1998 VW Jetta TDI Turbo Diesel - Timing Belt went, so...

ChristieAcres · #21 06/26/13, 04:57 PM

Thanks for the tips and posts! We are getting 45mpg with mixed driving, both City/Hwy & hilly roads. The engine runs beautifully, sounds perfect, and I was told that wasn't possible with damaged valves (affects compression). After DH did the work, he took it straight to our friend, the guy who is a very sharp Mechanic and owns the auto repair here. He listened to the motor and told DH there was nothing wrong with the valves and a compression test was unnecessary. DH can test the compression on gas motors, but not diesel. He is considering getting the tester for diesel, so he can.

I certainly don't doubt what you posted, artificer. When we got this car, we expected the common damage. However, DH did the work he was advised to do before assuming the valves were damaged. Had they been damaged, it would be very evident. Our car wouldn't run right and not get great gas mileage.

As for the %s, yes, it is rare to have one like this escaping the common damage. The belt was an OEM.

artificer · #22 06/26/13, 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lorichristie

...

I certainly don't doubt what you posted, artificer. When we got this car, we expected the common damage. However, DH did the work he was advised to do before assuming the valves were damaged. Had they been damaged, it would be very evident. Our car wouldn't run right and not get great gas mileage.

As for the %s, yes, it is rare to have one like this escaping the common damage. The belt was an OEM.

From what I've been told, its not uncommon to see good compression after a valve strike. The valve gets mushroomed, not broken. The problem is down the road when the damaged valve breaks, and locks up the engine. Maybe you got lucky, and the engine will run for another 100k miles. For me, the $350 in parts and a weekend of work would be worth the lack of worry about possible damage. Everyone has to make up their own minds, however.

Good luck
Michael

ChristieAcres · #23 06/26/13, 11:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by artificer

From what I've been told, its not uncommon to see good compression after a valve strike. The valve gets mushroomed, not broken. The problem is down the road when the damaged valve breaks, and locks up the engine. Maybe you got lucky, and the engine will run for another 100k miles. For me, the $350 in parts and a weekend of work would be worth the lack of worry about possible damage. Everyone has to make up their own minds, however.

Good luck
Michael

I'll pass this on to DH. Better safe than sorry, so I'll try to get him to check it out.

ChristieAcres · #24 06/27/13, 12:27 AM

I asked DH about it and he told me to do the job right, including head work, the parts alone and the required head work would run over $600.

The Mechanic is the one who advised DH only to replace the timing belt first, before going to the extensive work DH had planned to do (costing over $600...). He will be consulting with this Mechanic specifically about what you were posting. DH doesn't use computers, so that is why I am responding for him.

ChristieAcres · #25 07/06/13, 12:12 PM

We got hub caps for it and DH will be working on it later in the month (will pull the head and check the valves...). He will then do everything necessary.