Hello,

I just bought cheap 340tkm driven -07 octavia with bxe 1.9tdi engine.

Now i have read horror stories about conrods failing.. why is that?

Does the oil pump fail in these engines and is there a way to service it before breakdown? Changing the chain, idler/tightner or whole pump?

And what about those conrods, should I change bearings to bigger ends just for better nightsleep?

Oils have been changed every 10-12 tkm. - so no longlife change intervals, thank god.

Thanks!

I would not worry about it, there are loads of these engines around  many of which do very high mileages without the conrods escaping. 

When the conrods on these engines do fail, and it must only be a very tiny percentage which do, they tend to do so at relatively low mileages. I would take some comfort from the fact that yours has covered 340,000 km. If it hasn't failed by now it very likely isn't ever going to fail!

its also worth checking if the cambelt has been changed as per manufacturers intervals as if it goes it will also take out your engine

Ok, that sounds good. I think I will change oil pump's chain and tightner when I have time, also those bearings.

There is about 50tkm to next cambelt change.. also I have to change dual mass flywheel and clutch. Maybe after that it will roll for awhile without anything to repair, heh.

Oil pump issues only affected certain of the early 2.0 TDI engines, and even then none of the ones which were used in the Octavia. I've never heard of an oil pump failure on any 1.9 TDI and personally wouldn't bother changing the chain just for the sake of it.

At that mileage it would of failed a very long time ago. I wouldn't worry as most of it is scaremongering.

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Okay okay, maybe I can sleep better now.. heh. So nothing to be worried. That is the reason why I bought 1.9 and not the bigger 2.0. Atleast older 1.9td's are bulletproof. My old vw vento - over 1 000,000km and still going rock solid.

If I remember right, oil was fully synthetic Castrol 5w-30. Same oil from beginning.

In here Finland, there is one more problem with these engines in winter. If you dont use windshield in front of your mask, it will make ice inside intercooler's pipes. When spring comes, ice will melt and next time you start your engine *BANG*, either conrod is crooked or outside. I think its bigger problem in VW, not in skoda. But either way, it has happen alot.

Edited 30 July, 201510 yr by mipa

Totally agree with Mike. I know a lot of taxi owners here in Bournemouth with 56,07,57,08,58,09 reg cars with BXE engines and are all original and all over 250K miles going strong with no faults. I know mine was low at 70K when I sold it but it was as sweet as the day I bought brand new. Failures are so minuscule and are probably due to misuse and poor servicing.

RIP 1.9 :( best diesel ever.

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I have no idea what specs it meets, but you would think it's fine because it has been used in dealer's service.

From what I have heard icing problem is bigger in VW, because it has different head structure.

I think nowdays diesel engines are much colder than before, at least in winter. Almost forced to use grill cover if you dont want your feet cold. Maybe that is the reason why that icing happens. Smaller waste of heat - colder air in pipes. And when driving in cold, it will make condensation inside intercooler's pipe.

Oh yeah, and there has been no problems if you just use that grill cover in winter.

Im not making this up. Heh.

Btw, there was even somekind of "quickfix" from dealer few years ago.. drill a small hole in intercooler's bottom.

It was before they told to use grill cover.

Edited 31 July, 201510 yr by mipa

Oh, and Im not worried about this engine anymore.. at first I just thought it was somekind of poor faulty design. Good thing to know that I havent stick my hand in pile of ****.