With the many reports of VWG timing chain failures, should I consider a regular replacement regime for my Volkswagen Golf VII GTI?
I own a 2013 Volkswagen Golf VII GTI that's covered 23,000 miles. With the ever increasing reports of problems with VWG timing chains, should I consider a regular replacement regime such as that for engines with a cam belt? If so, what should it be?
The chain problem is caused by typical VWG cost-cutting. VWG extended the working lives of the link stamping tools, so if you got a chain with links stamped out early in the life of the tool you would be okay; but if you got a chain with links stamped out late in the life of the tool, leaving burrs on the links, you were likely to have a problem. There is no way of knowing when in the life of the stamping tools the links of an original chain were stamped out. However, damage to the links should be evident on any replacement chains you buy. It also seems that if the timing chains have lasted 40,000 miles with no trouble, then you've probably got a god one. If you've got a chain cam petrol engine with a turbo don't leave oil changes past 10,000 miles.
Answered by Honest John on
