Mk6 Golf and EGR valve issues

reddwarf2002

jimjames wrote: »

Having read suggestions about EGR cleaning I decided to do that on my 2002 Golf PD TDI with 240,000 miles. EGR was very clean and valve was free moving with no blockage.

I could be wrong but I don't think your engine is Direct Injection engine so is less likely to suffer from soot and carbon build-up unlike newer engines (mk5 onwards).

Just out of curiosity, and if you don't mind me asking, what sort of journeys do you usually do and what is your driving style?

Hefster101

randomguy82 wrote: »

@Hefster101: Thank you for your post and I hope this thread helps get the outcome you want.
Please do speak to VW UK and report it to Watchdog. I still haven't heard anything back, but it wouldn't surprise me if Watchdog can only act on things when they receive a certain amount of reports.

Just had a call from Watchdog! A friendly researcher and I had a chat on the phone and I directed her here to the Money Saving Expert forum. So fingers crossed they may find enough to do a piece on it.

randomguy82

Hefster101 wrote: »

Just had a call from Watchdog! A friendly researcher and I had a chat on the phone and I directed her here to the Money Saving Expert forum. So fingers crossed they may find enough to do a piece on it.

Fantastic news Hefster101!
Fingers crossed it is investigated thoroughly and VW accept full ownership of this issue.
Like I've said in earlier posts; the fact they are replacing the EGV valves with a modified unit indicates it was not fit for purpose initially.
Hopefully I will get a call as I am more than happy to provide them with timeline of the issue I faced.

Melchizadek

DI engines suffer more on the intake valves due to PCV system allowing some vapoured crankcase oil into the intake and no fuel cleaning going on...+ you have EGR gases too...diesels esp need a good intake cleaner and some diesel injector cleaner with PEA (polyetheramine) are best....I can vouch for that..used as a one shot if its manky or as a maintenance dosage if your system is clean...about 60-80ml per tank.
Comma D-Tox, Redline SI-1 (petrol only) and Archoil AR6400D all contain this stuff....got +4mpg from the Redline stuff and it ain't gone back down (a year later).

Don't know the VW EGR intimately so am confused why it can;t be cleaned .....if it can be dismantled from the induction system

BeenThroughItAll

reddwarf2002 wrote: »

I could be wrong but I don't think your engine is Direct Injection engine so is less likely to suffer from soot and carbon build-up unlike newer engines (mk5 onwards).

Just out of curiosity, and if you don't mind me asking, what sort of journeys do you usually do and what is your driving style?

Yeah, it is. Pumpe Duse is direct injection. It's not Common Rail, but it IS DI.


Dirty diesel engines and EGR clogging is in most cases a direct result of the engine spending a lot of time not fully warmed up; so lots of short runs or very gentle driving. Some diesels don't properly get hot unless they're thrashed some.


Skoda Superb with the 1.9PD130 is a great example - with most cars, if you leave them idling, they'll eventually reach normal operating temperature. A Superb won't. It'll sit constantly at 74-77deg C as a function of it being fitted with a viscous fan. Only reaches 88-90deg C when actually being driven.

bryanb

I had the egr problem with my 59k mile 2010 roomster 1.6 cr tdi (same engine as mk 6 golf I believe)
Build up to the problem was exhaust gas temp light showing, but it could be cancelled with VCDS. Eventually car would go into limp mode and egr light would come on. I also cancelled this a few times.
In the end I had an independent garage change the egr, 100% success for £720. I got to keep the old egr with a view to cleaning it for possible future use.
This egr is not like previous ones, it is about 15 inches long and plumbed into the cooling circuit of the engine. It's fitted on the rear of the engine hidden by the DPF (Which has to be removed to get to it)
I haven't got round to cleaning it yet, I figure another 60k miles before I need it.
Will come back when I know more. BB

Edit. Car is mostly driven hard and always use Millers additive, which gives plus 4.5 mpg using supermarket fuel.

nervousnovice

Just an update on my complaint to VW. They have come back with a bill of just under £1000 (includes 5 hours labour) to replace the EGR valve and cooler, and as a good will gesture have offered to meet half of the cost, leaving me with a bill of circa £500.

They refuse to negotiate on that saying that the car has no VW service history (I have had the car serviced by a local independent garage) and that because it was serviced independently, I have not got a software update., and this lack of the software update, was a factor in the EGR valve failing. Knowing nothing about car mechanics, I was not able to challenge this, but it does not sound convincing, and others who have had the valve failure problem have included those with a full VW service history who will have had the software update.

I have reluctantly said yes, to this deal, but still feel that there is a ‘fit for purpose’ question. Surely the valve was designed for the life of the engine, and I can’t believe that the design life of the (diesel) engine is 66k miles. I also think that if there is a ‘software update’ that impacts on how the cars works (or does not work) surely VW should be telling everyone who has the car in question, and not just those who use VW to service the cars.

I have tried the ‘Watchdog’ option, as a way of raising the profile of the complaint, and would encourage others to do the same, as I expect it is the number of complaints that will give it traction. The other option I will explore is whether there is a Sales of Goods Act angle, and I will update the blog if this progresses.

Right now I feel pretty miffed that I have fallen for the VWs are reliable story as it is clearly not the case.

PS I have got the old parts and wonder if an independent inspection would reveal anything?

jimjames

reddwarf2002 wrote: »

I could be wrong but I don't think your engine is Direct Injection engine so is less likely to suffer from soot and carbon build-up unlike newer engines (mk5 onwards).

Just out of curiosity, and if you don't mind me asking, what sort of journeys do you usually do and what is your driving style?

It's not a common rail it's the Pumpe Duse engine with unit injectors.

I drive around 30 miles a day mainly motorway but with town journeys too. Although it's probably not my driving that really matters as the previous owner was the one that put 230,000 miles on it.

megan0_03

randomguy82 wrote: »

@megan0_03: I'm not sure if the issue you have is EGR based, but, it may be worth considering a local, recommended indy garage looking at it. If it was EGR, I'd expect a more continual problem with driving the car.
Personally, the only time I have ever had black smoke blow out of the exhaust was when I (stupidly) overfilled the engine oil on a 2000 petrol Astra back in the day. Lesson learnt and luckily no lasting damage as it was drained soon after pulling off.

Hi randomguy.
Thanks for the input. After further research I found that the DPF filter can cause symptoms like we had. This was backed up by the light a couple of days later. That's sorted now by a motorway drive a live 3000rpm. I have today unfortunately had a coil light cone on and preying it's actually a coil gone. Had a message saying "engine fault go take to workshop". I managed to complete my journey home as only 3 mile from home. Gonna call rac in the morning see if they can shed light on my issues! Will post back. Cheers

Johnmcl7

Strangely VW use the coil light as a general error light, I had it come on a few times and each time it was an issue with the DPF or EGR system - a scan of error codes should hopefully show what's wrong on your car.

John