Own a Audi or VW model with the 2.0 TFSI engine? – Read on, we may be able to save you and your car from some real headaches. Some of these engine have have developed a chronic problem with camshaft drive lobe, which can lead to a very expensive repair. On these cars, known at TSFI engines, there are two fuel pumps, a low pressure electrical feed pump in the fuel tank, and a higher pressure mechanical pump which is driven off a lobe on the intake camshaft, think of the old diesel engine injection pump designs and you get the idea.
The mechanical pumps contact the camshaft via a small metal “bucket” or “follower” and on some of the cars we’ve actually seen the follower wear out, damage the camshaft, and even the injection pump, see photos for reference. We feel that some of this is a design defect on the early cars, while some of it may be engine oil related.
They say prevention is better than cure so what can be done to prevent this from occurring on your auto? Using good quality clean burn fuel free of bio elements, the higher octane fuels also tend to burn cleaner. Get the engine up to temperature as soon as you can (don’t idle it but just drive it steadily at around 2000rpm till it warms up) and keep the engine operating at 3000rpm for 15 minutes per week. Be sure to always use a OEM quality full synthetic engine oil, and change the oil often, no more than every 5,000 to 7,500 miles.
An ounce of prevention, always worth a pound of cure!
