Stock Pistons

[dh00001]

I know that stock LCR pistons are Mahle and can handle larger power outputs but it's the rods that fail.
Are the Mahle pistons only found on the BAM engines or are they all across the 1.8t range?
Everywhere I've looked have only referred to LCRs
I have an AUQ if it helps

 

[Shaunyboy]

Probably BAM and AMK specific mate, as they use 20mm wrist pins where as the auq uses 19mm.

 

[dh00001]

that's a good point, I didn't think of that. Where would I find tolerances for my pistons?

 

[Shaunyboy]

Tolerneces? how you mean mate?

 

[dh00001]

max power, torque etc. they will take before they fail

 

[OFI]

Hmm I was always under the impression the whole range had Mahle pistons..

BadgerBill or one of the tuners on here would know.

 

[Shaunyboy]

Max bhp on stock pistons im not sure of some 180's have run about 247 if i remeber. I wouldent go past 235 to be safe. If you wanting to upgrade then id recomend the BAM pistons which im selling in for sale. Also consider uprated rods depending on what power you want.

 

[Steely]

I know of two auq 180 golfs running standard internals, with 315-320 with IHI big turbo conversions, Ive not taken it as gospel what the limits were, but he's assured me that the company who did the conversion claimed the can run up to 350 at max limit standard,

Reputable company,

 

[csd_19]

The stock rods will fail long before the pistons due unless your fuelling is so far out that you run incredibly lean, the rods have always been the weak point in getting big power from the 1.8t.

And its the torque that kills rods - you can snap stock ones with a seriously aggressive ko3 map.

There's a few LCs on here running well over 300bhp safely on the stock pistons - VAG tuners in the US have seen 700bhp on stock pistons on an engine dyno.

 

[Shaunyboy]

The stock rods will fail long before the pistons due unless your fuelling is so far out that you run incredibly lean, the rods have always been the weak point in getting big power from the 1.8t.

And its the torque that kills rods - you can snap stock ones with a seriously aggressive ko3 map.

There's a few LCs on here running well over 300bhp safely on the stock pistons - VAG tuners in the US have seen 700bhp on stock pistons on an engine dyno.

Running incredibly lean can also cause a valve stuck in the top of your piston. Pistons are only realy changed to alter compression ratios or bore. I reccomended bam pistons due to the 20mm pin, as you can get decent 20mm forged rods and bam piston and you will have a strong setup.

 

[traumapat]

Max bhp on stock pistons im not sure of some 180's have run about 247 if i remeber. I wouldent go past 235 to be safe. If you wanting to upgrade then id recomend the BAM pistons which im selling in for sale. Also consider uprated rods depending on what power you want.

total rubbish. Im running 320/320 and have done for 4 years.

 

[Shaunyboy]

total rubbish. Im running 320/320 and have done for 4 years.

Again good for you, how is it rubbish its personal opinion, everyone is entitled to it or is this forum for my car is this and that and everyone is wrong. Im slowly loosing intrest in this forum.

 

[traumapat]

Again good for you, how is it rubbish its personal opinion, everyone is entitled to it or is this forum for my car is this and that and everyone is wrong. Im slowly loosing intrest in this forum.

Mate the guy has come on here asking about his pistons. If he had taken your opinion on board he would have gotten it wrong. Why even answer if you dont know? surely better to let someone who actually knows answer?

sharing knowledge is great and what the forum is for so...

There seems to be a gentlemans agreement with the BT tuners to map LCs to 320. Rods can and will let go around 340+
LCRs suffer too.

Ive had no problems but if the oppertunity arose id improve the internals, piece of mind an all.

Some hybrid turbos hitting lower bhp are bending rods too so best check out any particular turbos.

 

[Shaunyboy]

Mate the guy has come on here asking about his pistons. If he had taken your opinion on board he would have gotten it wrong. Why even answer if you dont know? surely better to let someone who actually knows answer?

sharing knowledge is great and what the forum is for so...

There seems to be a gentlemans agreement with the BT tuners to map LCs to 320. Rods can and will let go around 340+
LCRs suffer too.

Ive had no problems but if the oppertunity arose id improve the internals, piece of mind an all.

Some hybrid turbos hitting lower bhp are bending rods too so best check out any particular turbos.

Theres no wrong answer, show me offical specs and il hold my hands up, If these engins wer so capable of these quoted figures then what was vw thinking making the BAM engine for the 225 when the auq was suitable all along

End of the day its opinion, bill could say one thing, joe bloggs could say another but i wouldent run the over 240 on stock 180hp internals. Im advising the guy that if he wants to get big power then bam pistons and forged rods would be a good route, he doesnt have to listen does he? So no its not total rubbish as you so well say. If your so good why do people uprate their internals, more money than sense? for a laff?

 

[JamJay]

1, 2, 3 Scrapyard!

 

[Shaunyboy]

1, 2, 3 Scrapyard!

 

[JamJay]

If I knew anything about engine internals, i'd try to save it.

 

[Shaunyboy]

If I knew anything about engine internals, i'd try to save it.

Well what hes trying to say is becuase HIS is running 300bhp stock, that every 1.8 20v can so vw got it wrong by making the AMK & BAM engines didnt they, what a pickle. Il scrap geting a replacement bam engine and just get an AUQ as these can run 300 + bhp no problem apprently, no no il go further and hit 400 on a stock engine cos there magic

I heard a BAM engine will take 1100HP on stock internals

Bet hes even on stock clutch and origional tyres :O

 

[JamJay]

Now now , Mr pat is a nice chap and knows alot about what he's doing with his car...which I am still yet to get a peek at . I see what you're saying though as there has to be a limit but nobody knows where and you can't be knocked for erring the side of caution

The way I see it is that all cars are different, perhaps sold as the same with the same spec but each have their own tolerences. Take ECU mapping for example, two 225 LCR's will not get the same figures when remapped next to each other. To put it into terms of this thread, the rods in one engine may let go at 250bhp and in another, 350bhp. Other factors come into play such as mileage and how the engine has been used in it's life...thrashed around then i'd want to be replacing these parts before tuning.

As I understand, the difference between AUQ & AMK/BAM internals were the pistons, which I believe were forged and the rods were 1mm larger in the AMK/BAM engines. However, all that means is that when going big turbo (nearer 350bhp+) is that the AMK/BAM pistons will most likely take the strain where as the AUQ ones will not but in both engines, the rods will perish meaning that for either Leon tuner, new forged rods are a must around this mark.

So to sum it up...

AUQ 340bhp+: New pistons & rods
AMK/BAM 340bhp+: New rods

I'm not 100% sure of course and the limit could be alot lower for either but i'd say that 300bhp is safe to run on stock internals of each...well i'd give it a whirl anyway.

 

[Shaunyboy]

Now now , Mr pat is a nice chap and knows alot about what he's doing with his car...which I am still yet to get a peek at. I see what you're saying though as there has to be a limit but nobody knows where and you can't be knocked for erring the side of caution

The way I see it is that all cars are different, perhaps sold as the same with the same spec but each have their own tolerences. Take ECU mapping for example, two 225 LCR's will not get the same figures when remapped next to each other. To put it into terms of this thread, the rods in one engine may let go at 250bhp and in another, 350bhp.

As I understand, the difference between AUQ & AMK/BAM internals were the pistons, which I believe were forged and the rods were 1mm larger in the AMK/BAM engines. However, all that means is that when going big turbo (nearer 350bhp+) is that the AMK/BAM pistons will most likely take the strain where as the AUQ ones will not but in both engines, the rods will perish meaning that for either Leon tuner, new forged rods are a must around this mark.

So to sum it up...

AUQ 340bhp+: New pistons & rods
AMK/BAM 340bhp+: New rods

Given 2 brand new engines, will probably map to near enough the same within arround 5bhp, give them engines to 2 diffrent people and given 3 - 4 years, one thats been well looked after run on high octane fuel etc, and one thats been slightly mistreated then the results will be very diffrent, its all on internal condition of any engine. What im saying is dont quote ssuch a high figure and say its gospel truth that it will be fine, as tom thumb could come along, auq, push 300 and trash the engine, safe working limits of any engine depend on how its looked after, maybe the auq can take that but really when i press the right pedal id worry every time, hence why i said on stock internals arround 240bhp
which is 60bhp over stock, LCR arround 280 - 300. Thats my opinion which doesnt seem valid, so i think il have to stop posting wont i as apparently i know jack ****.

As for a nice chap, not in my eyes mate, Total rubish mine runes this for 4 years jus osunds like a *****, saying Mine has run 300bhp for 4 years now and doesnt seem to have run into any problems yet, sounds much better.