After the most recent MOT on my November 2011 mk2 TSi 86 bhp, the inspector mentioned that this type of engine usually lasts only about 100,000 miles because of the huge amount of heat and pressure it endures being a relatively small engine working so hard to produce such performance. Has anyone here got to the 100 k mark with this engine yet or heard of anyone who has experience of this?

Odd,

you have a 4 cylinder engine producing 86ps or so, not even 105ps so not exactly high performance like say a 3 cylinder producing 125ps or the likes,

or some at 160ps.

 

How many miles has your engine done?

45000 and running very smoothly. Serviced by dealer from the start. I always fill up with Tesco momentum 99RON

1 hour ago, saved by skoda said:

45000 and running very smoothly. Serviced by dealer from the start. I always fill up with Tesco momentum 99RON

usually  these small engines are designed to withstand the high compression ratio's and heat with hardened valves made with sodium to redirect the heat away from the internals , they also have a very affective cooling system i would say the only thing not made to last are the ancillaries say the turbo and actuator and the timing belt as my mothers stretched and very nearly took the engine with it 

Charge cooled as well aren't they 

Thanks for your information on this topic, which is quite reassuring. Looks like the timing belt is a top priority, when does it normally get replaced? Probably inspected as part of a service?

Now that is another story the MOT examiner never mentioned.

When your 1.2 TSI 86 ps was built and if it has the Faulty Chain Tensioner and if an Upgrade is in order, 

but i will leave that to those that know about such things, TPI's, date of upgrade etc.

 

Nothing to do with small capacity, high performance just VW Group component sourcing and Quality Control or lack of.

I have read similar comments in some Auto magazine some time ago, one expert  was mentioning similar things, do not want to believe it is that bad, he was connecting his comments related to the problems with

 

turbos 

cam chain issues

as well there was a note about high pressure and combustion

head gasket problems.

 

Apart from that carbon built up with DI engines is another topic.

 

I have changed the chain and turbo valve until now.

 

by the way been checking some 1.2 tsi s which are on sale

 

Fabia 2011 - 270k km/ 167 k miles

Fabia 2012 - 240k km/ 150k miles

Fabia 2011 - 235k km / around 150 k miles

Roomster 2011 - 230k km/ 140k miles

3 other Fabias  2011 - around 200k km/ 125 k miles

Golf - 190k km / 120k miles

 

I have mine on sale for more than 2 months, it is hard to sell it. Sometimes I am thinking maybe she is good to be kept for sometime then when this short engine life debate, carbon build up, engine issues come up, I get confused..

 

 

Edited 25 April, 20179 yr by istannbullu34

Thanks for your prompt and honest reply, Istanbullu34! There seem to be two opposing schools of thought on this

Sounds like a steaming pile of poo as a comment... But, I had a similar comment regarding the Smart fort-two, from an RAC techie. He said that they are so small, highly tuned and turbocharged, driven like a sports car in most instances and he has rarely seen one do more then around the 70,000 mark without needing a new engine or a rebuildI suppose that sounds fair, given the work they do and the low(Ish) Price.

The 1.2 tsi in camchain form is a fine engine but with a couple of weak points seen in older examples built before 2012.

 

I have two cars in my care with this engine. The first is a 105ps CBZB in an 2011 0ctavia estate, now on 92k+. Being an earlier example it has suffered the common problems of stretched camchain and a failed ignition cable (cyl 3) and a failed ignition coil (as a result of the cable), all are well known as design/quality issues but denied by my Skoda dealer, despite my complaining repeatably under warranty about an increasingly rattly chain. I eventually paid to have these issues fixed which is very very annoying, but now with the updated components the engine seems fine. (Although the incompetent dealer didnt seal the sump correctly leading to a leak which made a mess of my block paved drive). I also suspect the dealer broke the flimsy plastic pcv valve on the cam cover when they changed the air filter.

 

Second one I have is in an 2013 fabia estate is the 85ps CBZA variant and has been flawless now at 73k.

 

Both are very quiet, smooth and economical and use no oil. I must stress that these cars are used mainly for regular medium to long distance runs on A roads and motorways with relatively little town use which is favourable for long life.

 

In comparison I recently have had experience in two SEAT toledos and a Skoda rapid with the latest gen 1.2tsi cambelt engine. These engines are far noisier, have an annoying tendency to hunt when try to do a  low rev takeoff making it difficult to take off slowly or smoothly. They are however slightly more economical than the older engine.

 

If you are contemplating buying into the camchain variant, then if it was built before 2012 it will have a weak camchain and poor ignition cables. The camchain problem is exasperated by long life service invervals, so stick to 10k max intervals, and evidence of regular oil changes is essential.

 

Needless to say, I have nothing good at all to say about my Skoda dealer. Fortunately basic servicing is quite easy to diy on these engines, so that is what I now do.

Edited 30 April, 20179 yr by xman