I have been driving my DSG equipped vRS for 6 weeks now and has done almost 1000km. So far I like how the car is handling and I have not noticed much issue with the DSG gear box in low speed.

 

I do drive in traffic jam not infrequently and I have become quite fond of the "travel assist" feature, where the car basically drives itself semi-autonomously.

 

However, I am wondering whether this feature is bad for the longevity of the 381 DSG gear box in my vRS.

 

You see, many online sources have warned against inching forward in traffic jam by feathering the brake when driving a DSG, because this will make the car engage / disengage the clutch repeatedly causing wear. Instead most online sources suggest that one should apply brake in full when stopping -->  let the car in front move some distance -->  giving gas to catch up.

 

With travel assist, I notice that the car follows the car in front quite closely, and I do not know if this is achieved by feathering the brake. Presumably, the VAG engineers would know about their gear box well enough to NOT design travel assist to work this way, but I do not wish to assume. And if this is not achieved by feathering the brake, how does it manage to follow the car in front so closely?

 

I do observe that (by switching to sport in gear selector so that the actual gear in use is visible on the virtual cockpit) travel assist keeps the car in second gear for as long as possible until the speed drops down to 1-2km/hr, before it will downshift to first gear. But I don't think this has anything to do with whether the clutch is engaged or not?

 

Has anyone hooked the car up to VAGCOM or OBD11 to see what the brake and gearbox are doing in real time in Travel Assist mode?

 

More importantly, would you suggest NOT using Travel assist in traffic jam, but stick to the age-old technique of "full braking --> waiting for car in front to move some distance --> catching up"?

 

Or am I overthinking it?

 

 

 

Overthinking it IMO. 

 Just use the car.  The DSG will last as long as it lasts.  Millions of DSG,s are driven in many ways by many people.

Maybe just do not leave a DQ381 to 80,000 miles before an oil change and if you ever notice an issue with it do not delay in having it checked out. 

 

PS

With DQ200,s & DQ250,s in slower traffic putting them in S has usually been the thing to do to stop them hunting between 1st and 2nd. 

It was / is most annoying with a 7 speed twin dry clutch as 1st is so low, compared to a 6 speed. 

(So a bit more like a 7 speed DQ381.)

Edited 22 May, 20242 yr by Ootohere

2 hours ago, HenryNZ said:

With travel assist, I notice that the car follows the car in front quite closely, and I do not know if this is achieved by feathering the brake. Presumably, the VAG engineers would know about their gear box well enough to NOT design travel assist to work this way, but I do not wish to assume. And if this is not achieved by feathering the brake, how does it manage to follow the car in front so closely?

I can tell only about my experience with PHEV. It actually engages brake too sharply and firmly to my liking. It waits for the car in front to move some distance, release brake fully and starts accelerating to maintain distance. When car in front stops, Octavia comes a bit closer and stops what feels like it if I was pushing brake pedal and not releasing it by the end, so braking would be smoother. Does not feel like feathering the brake at all.

PHEV 1.4tsi is a totally different kettle of fish.  A DQ400-e 6 speed DSG.  Regeneration , hybrid mode, EV mode.  Apples and pears!

14 hours ago, HenryNZ said:

I have been driving my DSG equipped vRS for 6 weeks now and has done almost 1000km. So far I like how the car is handling and I have not noticed much issue with the DSG gear box in low speed.

 

I do drive in traffic jam not infrequently and I have become quite fond of the "travel assist" feature, where the car basically drives itself semi-autonomously.

 

However, I am wondering whether this feature is bad for the longevity of the 381 DSG gear box in my vRS.

 

You see, many online sources have warned against inching forward in traffic jam by feathering the brake when driving a DSG, because this will make the car engage / disengage the clutch repeatedly causing wear. Instead most online sources suggest that one should apply brake in full when stopping -->  let the car in front move some distance -->  giving gas to catch up.

 

With travel assist, I notice that the car follows the car in front quite closely, and I do not know if this is achieved by feathering the brake. Presumably, the VAG engineers would know about their gear box well enough to NOT design travel assist to work this way, but I do not wish to assume. And if this is not achieved by feathering the brake, how does it manage to follow the car in front so closely?

 

I do observe that (by switching to sport in gear selector so that the actual gear in use is visible on the virtual cockpit) travel assist keeps the car in second gear for as long as possible until the speed drops down to 1-2km/hr, before it will downshift to first gear. But I don't think this has anything to do with whether the clutch is engaged or not?

 

Has anyone hooked the car up to VAGCOM or OBD11 to see what the brake and gearbox are doing in real time in Travel Assist mode?

 

More importantly, would you suggest NOT using Travel assist in traffic jam, but stick to the age-old technique of "full braking --> waiting for car in front to move some distance --> catching up"?

 

Or am I overthinking it?

 

 

 

 

You're overthinking it.

 

A lot of the DSG horror stories are from bygone times - think Mk1/Mk2 Octavia/Mk4-Mk6 Golf era.

As long as you treat your car with respect it should last fine.

 

For context, this is coming from someone who was affected by the Ford PowerShift transmission buyback.

Good to know I am just over thinking it.

Sometimes watching too much YouTube is not very helpful….

DQ200 DSG,s were an issue, global / world wide recall 2012, Excluded Europe. In NZ all got a new MCU. In Europe 2014 before a Service Campaign.

Then another in 2017, then continued issues.  Not overblown on-line, on forums.  It was and is a disgrace.  How VW try making out just a thing of the past.

 

The DQ381 premature failures look like one the Motoring Journals / Media bother to mention the issues being something that VW can not just leave owners who are out of warranty to have to pay to get fixed, or pay companies that can resolve fundamental design, manufacturing or material failings that VW pretend do not exist. 

Vorsprung Durch Technik.      Kick it into the long grass, just say overblown on forums, people only join if they have a fault.  They wish!

18 hours ago, Ootohere said:

PHEV 1.4tsi is a totally different kettle of fish.  A DQ400-e 6 speed DSG.  Regeneration , hybrid mode, EV mode.  Apples and pears!

That's right. Though I'm curious where the difference in behavior would come from? On low speeds in traffic jam regen does not work, same as I'd expect ICE car with DSG couldn't brake with engine when the speed is too low already.

If it using the brakes then it is disengaging the drive just as if the driver was using the brakes pedal.  If actually coasting then the braking might feel a bit sharp or then engaged drive a little delayed.   The electrification so the Mild hybrids and PHEV,s should help smoother starts and stopping and does with plenty electrified cars, if Skoda or VW group are not managing to achieve that with some then we know why.  Always chasing the WLTP results and forgetting drivers in the real world. 

Vrs has the 'wet' clutch packs so is unlikely to be affected by potential wear issues that stop/start traffic would have on the lower powered equipped 'dry clutch' packs.

Good question for the dry clutch DSG though imo.