MK6 Golf GTI - Engine Problems

[Robboto]

Hello PistonHeads

I own a 2010 MK6 Golf GTI with 75k miles on the clock with full dealer service history. I love the car to bits and to-date it's run without any issue since I bought it in 2015.

The other week I went to drive the car only to find the engine wouldn't start. I had only driven the car three days prior and it was running fine. The RAC call engineers said it wasn't a road-side issue and sounded bad.

To cut a long story short, it got towed to the local VW garage where after multiple investigations and removing parts of the engine they discovered the head and valves have been damaged. In addition, there are also signs of the pistons having collided with something they shouldnt, evidenced by the top of the pistons having sections of clear metal where its scraped/hit something else. Despite finding no issue with the timing chain (in fact, the mechanic said it was in very good condition for 75k miles), the garage suspects that the chain has somehow slipped/jumped leading to the damage within the engine. They don't know how or what would have caused the chain to slip given its condition and only said its quite unusual to happen. I've included images the mechanic sent through.

The garage has quoted me two options:

(1) New engine, timing chain, camshafts and valves at £11.5k (not financially viable)
(2) New cylinder head, valves, timing chain and camshafts at £5.5k (Garage said there's still no guarantee the car will run after)

I'm a bit dumbstruck at the prospect of losing my car to an unexplained fluke issue. I've also contacted a few other garages who advised they don't work on GTI engines making it harder to get a second/third price for comparison purposes.

I'd really love some help understanding if the garage is correct in their damage assessment. Also, whether anyone has had similar experiences and luck going down the engine repair route? Otherwise, it looks like a write off and garage isn't even interested in buying it.

Many thanks in advance.

Rob

Cylinder head & valves




Engine Block & top of pistons

[Novexx]

It's the timing chain tensioner that's the issue, it's a known problem & can happen with a perfectly good chain. Full engine replacement is the VAG recommended route as bottom end damage is possible.

I take it option 1 is a short engine? Option 2 doesn't address piston, bore or other possible damage - risky!.

Best bet may be to contact a VAG specialist - they will be familiar with this scenario.

[AI1601]

As above, the culprit is the timing chain and tensioner on pre 2011/12 mk6 gti’s. The number one advice when buying these cars is to get them changed for the latest revision if there is no history of it being done.

Don’t know where you are from but try Midland VW in Cannock, they really do know their stuff.

[thebraketester]

Recon engine?

[stevemcs]

This is what happens, it throws the timing out but that’s apparent before you get the engine in pieces, it’s just typical vw rubbish

Start with new valves, possibly new guides and stick it all back together and have your fingers crossed.

[Skyrocket21]

You need to look at the hyrdraulic lifter bores and see if they've been gauged at all or the lifters are smashed my guess would be you've been whacking your inlet valves on trying to start it. You could risk by way of seeing if the valves and guides are bent, just having the cylinder head rebuilt and that shouldn't be too expensive. You have to roll the dice and hope you're lucky. The damage doesn't look bad on that side, taking the camshaft out might reveal the head is scrap. Certainly buy new hydraulic lifters because they get smashed inside.

I can't see why an independent vw specialist couldn't do this cheaper, are you near darkside developments?

[ninjag]

You could also try VAG Technic in Dudley who seem to be very experienced with VW.

[si_xsi]

Did your car have the original chain tensioners fitted? Whilst the chain may have been in good condition what did they say about the tensioners. Really common on this age of TSI engine.


I'd be calling a VAG specialist and get a quote to fit a second hand engine from a write off car. If you find one that is still in a car and hear it running, check service history etc. I've not researched into it, but imagine you might get a used engine for £2.5k then 2k to fit it.

Edited by si_xsi on Monday 1st August 09:19

[rottenegg]

It's not a fluke. Unfortunately the 2009-2010 Gen 1 EA888 engine is right in the meat of the dodgy timing chain tensioner era issue. By early 2012 VW had sorted that with revised chain gear.

I don't know what it is with the Germans and st chain gear. VAG, BMW, Mercedes.....they're all afflicted by the same basic problem. I know their OEM suppliers (Sachs, SKF, TRW, ZF, Lemforder, et al) make said parts, but even so, come on....long term testing?

Anyway..... I'm surprised it even started and ran because the crank/cam correlation gets so far off, it literally won't fire up, which usually occurs way before pistons collide with valves. You were unlucky there.

£11.5K is ridiculous and potentially time to cut your losses, but obvs you can't sell a car with a fooked engine.

If you've bonded with the car and want to keep it, and I can understand why because the MK6 is a decent steer, get a used engine from a 2012/13s MK6, or maybe a MK7. EA888 Gen 2/3 is from the MK7 will also work. Drops right in mechanically but requires some CAN gateway/ECU coding, but nothing too drastic. Good luck with it. Many have fallen foul to this issue.

[Krikkit]

stevemcs said:

Start with new valves, possibly new guides and stick it all back together and have your fingers crossed.

This ^^

New valves, clean up the head, new HG and stick it all back together with new chain and tensioner. Not too expensive a job (comparatively) and it'll run just fine by the looks.

[thiscocks]

Krikkit said:

stevemcs said:

Start with new valves, possibly new guides and stick it all back together and have your fingers crossed.

This ^^

New valves, clean up the head, new HG and stick it all back together with new chain and tensioner. Not too expensive a job (comparatively) and it'll run just fine by the looks.

Yep. Doesn’t have to be a vw specialist to do that if you know of any decent engine builders. New valves, guides and lifters should be less than £550, although I don’t know how much the parts can be bought. It’s unlikely the bottom end is damaged and the pistons look ok from the pictures

[Zener]

Krikkit said:

stevemcs said:

Start with new valves, possibly new guides and stick it all back together and have your fingers crossed.

This ^^

New valves, clean up the head, new HG and stick it all back together with new chain and tensioner. Not too expensive a job (comparatively) and it'll run just fine by the looks.

And another to the above , like mentioned German chain drives really are ste and under developed nowadays made even worse by insane oil change intervals coupled with poor/weak guide material choice etc you are on a collision course to big bills