Comments On The W8
I am one of those service consultants that will not bullshit you. If I have an opinion, you will hear it. If I think something is a good or bad idea, or a service is necessary or unnecessary, you will know.
A gentleman recently called me. He has a 2004 Passat 1.8t station wagon. He has been eyeing a Passat W8 wagon on our used lot. He asked my opinion on it.
I said, "I am going to tell you one point regarding the W8 engine and you can make a decision based on that. Ready? 78% engine failure rate."
"Holy cow," he said.
There is something inherently unbalanced about those engines that causes their balance shafts and crankshafts to eat themselves. Occasionally, the little round screens in the camshaft tensioner assemblies will get swallowed up and wind up in either in the head or oil pan. Havoc ensues.
I like the W8 engine in concept. I especially like the W8 engine in practice when backed up by a 6-speed manual; 2nd and 3rd gear are positively vicious. However, it is an engine that deeply frightens me.
When new, the engine itself originally cashed out to about $28,000 (including the core charge). The transmission was around $7.000. Though expensive when new, if you had driven over a curb or large rock, ripped open the oil pans for the engine and transmission, there was a good change your car would have been totaled by the insurance company.
Indeed, we had one such 2003 W8 wagon come in recently. A lady ran over something in the road, she said. She broke the engine oil pan, dented the front subframe, and ripped the transmission open. She also bashed the transmission and driveshaft up into the car's floorpan. She kept driving the car, until all the oil fell out of either the engine or the transmission, or both. Almost instant total by the insurance company. I think the car is still parked out back of the shop.
A gentleman recently called me. He has a 2004 Passat 1.8t station wagon. He has been eyeing a Passat W8 wagon on our used lot. He asked my opinion on it.
I said, "I am going to tell you one point regarding the W8 engine and you can make a decision based on that. Ready? 78% engine failure rate."
"Holy cow," he said.
There is something inherently unbalanced about those engines that causes their balance shafts and crankshafts to eat themselves. Occasionally, the little round screens in the camshaft tensioner assemblies will get swallowed up and wind up in either in the head or oil pan. Havoc ensues.
I like the W8 engine in concept. I especially like the W8 engine in practice when backed up by a 6-speed manual; 2nd and 3rd gear are positively vicious. However, it is an engine that deeply frightens me.
When new, the engine itself originally cashed out to about $28,000 (including the core charge). The transmission was around $7.000. Though expensive when new, if you had driven over a curb or large rock, ripped open the oil pans for the engine and transmission, there was a good change your car would have been totaled by the insurance company.
Indeed, we had one such 2003 W8 wagon come in recently. A lady ran over something in the road, she said. She broke the engine oil pan, dented the front subframe, and ripped the transmission open. She also bashed the transmission and driveshaft up into the car's floorpan. She kept driving the car, until all the oil fell out of either the engine or the transmission, or both. Almost instant total by the insurance company. I think the car is still parked out back of the shop.