Audi 1.4 COD engine.

[Mottie]

Anyone on here have any experience with the Audi 1.4 COD engine? Is it belt driven? Any known problems? We're thinking of getting an A3 and we've had enough of diesel vehicles so the Golf is going and looking for a petrol model with a bit of ooomph. 150 bhp from a 1.4 seems good, just wondering if they get to 50,000 and go pop!

 

[plastic_peanut]

Sounds FISHY to me. Personally I prefer the TORQUAY diesels as I am lead to believe the smaller engines are under more strain. Typically the turbo variety but haven’t looked to SEA if this engine has one.

 

[Mottie]

I see what you did there. You missed the opportunity of a TURBOT gag though.

 

[plastic_peanut]

Haha! Nice

 

[fixitflav]

Anyone on here have any experience with the Audi 1.4 COD engine? Is it belt driven? Any known problems? We're thinking of getting an A3 and we've had enough of diesel vehicles so the Golf is going and looking for a petrol model with a bit of ooomph. 150 bhp from a 1.4 seems good, just wondering if they get to 50,000 and go pop!

Is what belt driven?

 

[Mottie]

Is what belt driven?

Camshaft. I've since found out it is.

 

[fixitflav]

Camshaft. I've since found out it is.

OK thanks. I suppose they're OK if you change the belt at prescribed intervals. I once had a Vectra (company car) where the belt failed on the M1. It didn't smash up the engine, as can happen with some engine.

 

[Mottie]

OK thanks. I suppose they're OK if you change the belt at prescribed intervals. I once had a Vectra (company car) where the belt failed on the M1. It didn't smash up the engine, as can happen with some engine.

Oh, it’s the belts I’m okay with - earlier models had a chain which was prone to stretching, rattling and breaking!

 

[securespark]

It didn't smash up the engine, as can happen with some engine.

Could have been a non-interference engine, then. That type are fine with the belt snapping. Compared to the interference type.....

 

[Burnerman]

Freewheeling engine! Pretty rare these days and valve collision almost inevitable if the worst happenswith an interference lump.
Timing belt change intervals are heading past the 100k mark which is scary
John

 

[chainsaw_masochist]

Do you do yours like this, John?

 

[Burnerman]

Good old Fuzz!
I must say Ive never done a belt that way, but it may have a place.....so many engines have pulleys that aren’t keyed to their shafts so locking tools are vital, and access is always a pain.
Interestingly, some engines now have oil immersed belts which eventually lose the odd piece - which then happily blocks an oil way And that’s progress?
John

 

[chainsaw_masochist]

Good old Fuzz!
I must say Ive never done a belt that way, but it may have a place.....so many engines have pulleys that aren’t keyed to their shafts so locking tools are vital, and access is always a pain.
Interestingly, some engines now have oil immersed belts which eventually lose the odd piece - which then happily blocks an oil way And that’s progress?
John

Yes, my pal has a new Fiesta Ecoburst which has this. The problem here, though, surely, is that you cannot even inspect the belt as it is effectively an internal part? At least with a conventional cambelt you can visually inspect the thing.

 

[Burnerman]

For sure, the Ecoboost is an amazing bit of kit and you are right the timing belt is fitted for life and doesn’t need any maintenance.......its there for ‘the life of the engine’, whatever that means.
It is one of the more successful high output, low capacity motors that gives great economy with low emissions, and its really smooth and high revving.
One of its curious designs to get the engine in complete balance is to unbalance both the flywheel and crankshaft pulley, rather than add a balance shaft......clever!
Of course, the big question is one of longevity and vehicle life is reckoned to be around 7 years
So, a classic Ecoboost Ford is unlikely! This makes me sad, speaking as one who really looks after his transport......it makes you think it just isn’t worth it
John

 

[chainsaw_masochist]

Well it certainly pushes out some power…140 bhp from a 1 litre 3 cylinder mill. But given that the service intervals are around 15k then that 7 years starts to look optimistic. What sort of state is the oil going to be in when it has been repeatedly blasted through its turbocharger as it approaches each service. I suppose like a lot of vehicles today it would be preferable if it were doing regular motorway mileage. If it were mine, though, I’d be replacing the stuff every 5k at least.


That flywheel-crankshaft pulley being unbalanced does sound especially clever, though. Never knew about that.