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Model specific boards => Golf mk3 => Topic started by: Gavv8 on 01 June 2011, 19:43

Title: 8V engine life
Post by: Gavv8 on 01 June 2011, 19:43
How long can you expect a standard 8V engine to last with normal servicing before it need parts replacing and what is the best advice regarding servicing?
Title: Re: 8V engine life
Post by: snifferdog on 01 June 2011, 19:47
They are pretty bullet proof if looked after. There has been plenty on here in the past with over 200k mileage  :shocked: My old one had 138k on the clock but drove perfectly and used no oil or water.

With regards to servicing, I think the best advice would be to do it as often as possible and to use the highest quality brands that you can afford.
Title: Re: 8V engine life
Post by: Gavv8 on 01 June 2011, 19:51
They are pretty bullet proof if looked after. There has been plenty on here in the past with over 200k mileage  :shocked: My old one had 138k on the clock but drove perfectly and used no oil or water.

With regards to servicing, I think the best advice would be to do it as often as possible and to use the highest quality brands that you can afford.
Are the normal service intervals ok or should i service more often as the mileage racks up, mine is on about 126000 and has a full history, uses no fluids and drives very well.
Title: Re: 8V engine life
Post by: Christo77 on 01 June 2011, 19:59
Just as snifferdog says..
Mine is on 106k, the engine is crisp and healthy as the day it was new i imagine but since i've owned it gets regular quality oil/filter changes, about every 3k i do mine even if some might think over the top..but i enjoy it ;)
Title: Re: 8V engine life
Post by: snifferdog on 01 June 2011, 20:02
My mk4 is on 145k and is totally mint. I think the normal service intervals should be ok, but if youre servicing it yourself and have some spare cash one month then it cant help to treat it  :laugh:
Title: Re: 8V engine life
Post by: Wayne on 01 June 2011, 20:46
Should / will go on for a long time if looked after.
Title: Re: 8V engine life
Post by: gti gaz on 01 June 2011, 22:11
mine is on almost 160k and does not miss a beat i change my oil every 6000 miles will very goo oil and do plugs and bits about every 10k   15k     a mate has got 205k on his and still keeps up with mine
Title: Re: 8V engine life
Post by: dom on 01 June 2011, 23:08
I also do an oil change every 6k miles and check everything else regularly. Mine has only just turned over 98k so isn't even worn in yet :smiley:
Title: Re: 8V engine life
Post by: Khare on 01 June 2011, 23:13
Oil change + filter every 5000 miles for me and plugs and air filter cleaning every 10k for me. Engine is on 115k and runs sweet as a nut.
Title: Re: 8V engine life
Post by: georgiebaby on 01 June 2011, 23:39
dont know if its the same engine but got a 2ltr 8v in my audi coupe and thats on 197.000 and never misses a beat.
Title: Re: 8V engine life
Post by: Wayne on 01 June 2011, 23:44
I also do an oil change every 6k miles and check everything else regularly. Mine has only just turned over 98k so isn't even worn in yet :smiley:

Nice miles for the year, will be a milestone when you hit 100k then.  :smiley:
Title: Re: 8V engine life
Post by: tdi_blu on 02 June 2011, 07:53
I also do my oil and filter about every 5k to 7k and mines now on 110k and drives sweet as a nut never had any problems with it.I still think the 8v lump is the most reliable out the lot.
Title: Re: 8V engine life
Post by: benvictors on 02 June 2011, 08:06
Mines an early 96 and has VW service history up to 2004, then independant til 2006, then i dont think it was serviced til i got my hands on it at the end of 2009.
Has a minor oil leak on the sump gasket and has had a replacement gearbox but has never let me down and fires up first time evrytime  :cool:
Not bad for just over 200,000 miles, thats approximately around the world 8 times  :shocked:
I service once a year also, which is about 5-6000 miles for me
Title: Re: 8V engine life
Post by: Sii on 02 June 2011, 08:46
Easily 250K just on regular servicing!  :grin:
Title: Re: 8V engine life
Post by: dom on 02 June 2011, 10:48
I also do an oil change every 6k miles and check everything else regularly. Mine has only just turned over 98k so isn't even worn in yet :smiley:

Nice miles for the year, will be a milestone when you hit 100k then.  :smiley:

Yup! It only had 78k on the clock when I bought it last Feb  :smiley:
Title: Re: 8V engine life
Post by: Rmachines on 02 June 2011, 17:19

I have recently had to do a full engine overhaull on an 8v 2E engine from a passat

It was a taxi, then used for a 80 mile daily commute for years 259k miles.  The car its self was very clean for the miles.

Reason for overhall was....

*Carry out full service & MOT investigate numerous faults as listed.   <this is what customer complained about

Investigate rattle/tapping from engine when cold       
oil leaking


This is what we found on the service.

Oil leak from camshaft area
Oil leak from crank seal
Oil leak from head gasket area
Engine knocking when cold adv possible piston slap
Oil pressure warning light on when revs drop below 800rpm
Noise from hydraulic lifters - Possible oil pressure
Coolant leak from radiator
Coolant leak from cylinder head flange
O/S/R Tail light bulb out                             


Had been serviced every year (turned out to be every 15-20k miles)  And not been serviced for the past 4 years (40k miles  :undecided: :undecided:)

Anyway old boy told us to do the lot, so it had new piston rings, bottom end bearings, oil pump, water pump, cambelt, new intermediate shaft seals and bearings, head gasket, tappets,  valve seals.. the whole lot.

Madness!  Waste of money if you ask me but its nice to see it done, that engine will do another 200K miles + now.

To be honnest it didnt need a rebuild,  the piston slap would have gone on forever, wasnt even smoking.  Just had a small oil leak from the cylinder head.  there was so much gunk in the engine from lack of oil changes though, it has lost oil pressure. 

Wear on the bottom end was small, very little end float on the crank, within spec. 

And this one wasnt well serviced.  So of you keep up the oil changes and look after it... i reccon it will do a whole lot more miles.
Title: Re: 8V engine life
Post by: Gavv8 on 02 June 2011, 18:18
Good thats what i wanted to hear, more money to spend on petrol :grin: :grin:
Title: Re: 8V engine life
Post by: stainesy on 03 June 2011, 11:47
Mine has done 126k and is great. Am changing my oil next weekend what oil should I use and what grade?
Also how much many litres do I need?
Title: Re: 8V engine life
Post by: tweed on 03 June 2011, 12:20
Mines about to hit 30,000  :grin: So Mines got plenty of life left in it. Done about 4000 miles in a year and I'm yet to finish the vr6 to drive daily and stick the 8v in the garage and not drive it lol
Title: Re: 8V engine life
Post by: robz on 03 June 2011, 16:58
hahaha hilarious, mines on circa 83000 iirc, and its fecked!
having to replace the stem seals cos it smokes like bastard :D
Title: Re: 8V engine life
Post by: benvictors on 03 June 2011, 22:11
Mine has done 126k and is great. Am changing my oil next weekend what oil should I use and what grade?
Also how much many litres do I need?

I use the Valvoline 10w40 synthetic blend, I know a lot of folk use the VW dealer stuff, never had a bother with the Valvoline stuff tho and its quite reasonable, 4 litres are needed for an 8v GTI
Title: Re: 8V engine life
Post by: Gavv8 on 04 June 2011, 11:59
Mine has done 126k and is great. Am changing my oil next weekend what oil should I use and what grade?
Also how much many litres do I need?

I use the Valvoline 10w40 synthetic blend, I know a lot of folk use the VW dealer stuff, never had a bother with the Valvoline stuff tho and its quite reasonable, 4 litres are needed for an 8v GTI
Valvoline is good stuff, i've been using Millers oils for years on all my cars and never had an issue with it, fairly priced too.
Title: Re: 8V engine life
Post by: tdi_blu on 05 June 2011, 10:26
I use the vw stuff Quantum its not to expensive either .
Title: Re: 8V engine life
Post by: Seanl on 05 June 2011, 10:33
If your put off by dealership prices, just say - "I was gonna ask if you offer forces discount, but I forgot my ID card anyway" The guy just said "oh thats ok" to me on friday. Started putting in 10 percent discount, then went "meh, I can do better than that" and put in 20 percent! Fair play to him, cant recommend my local dealer enough! Worth a shot, although I'm not saying you should impersonate a member of the armed forces in any way!  :wink: :smiley:
Title: Re: 8V engine life
Post by: jigger01 on 06 June 2011, 20:17
 :grin: :grin: my little hunny has done over 180.000 miles still going strong . pulls to 130mph .  tapps now and again . but i not going to fix what isnt broke.... oh and its red if that makes a difference..lol
vw  all the way..