Anyone converted 2.0 TDI to Single Mass Flywheel

[D@z]

Hey All,

before I go and order the SMF conversion for my Octy, has anyone else done it and what are their experiences?

want it so I can get my Hybrid Mapped and possibly new Injectors to take me to 250HP+ asap, but worried it will ruin the quiet (relatively) and comfort factor of my daily driver!

[Wardy]

The daily driver aspect of that post would say to me that's its the wrong direction to go in. I know some will argue that it's perfectly fine for that purpose though! If you've not been out in a derv with a SMF fitted, go find one

Then you'll know whether it's for you or not

Steve

[D@z]

Hey Steve, hows your Octy coming on?

i guess its too much to ask to have a 2.0 TDI with 250 HP and a smooth drive I guess, I need to find someone round here with a conversion kit....

[AndrewJB]

few people have fitted SMF to PD140's now

So far however none on the PD170 seems all 170 owners are waiting for me to do it first

[Wardy]

Not specifically related to the 2.0 PD TDI, but I've just converted my 1.9TDI PD to SMF. I couldn't recommend it highly enough.

Since the SMF has been fitted, I've noticed there's smoother acceleration, no vibration through the clutch pedal, better pickup and the car is much quieter than it ever has been on a DMF system.

How's vibration at tickover Mike?

[D@z]

its interesting you find yours to be so much better, the vids on youtube suggest a very noisey idle? which to be honest is the main thing Im worried about...

[Wardy]

There isn't any. There's absolutely NO vibration either at idle or running. Can't even feel anything if you just touch the clutch with your foot at idle. When on the DMF, there was a constant light to medium vibration through the clutch pedal all the time, though this may have been due to the fact the DMF was failing. There used to be a loud thump starting or switching off the engine, but that's gone too.

Steve, not related to this particular thread, but can you PM me the exact location of the headlight wash delay setting in VCDS (as per your other thread). Have plugged car in, and cannot find it anywhere. Thanks

Mike

That's interesting - I'm just wondering exactly where the vibration is going now though? One of the supposed benefits of a DMF setup is it's ability to dampen drivetrain vibration. Glad it's working out for you though Mike

I did reply with a bit more info on the headlight washers. But if you're still having trouble, I'll try and hook up at the weekend and do a step-by-step guide :yes:

Cheers,

Steve

[PumpeDuse]

Steve, if you get to one of the Briskoda meets at Stretton, you'll have to have a drive of mine now it's been converted, and let the car convince you!!!

It begs the question as to whether a failed or failing DMF causes more vibration than it dampens............

I've been doing a lot of research into the failings of DMFs, and I cannot find or see any pattern or cause. Some are saying 200k miles without a problem, with the car being constantly up and down the gears as taxis, other taxi drivers like Skippy41 having them fail at under 60k, and this one of mine, on a very gently driven car, very rarely taken over 2500rpm, failing at 44k miles. I've even been talking to someone who has got a Peugeot 307HDI, and has so far had 2 DMFs under warranty, one at 4k miles, the other at 17k, and it's failing again now it's out of warranty at 33k.

And as far as the cost of replacing on other makes goes, how does this sound? £450 for a DMF, £250 for a clutch, £150 for a release bearing, and 5 hours labour to change the complete setup on a 57 plate Focus TDCI. Only a couple of pounds change from £1500. And there's no solid conversion kit available for the Focus either.

I honestly think that I got off lightly with what I had to spend on the Octavia.

Do you think driving it too lightly might have contributed to the premature failure of your DMF? I believe being in too higher a gear at low revs can play havoc with the DMF especially if accelerating to increase speed whilst in the higher gear instead of changing down, to increase the revs.

Mike

[D@z]

any chance of a quick vid of the car idling outside and in? Im still undecided, and have the cash burning a hole here, lol

[Badger Driver]

daz i have one fitted to my fabia vrs if you wanna hear it, they are hard to listen too

[D@z]

brilliant, someone from N.Ireland, you ever around the triangle area? coleraine/portrush or pstewart?

[Stormchaser]

Iam the same as Mike and Skippy having a SMF/Clutch fitted to my 1.9Tdi but mine was under warranty at 31K.The reason for change was that the clutch was badly juddering all the time and was shaking the engine whilst driving similar to an uneven load in a washing machine.Skoda then converted to SMF and fiited a brand new clutch.

This is the best thing that has happenned to the car.They should all be like this the ride is so smooth and quiet and i have noticed a big change in how responsive the car is now.Also there is no idle noise/shaking/rattling just very smooth and much more quiet than before.So far 10,000 miles since fitted and no problems.

Would highly recommend

Edited 2 January, 2011 by Stormchaser

[Monkeyboyo]

What i don't understand about SMF conversion is what happens to the vibration (that you don't necessarily notice but may well be happening) that the DMF was intended to dampen ?

Does the SMF transfer greater forces of vibration elsewhere?

Just wondering really why LUK and SACHS haven't brought out SMF conversions if its such a good idea, and why cars are still being produced with DMF's ?

An SMF may be brilliant in comparison to a malfunctioning DMF, but why was there a DMF there in the first place ?

Edited 2 January, 2011 by Monkeyboyo

[Monkeyboyo]

It makes you wonder if it's a manufacturer's ploy for future income in repairs! Not that I'm cynical or anything..........

You mention that a SMF is good in relation to a "malfunctioning" DMF, but I bought my Octavia 2 years ago with 18500miles on the clock, and looking back, the car was no where near as smooth and vibration free even then with a perfectly good DMF as it is now with a SMF conversion. So far I've only covered 700 miles since the new parts went in, but I'm happy to report that all has settled down beautifully, and I'm 200% convinced I've gone down the right repair route.

The local garage that fitted my SMF and clutch said that the only time he will replace a DMF with another DMF is simply when a SMF conversion is not yet available, as in the case of the Ford Focus TDCi I mentioned in an earlier post. Even done independently, it is still a 4 figure repair bill, let alone £1800 from Ford!

Mike

I guess unless you've driven other Octavias you would not know whether the DMF was functioning properly when you bought the car though?

There are slow DMF failures, as well as catastrophic ones.

SMF is not an option on my 4x4 so i wouldn't be able to take that route if i wanted to. Spoke to a VW specialist last week that reckoned they had been on an LUK training course

and had been shown 4 examples of failures to drivetrain following an SMF conversion. Sorry can't remember what they said had failed - or snapped in all 4 cases.

I guess its hard to know where the truth lies - every manufacturer has their own reasons for wanting to convey their particular message

Edited 2 January, 2011 by Monkeyboyo

[franek]

I am not an expert but I have heard that DMF converted to SMF ovor the long run can ruin the transmission gear box and that can be expensive. There must be some benefit in DMF as it is designed by experts in VAG concern and there must be a reason why its still being used in TDI engines.

[PhilP1903]

From a laymans point of view and from reading this and other threads about DMF/SMF conversions, i reckon that replacing the DMF with SMF means that the vibrations previously dampened by the DMF must be being transferred through/into the gearbox and this will/may eventually cause gear box failure of some description be it minor or major. As said previously in this thread the VW engineers are pretty good (mostly) at introducing new technology to their cars and generally it works very well. The other point to examine is that the lower powered diesels are less likely to be affected as much but when you get up to the 140bhp and above cars the torque is far higher and therefore more possible vibration could be transferred into the gear box.

[AndrewJB]

Plenty of Fabia,Polo and Ibiza PD130's & PD160's out there running 200bhp+ With SMF's

3 i know of take a right hammering on 1/4 Miles aswell (Devonutopia being one of them)