1.8tsi cam chain tensioner potential failure

[cyclenut]

Can anyone ease my paranoia? June 2011 1.8tsi engine in a Superb. I've read about failures in earlier engines but none with the first modified tensioner. I believe VAG recommended inspection of the tensioner but what exactly should I or my mechanic be looking for ? Absolutely no rattle on start up and really quiet cam chain.Car is on about 50k miles with oil changes every 5k.Any advice would be appreciated before the rest of my hair falls out and my local dealer relieves me of £1150 to replace the tensioner.

[Ootohere]

Welcome.

Maybe just keep with your fixed servicing, do not use Long Life Oil (short life TSI's)

So VW502 00 / -5w 40 FS-  and not VW504 / 507 00 -5w 30 FS LL  and let sleeping dogs lay.

 

If doing more than 5,000 miles a year i would leave the oil changes to 9,400 miles or so.

http://volkswagen.co.uk/owners/servicing/regimes 

Edited 2 August, 2018 by Offski

[JJBS3]

There is a massive thread in the Octavia mk2 section, which I read through last night for the same reasons. The vast majority of failures there seem to be the 2.0 tsi engines in the vrs, not too many mentions of the 1.8....not sure whether that means anything. 

[cyclenut]

I contacted a couple of nearby Skoda dealers and one never bothered to reply and the other Service manager saying he was not in a position to comment on this problem. Talking to my local Indy garage he said he'd done one or two of these,one of them being an Audi which was £2000 to repair the damage from a cam chain slippage. By coincidence i was in his workshop when he had the top end of the engine in bits.For my own peace of mind I will probably get him to fit the latest adjuster.