can interrogate the computer to ensure all settings are correct.

It may be though that 27 is what you'll get even after a tune up.

Hope this helps.

JK

[snapdragon]

I have the same car, same mpg.

I have had it since June, and have done an average of 28mpg since then.
I get 25mpg in congested town with lots of shortcuts.
31mpg at night in town.
34mpg is about as high as I can muster on long journies along A roads passing through towns and villages.
Haven't really been on a long motorway run yet.
Not very impressed. Before the Passat, I had a Vauxhall Omega 2.5TD auto BMW engine, it was 10 times better in every way (in a figure of speech) but they stopped doing them in 2000.

I don't think there is anything wrong, I go to a very good garage with a VAG-COM expert and really good intelligent staff.

[adamss24]

Disconect the airmass meter MAF and see if the car runs better... if it does, replace as this will result in poor performance and lack of power...also have it scanned for fault codes and post the numbers on the forum. BEAR IN MIND THAT DISCONECTING THE MAF WILL SET A CODE AND ECU WILL SWITCH TO THE DEFAULT VALUES SO TELL THE MECHANIC BEFORE ASSUMING THE MAF IS BAD ?!!

[adamss24]

Hi, 27 Mpg are less even with an remmaped (chipped engine) and will advise to have the car cheched... how many miles on the clock and do you know if the nozzles were replaced/reconditioned at all ? Also does it starts/puls ok or does it feel sliggish and leaves clouds of black smoke when you boot it ? My 98 a4 2.5 tdi quattro returns 37 Mpg average when i boot it and 42 average when i drive normally making full use of the 6th gear...and thats with a PSI chip on it :-)

[adamss24]

Hi, the pd 150 was only fitted on the limited edition Golf GT TDI and the engine code is ARL. There was no pd 150 engine fitted on the passat only the pd 130 and the v6 tdi engine code AFB pushing 150 Bhp!

[snapdragon]

Hello, I already replaced my MAF twice (Hitatchi make) but the original was OK, this was for a problem I had with low power and black smoke which eventually turned out to be the solenoid which modulates the vacuum the EGR valve. The N75 was changed too.

If anyone every wants an airflow meter for this car I have a brand new boxed VW one you can have less than half price.

The starts well, performs well, and sounds fine, has done 117,000 miles.
Maybe the post EGR intake needs cleaning but it doesn't look a simple job.

Everything such as VNT mechinsm and operation was checked. There are no codes at present as I have a VAG COM now and checked the other day. I have just ordered the full version so will be able to check injector timing etc...

Thanks.

[adamss24]

Hi, 117 k miles on original injector nozzles? i would recomend testing them as maybe the spr0ay patern may not be ideal on all of them. RUN A CAN OF DIESEL INJECTOR CLEANER FIRST (ONE THAT IS SUITABLE FOR CATALYTIC CONVERTORS!) TROUGH THE INJECTORS AND SEE IF THE MILEAGE CHANGES ! Other than that see the timing as this sort of Mpg its low even for a 1.8 Turbo !

[LWW]

I've got the 2.5 V6 TDI manual saloon. My work run is a stop start 13 miles and I get an average of 35 mpg. I've driven from Liverpool to Manchester & back today and averaged 43 mpg. In France last year I was early for the return ferry and just let it cruise at 70mph for about 80 miles. It actually averaged 50 mpg but I haven't seen that since. I'm not best placed to give you any technical advice but I think a lot really depends on how you drive these cars (appreciate it's not as easy with an auto), there's lot of low down torque to play with and providing your not braking hard and then reving high to catch up they're pretty good. I started off this thread because I felt that the V6 was costing me a disproportionate amount to run compared the the wifes 1.9 130 but the V6 really does come into it's own on the longer journeys. I'm considering a remap on the V6 to give it a bit more pace through the gears and I belive that this can also result in a MPG increase of about 10%. Good Luck.

[the.dude]

Thanks to you all who've replied - wow didn't expect such a response.
I guess step one will be getting a diagnostic. will keep this thread posted as i find out more.

Incidentally talked to colleague who works at the same place who runs a 53 plate 163bhp passat 2.5tdi with 40k on the clock. His journey is very similar to mine and he regularly gets around 400 miles to a tank which equates to around 35mpg.

Also - what is the main difference between the 163 & 150 bhp models - is it just tuning ? or is there a difference in engine ?

Thanks for the advice. Dude.

[the.dude]

Hi, 27 Mpg are less even with an remmaped (chipped engine) and will advise to have the car cheched... how many miles on the clock and do you know if the nozzles were replaced/reconditioned at all ? Also does it starts/puls ok or does it feel sliggish and leaves clouds of black smoke when you boot it ? My 98 a4 2.5 tdi quattro returns 37 Mpg average when i boot it and 42 average when i drive normally making full use of the 6th gear...and thats with a PSI chip on it :-)

Hi - Thanks for the advice - I have just bought the car with 80k miles, having come from a 110 bhp it feels like a rocket, so hard to tell if it is sluggish. On boot down there is no smoke and generally seems to be running very well, howver on cold start it does sound a little rough at low revs until it warms up. I don't think it has had injector nozzles cleaned.

Any ideas what would contribute to poor economy, It's had a full service, disconnecting the MAF does not make a difference to running, there was a problem with the vacuum lever that operates inlet manifold flap (looks like a cone with a stick protruding out), having been dislodged this had caused the car to come to a standstill. Could a faulty unit cause poor fuel economy ?

Thanks Dude.

[adamss24]

Thanks to you all who've replied - wow didn't expect such a response.
I guess step one will be getting a diagnostic. will keep this thread posted as i find out more.

Incidentally talked to colleague who works at the same place who runs a 53 plate 163bhp passat 2.5tdi with 40k on the clock. His journey is very similar to mine and he regularly gets around 400 miles to a tank which equates to around 35mpg.

Also - what is the main difference between the 163 & 150 bhp models - is it just tuning ? or is there a difference in engine ?

Thanks for the advice. Dude.
There were only 2 2.5 tdi engines fitted to audis in 2003: AYM-155 Bhp and AKE-180. There are quite big differences between them: cam rollers, injectors, pistons/rods, injectors and ECU. In europe they swapped injectors from the AKE to the 150 Bhp AFB/AKN but they smoke badlly without the propper ECU. Easy to sort with a turbo upgrade/engine remap.

[snapdragon]

there was a problem with the vacuum lever that operates inlet manifold flap (looks like a cone with a stick protruding out), having been dislodged this had caused the car to come to a standstill. Could a faulty unit cause poor fuel economy ?


I think this is an air shut-off valve, it should close when you turn off the ignition, it has two functions...

1) Reduce/eliminate shudder when you turn engine off.
2) A fallback for stopping the engine if other means fail - the engine if for example it starts to run on it's own oil and run out of control.

I doubt it would cause poor economy, it would more likely cause poor performance, the air intake is metered so if there is a restriction in it, the fuel will be reduced to compensate and it will basically run at reduced power.

[rosco]

the documents for the car start with the engine code AVF. does that mean 130 bhp?

[rosco]

the engine code is AVF 405948?

[adamss24]

the documents for the car start with the engine code AVF. does that mean 130 bhp?
Corect. PD 130Bhp/96 Kw. Hope this helps.

[Carlostrance]

Hi all,
I've just brought a Passat 2.5 V6 150bhp, and have a few questions.

Can anyone tell me what the tick over when warm should be, I thought mine sounds a bit high at just under 800 rpm, or is that right for a tiptronic auto?

Also does anyone know what the oil, air and fuel filter codes are to get them from Halfords or is it a trip down to the dealer to get them?

At 124,000 miles, I'm not paying for them to service it as I'm going to keep it for a good few years.

Is the stock air filter ok, or does a K&N make any difference?

Thanks for any helpful replies.

Carlos

[JonathanK]

Idle revs at about 800 RPM is correct. I thought it was a little high when I first got one in 2001 but dealer confirmed 800 was correct.

Don't have the codes for the filters I'm afraid but I don't think they are too expensive from the dealer.

I used to wonder what K&N would do for the car, especially my old 150BHP after I'd had it chipped but at the time K&N didn't do a filter for the car. I checked with them directly. I haven't tried for a couple of years though so maybe now they do.

Good luck with it. Its a great car.

Jonathan

[snapdragon]

The filters are best value at Eurocarparts, e.g. Genuine VW oil filter is about £6 other makes such as BOSCH or Hengst are about £5. Halfords don't list any of the filters.

Don't bother with a K&N, they are from the olden-days of carburettors etc... The oil on them can also migrate onto the MAF.

[Carlostrance]

Thanks for that guys.
I've just been to the dealer and you were right.
oil & air filters came to £14.45

Cheers

Carlos

[Carlostrance]

Hi all,

I've just read a few of the threads on the previous pages regarding fuel economy.

As i've just brought mine (although I owned a 1.9 110Bhp Tdi six monts ago) I've been doing as we all do with a new car, checking the fuel economy.

If anyone is interested, mine is on 124,000 miles with the auto tiptronic box.

I travel to my work at 4:00am, so there is no traffic.
I've been traveling at the speed limits every day to check the MPG.

The first day I got 30.2MPG on the 16 mile trip which involves about 6 mile of 30 - 40 mph speed limits with the rest being dual carriage & motorway.

Since then I've done a oil & filter change and air filter.
I'm also running REDEX diesel addative but at 1.5x the normal mixture.

In the last 3 trips the MPG has been 30.9 ......... 32.6 .......... and last night 35.1

So as far as I'm concerned there can't be much wrong with the engine, even with my milage, but the oil & air filters and the REDEX have certainly improved my MPG.
Must say I'm really pleased with the car and I'm sure it's going to run & run as the motor still feels really strong.

Cheers

Carlos™

[snapdragon]

Thanks, for the tip, will get filters from dealer from now, on, I just assumed they would be the most expensive.