PD TDI Camshaft wear!

Fl@pper

Back older greyer and less oilier but always hope
Jun 19, 2001
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Gloucester
did once hear an unsubstantiated rumour the PD 150 was pretty much on its limits by vw standards

but then they usually over engineer stuff anyway

i just wonder how many have been run on alternative oils (fleet cars etc)
 

muddyboots

Still hanging around
Oct 16, 2002
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Assuming the different variants (130, 150, 160) all use the same injectors - the output capacity of the engine should make no difference on the pressure exerted by the cam on the injectors, and therefore make no difference to wear rates.
 

micky 32

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Oct 30, 2003
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The proper PD stuff!!

Ok. Did you buy the oil and put it in yourself since the car was new? Or did you let a VW dealer service the car and believe what they told you about the oil they put in?

I know of one dealer here in the IRL that may be using the wrong oil but would tell you they are using the right oil.
 

Deebo

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Jan 25, 2004
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I've only owned tha car since May last year, since then it's been serviced by Midland VW with the correct oil. Before that it had a full VW service history from Wolverhampton VW. VW could have put the wrong oil in!
 

craig-pd130

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May 7, 2003
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I don't know if the PD150s have a slightly different cam profile for longer valve duration / injection timing or higher lift .... little things like that can make all the difference in terms of wear, as Honda found to their huge cost on their V4 engined bikes in the early 80s.
 

micky 32

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Oct 30, 2003
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All PD's have the same top end set up and parts. It seems to be most common in PD 150s in the UK probably because they are more popular than the rest of the PDs and also 150s will be revved more because of the higher bhp.

The most likely reason these have failed is because wrong oil was used. When i bought my PD in 2003 new i told them i would be doing the servicing myself which i did with castrol longlife. They were telling me to use a 10w 40w oil. The oil they were using was totally incorrect but since are using the right oil. I know of another dealer that at the moment in 2007 is not using the right oil. They think that if the viscosity is the same that it should be ok but it's the 505.01, 506.01 and 507.00 that matters NOT the viscosity.

As i have changed my oil since my car was new with 506.01 castrol longlife my cam and lifters are perfect at 160k.

Here's an interesting thread :
http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=172713

This dealer in the US used the wrong oil for a lot of changes.
 
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craig-pd130

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May 7, 2003
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Micky, that is a very interesting thread.

Anyone know what the additive is that makes the 505.01 / 506.01 / 507.00 suitable for PDs? Is it a molybdenum type compound? Moly is often used in these high-stress metal / metal contact applications.
 

UncleFester

Grumpier by the day!
Apr 30, 2006
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Milton Keynes
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Phew so as long as you stick to the correct oil you'll be ok .... that's good to know!

And what a comeback on dealers, if you bought a car with a full dealer service history from a dealer and you found that the death of your engine was down to the oil they put in .... :D
 

Mattyh87

Sideways as always!
May 7, 2006
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Manchester
Ill check with my garage what oil they just put in -i can hear a tappet noise for the first few seconds after start up - is that normal or am i fooked?
 
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