CFCA 180 bi turbo EGR engine problems.

[Jukebox70]

Sign this petition if you've or know someone that has had problems with this engine.
https://chng.it/wCxxTb6yKr

 

[Chinny]

Can’t believe nobody has replied?mines a 174 early t5 so no issues but I do feel Volkswagen should help but they won’t ,would open a very big can of worms good luck

 

[pjm-84]

No issues with mine but then again I took precautions. Annual servicing, oil analysis, and then finally emulating the EGR....

 

[WelshGas]

Can’t believe nobody has replied?mines a 174 early t5 so no issues but I do feel Volkswagen should help but they won’t ,would open a very big can of worms good luck

Maybe because it is not as common as some would have you believe.
180, annual oil change, zero oil consumption and now on 134,000 miles.

 

[soulstyledevon]

Maybe because it is not as common as some would have you believe.
180, annual oil change, zero oil consumption and now on 134,000 miles.

Or perhaps people have had enough with Volkswagens poor build quality and self destructing engines, that they’ve left the brand completely…

 

[Ch1pbutty]

Or perhaps people have had enough with Volkswagens poor build quality and self destructing engines, that they’ve left the brand completely…

Or selecting a different engine if purchasing outside of warranty period.

The only way to really be sure it’s a good 180 is to buy from someone who has owned since new, with full documentation stating mileage when any parts were changed. Otherwise it’s guesswork.

 

[WelshGas]

Or perhaps people have had enough with Volkswagens poor build quality and self destructing engines, that they’ve left the brand completely…

Either way it is if no significance.

 

[willwander]

Maybe because it is not as common as some would have you believe.
180, annual oil change, zero oil consumption and now on 134,000 miles.

It’s more common than ‘you’ will believe.
I appreciate you own one, and have had no problems, and will shortly be selling it, so you have a somewhat vested interest. However, if I were looking to buy, I would do what all the dealers do and avoid 180’s

 

[pjm-84]

Not sure they do? Plenty of BiTDi in the dealers. The 180hp tag is miss conception. i.e if I remapped mine to 230hp would it no longer be affected?. All reading materials relates to the EGR and VW have modified this over time. But I've also seen reported issues with the D cooler.

 

[willwander]

Not sure they do? Plenty of BiTDi in the dealers. The 180hp tag is miss conception. i.e if I remapped mine to 230hp would it no longer be affected?. All reading materials relates to the EGR and VW have modified this over time. But I've also seen reported issues with the D cooler.

Maybe, just going by my experience when trying to sell my 180, which btw needed a new engine. didn’t have the heart to sell it privately.

 

[Mark Southorn]

Done - my CFCA BiTDi (2012) causes nothing but angst. Bought last year (from a VW Commercial dealer) at 33K - now done 47K (lots of long distance travel) and burning 1/2 litre oil for every 1K miles. Just had EGR blanked but if the damage is already done........

 

[WelshGas]

Done - my CFCA BiTDi (2012) causes nothing but angst. Bought last year (from a VW Commercial dealer) at 33K - now done 47K (lots of long distance travel) and burning 1/2 litre oil for every 1K miles. Just had EGR blanked but if the damage is already done........

And 3,000 miles/Yr over 11 years is obviously not a contributing factor?

 

[WelshGas]

It’s more common than ‘you’ will believe.
I appreciate you own one, and have had no problems, and will shortly be selling it, so you have a somewhat vested interest. However, if I were looking to buy, I would do what all the dealers do and avoid 180’s

Personally I don't think it is that common. People affected make a lot of noise but no one has taken VW to task. Yes, the EGR oil cooler corrodes but is that cause or effect?

 

[soulstyledevon]

Personally I don't think it is that common. People affected make a lot of noise but no one has taken VW to task. Yes, the EGR oil cooler corrodes but is that cause or effect?

You need pretty deep pockets to even contemplate taking a giant like Volkswagen on.
Ever since Volkswagen introduced emission measures to their engines, the longstanding reliability went down hill…

 

[Mark Southorn]

And 3,000 miles/Yr over 11 years is obviously not a contributing factor?

I genuinely don't know but would like to understand better.
I still run a T2 Westy and don't bat an eyelid at regularly topping that up - just thought with newer technology would not have an issue. Just wish I had looked at this forum prior to an impulse retirement pressy!

 

[WelshGas]

You need pretty deep pockets to even contemplate taking a giant like Volkswagen on.
Ever since Volkswagen introduced emission measures to their engines, the longstanding reliability went down hill…

Oh come on. Plenty of media outlets, journalists or Consumer groups would love something ĺike that if it could be proven to be VW responsible. Despite all the chatter no one has taken it up.

 

[TripleBee]

You need pretty deep pockets to even contemplate taking a giant like Volkswagen on.
Ever since Volkswagen introduced emission measures to their engines, the longstanding reliability went down hill…

Apart from a faulty EGR-cooler from factory, changed at 45000km, and a temperature sensor in the DPF, I had no engine problems so far.
Now I have over 200000km, the van is 15 years old, and has just done over 2000km in 2 weeks (holidays) without any problems.
Maybe the engine isn't old enough and hasn't done enough miles to agree to your statement, but I will keep you posted.
Mine's a 140HP by the way.
The problem is that we will never hear anything about the 180's that don't have problems, so we can't see what is the procentual figure of the problematic engines.

 

[Steve1]

Apart from a faulty EGR-cooler from factory, changed at 45000km, and a temperature sensor in the DPF, I had no engine problems so far.
Now I have over 200000km, the van is 15 years old, and has just done over 2000km in 2 weeks (holidays) without any problems.
Maybe the engine isn't old enough and hasn't done enough miles to agree to your statement, but I will keep you posted.
Mine's a 140HP by the way.
The problem is that we will never hear anything about the 180's that don't have problems, so we can't see what is the procentual figure of the problematic engines.

It's difficult for people with good 180s to give a positive opinion, they just get shouted down and told that their engine is a "ticking time bomb" by people who are very pleased they didn't buy one ! So we just sit in the background ignoring these type of posts now.

 

[ArunAlec]

It's difficult for people with good 180s to give a positive opinion, they just get shouted down and told that their engine is a "ticking time bomb" by people who are very pleased they didn't buy one ! So we just sit in the background ignoring these type of posts now.

Never had an oil issue with mine and when I traded it in, the dealer (a VW camper specialist) was fully aware of the potential problem and was not phased. And gave me a good trade in price.

 

[Steve1]

Never had an oil issue with mine and when I traded it in, the dealer (a VW camper specialist) was fully aware of the potential problem and was not phased. And gave me a good trade in price.

My one has no problems either, couldn't be more happy with it and I previously also had a 180 caravelle which I traded in, dealer gave no mention of the engine type at all just gave me the money.

 

[soulstyledevon]

Apart from a faulty EGR-cooler from factory, changed at 45000km, and a temperature sensor in the DPF, I had no engine problems so far.
Now I have over 200000km, the van is 15 years old, and has just done over 2000km in 2 weeks (holidays) without any problems.
Maybe the engine isn't old enough and hasn't done enough miles to agree to your statement, but I will keep you posted.
Mine's a 140HP by the way.
The problem is that we will never hear anything about the 180's that don't have problems, so we can't see what is the procentual figure of the problematic engines.

Congrats you picked the better engine.
My T5.1 140 was fine.
The others, not so good…
T5 130 37k miles 4 years old, decided to kill itself…
T6 180 45k miles 4 years old, turbo failure…

 

[pjm-84]

140 and 180 are the same engine, just different architecture, single turbo, twin turbo.....no way is VW going to make a different bottom end/block etc

 

[wildslammer22]

Done - my CFCA BiTDi (2012) causes nothing but angst. Bought last year (from a VW Commercial dealer) at 33K - now done 47K (lots of long distance travel) and burning 1/2 litre oil for every 1K miles. Just had EGR blanked but if the damage is already done........

I read conflicting info on deleting the EGR, isn’t in effect defrauding the tax man ie putting the vehicle into a higher VED bracket? In which case I’m sure there must be a regulation preventing it, or if your van is classified as commercial then VED is a flat rate so makes no difference?

If I were to do a big trip in remoter regions it’s something I would consider doing once the warranty has run out!

 

[Ch1pbutty]

I read conflicting info on deleting the EGR, isn’t in effect defrauding the tax man ie putting the vehicle into a higher VED bracket? In which case I’m sure there must be a regulation preventing it, or if your van is classified as commercial then VED is a flat rate so makes no difference?

If I were to do a big trip in remoter regions it’s something I would consider doing once the warranty has run out!

Yes, plus the taxman will get 20% tax on the replacement engine + VW gain revenue on new engine supply & fitting.

Meanwhile the honest Van owner ends up with a huge hole in their wallet through no fault of their own for buying what should be a VW quality product!!…

(The emissions created in making the new replacement & recycling the old engine probably far exceed the additional emissions from just blanking the EGR.)

 

[wildslammer22]

Yes, plus the taxman will get 20% tax on the replacement engine + VW gain revenue on new engine supply & fitting.

Meanwhile the honest Van owner ends up with a huge hole in their wallet through no fault of their own for buying what should be a VW quality product!!…

(The emissions created in making the new replacement engine probably far exceed the additional emissions from blanking the EGR.)

I can certainly empathise with any 180 owner that goes down this route. I’m on the newer 204 bi-turbo and so far no issues and approaching 70k miles. I just think that the technology associated with making diesel engines cleaner (EGR, Adblue, stop start etc) inherently bakes in complexity and failure points in any engine irrespective of the manufacturer. The days of diesel engines doing a million miles no matter how well looked after are long gone.

There’s a reason that most people that venture into less developed countries usually do it in an old Landy or Toyota. I suspect the most bombproof modern diesel engine in the BMW 3 litre which I guess is why Ineos chose it for the Grenadier.