Golf GT TDI 150 Worn/broken Hydraulic Buckets & Cam

[IRF]

I was curious to know if anyone else has experienced similar problems with the 150bhp engine. I had a large bill recently £1.5K !!! for replacement of the buckets/cam, seals and gaskets...etc (inc. Cam belt). Literally overnight the engine sounded like it was running on 3 cylinders, turns out the buckets had broken down/worn and there was evidence of wear on the Cam lobes. My suspicion is that maybe the 150bhp engine materials were not up to the job!! The car has had full dealer servicing from new and had done 72K miles when the problem occurred. I'm trying to pursue it with VW but don’t seem to be getting anywhere, any feedback/help/advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

[Lex Luthor]

The output of the engine will have little bearing in the wear of the cam and followers.
Over on TDIClub similar things are happening to PD engines and the finger is being pointed at the oil specification, which seems much more probable.
Relatively short periods of using the wrong oil can initiate a future failure of the cam components.

Ref : http://tinyurl.com/2bh6ss

Do you know what oil has been used ? ( The dealers seem to get it wrong sometimes)
Fixed or variable service ?

[IRF]

Thanks, The servicing is prompted by the service indicator on the dash, presumably that makes it variable. I've got no idea what oil was used but the problem happened about 4 weeks after the service.

[Lex Luthor]

Thanks, The servicing is prompted by the service indicator on the dash, presumably that makes it variable.

Either service regime will prompt on the dash. What does the service book say ?

I've got no idea what oil was used but the problem happened about 4 weeks after the service.

The wear is cumulative and will not be related to the recent service.

Go back through the service history and contact the servicing garage to obtain the part number of the oil they used to service it, unless you have all the receipts already.

[IRF]

Hi, looks like it is a fixed service, roughly every 10K.

Dont have all the oil details to hand but have the following-
10K service 5W-50 G052167A2
20K service 5W-50 G052167A2
30K service 5W-40 G052167A2???
70K service Shell Helix Ultra VX T&D

Thanks again.

[Huweth]

All the oils you have specified are PD oils. If the one prior to the last service was not a PD oil it may have caused the problem. In that case, if it was put in by VW in the last 2 years you could try to get your money back for the repair work. Any work by VW is guaranteed comprehensive for 2 years, and covers any associated parts failures. Sorry to hear about the massive bill!

[Lex Luthor]

Hi, looks like it is a fixed service, roughly every 10K.

Dont have all the oil details to hand but have the following-
10K service 5W-50 G052167A2
20K service 5W-50 G052167A2
30K service 5W-40 G052167A2???
70K service Shell Helix Ultra VX T&D


I assume the 40k and 50k and 60K services were done ? ?

Shell Helix Ultra VX is to 507 spec so its good

[Col]

I've read elsewhere quite a few reports of the 150 eating camshafts.

I wonder if VW upped the rocker shaft ratio some on the 150 to enable the unit injectors to pump more fuel than the 130? That is maybe putting undue strain on the cam lobes etc.

Does seem strange that the 130 and other lower output PD's seem to be uneffected.

[Lex Luthor]

I've read elsewhere quite a few reports of the 150 eating camshafts.

I wonder if VW upped the rocker shaft ratio some on the 150 to enable the unit injectors to pump more fuel than the 130? That is maybe putting undue strain on the cam lobes etc.

Does seem strange that the 130 and other lower output PD's seem to be uneffected.

The US is reporting issues and they don't have 150s. See the link in my earlier post.
The injectors are on different cam lobes to the valves.
It is always the cam lobe to follower bit that fails which is a surprise really as you would think that it is the low tech bit !

[IRF]

I assume the 40k and 50k and 60K services were done ? ?

Shell Helix Ultra VX is to 507 spec so its good
40 & 50 K were both by a VW dealer (same as previous), the 60K was the Cam belt service which was pricey so I took it to a small garage who specialise in VW to save a few hundred quid (but maybe I didn't in the end!!!), I will check what oil they used.

[IRF]

All the oils you have specified are PD oils. If the one prior to the last service was not a PD oil it may have caused the problem. In that case, if it was put in by VW in the last 2 years you could try to get your money back for the repair work. Any work by VW is guaranteed comprehensive for 2 years, and covers any associated parts failures. Sorry to hear about the massive bill!
Thanks, if it was the oil then maybe I've shot myself in the foot regarding comeback on VW!