EA288 2.0 TDI Compression pressures

**Ben_T** · 18-02-2024,11:02 PM

Hi all, hope I've posted this in the right place...

I've got yet another vRS CUPA engine which is guzzling oil. 1 litre per 1,000 miles typically. I've tried using different brands of oil (including stop-smoke jollop), re-routing the crank case vent, removing the injectors and repeatedly filling the cylinders with decarboniser to clean the piston rings, all to no avail. It's on 154 k miles now.

The intake's reasonably dry and the the turbo exhaust outlet's bone dry so I don't think it's turbo or crank case vent related. Which leaves the piston rings or valve stem oil seals.

I've tested my compression with a cool engine and am getting 320 PSI (21-ish bar pressure) on the number 1 cylinder.

Has anyone else tested their compression on any of the 2.0 TDI EA288 engines and if so, what did you get? I'm planning to take the engine apart in the near future but don't want to disturb the head gasket if the rings can be left alone. Thanks in advance!

**Crasher** · 19-02-2024,08:01 PM

Common EA288 problem, we fit a genuine exchange engine (£7628.18 retail, inc VAT) or turn the job away as the parts and labour required just don’t add up. If the labour isn’t included then it can be done BUT you must not reface the head, only replace it if distorted, we would use an AMC casting. Depending on VIN the usual cause is the EGR cooler breaking up inside and damaging the bores.

**Ben_T** · 21-02-2024,08:38 PM

Thanks so much for your reply! And for your advice on the cylinder head, I'll bear that in mind. I'd heard of the EGR coolers ruining Transporter engines but didn't know it could affect mine too.

I'd be doing the rebuild myself, so even with the absence of labour costs it may still not stack up financially by the time I've factored in the cost of the hair transplant I'll inevitably need afterwards. Not a nice engine to work on.

A friend's got one with 63 k on the clock and good service history which also uses a lot of oil, so a low-mileage second hand one probably doesn't make sense either. Decisions... Peugeot o' clock?

Thanks again

**Crasher** · 22-02-2024,02:24 PM

I am casting around for a new car, the only thing that fits the factors is a Bentley Arrange T but Mrs Crasher says no

**mickeybo** · 22-02-2024,08:41 PM

what checks if any was done to check out valve stem oil seals

**Ben_T** · 23-02-2024,07:21 PM

Haha! I see what you mean. I suppose everything has problems. Choose your poison...

**Ben_T** · 23-02-2024,07:30 PM

Good question! In truth, none. Trouble is, with the car having a DPF it isn't possible to start the engine from cold and then rev it momentarily to check for smoke. I'd have liked to have taken the turbo/inlet manifold off to visually check for leaks, but it's not a quick or easy job to do this at all.

The one thing I have done is to analyse the exhaust hydrocarbon content during driving from a cold start. It starts off very low (as you'd expect for a healthy engine), then gradually rises to a very high peak after about a mile. It then gradually drops off again as the catalysts warm up. High revs and/or full acceleration give the biggest whack of oil in the exhaust fumes, even if the engine's hot. The thing is, it never smells of burning oil, only of hot oil. It's almost as though the oil's migrating its way into the combustion chambers and then evaporating, rather than actually burning. Still plenty of ash residue on the glow plug tips, injectors, DPF etc. though.

I suppose I'm over-analysing it. I'm planning on disassembling the engine in a month or so and I suppose I'll see what the state of affairs is then.