TDI 75 remap longevity
- Thread starter Malcyb
- Start date
Proghound
Admin Team
With my Admin hat on, just to say well done gents for keeping this thread out of dubious territory so far ? and happy to let it continue.
Hat off again, as the owner of 3 remapped TDI75's, I'm quite possibly not as knowledgeable as I could/should be about what's changed with a remap. EGR deactivation I know is one thing. I can imagine that a lot of the difference is in getting the turbo to work harder. That and the extra torque through the gearbox are the two things I would be most concerned about, I think the map puts it close to its stated limit (250Nm I read on another thread) for a greater portion of the rev range when under load.
I've only put 8-10k each on two of mine since remapping, the other one came to me remapped and I don't know when it was done. Enjoying driving them hugely and no problems to report, but watching this thread with interest for anything that I ought to be keeping an eye out for.
Hat off again, as the owner of 3 remapped TDI75's, I'm quite possibly not as knowledgeable as I could/should be about what's changed with a remap. EGR deactivation I know is one thing. I can imagine that a lot of the difference is in getting the turbo to work harder. That and the extra torque through the gearbox are the two things I would be most concerned about, I think the map puts it close to its stated limit (250Nm I read on another thread) for a greater portion of the rev range when under load.
I've only put 8-10k each on two of mine since remapping, the other one came to me remapped and I don't know when it was done. Enjoying driving them hugely and no problems to report, but watching this thread with interest for anything that I ought to be keeping an eye out for.
rosscanning
A2OC Donor
With my first A2 i have covered 125,000miles with two different maps. Like mentioned changing oil often is the key
I've taken my A2 75 from 170k to 213k on a remap. In that time regular servicing and oil pump chain at 200k as a precautionary measure which is recommended for the PD lump TDi engine.
My brother has run his A2 from around 60k to 210k no issues either other than blown intercooler end caps which is a known potential expense which occured way early on in his ownership. I think it's fair to say his car has had plenty of spirited driving as has mine after steady warming and cooling down as I practice for any car I own ?
Worth adding for info both cars run approx 110 horses and way more torque (can't remember exact figure). Performance wise night and day, wider power band is the main improvement with accessible power delivery enhancing the enjoyment of the brilliant little A2.
I'm sure others will add their point of view but part of the picture I believe is manufacturers having to be careful not to tread on the toes of the next model in the range, in this instance the 90 model. I understand the 75 models typically put out closer to 80 plus as standard anyway so having a model so close in power to the next model would take sales from the next model up the range.
The PD lump which the 3 cylinder is derived is I understand fairly widely regarded as a strong engine capable of big mileage (and easily tweaked for more power). It does seem like witchcraft, more power, improved economy making the A2 I believe genuinely nippy. Downsides? None I know of as long as a well written map.
Do it! And enjoy ?
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Pinkythelabrat
A2OC Donor
240,000 miles and the last 30,000 with a remap. No noticeable problems other than a little wheelspin if I’m too keen but that’s more my tyres’ fault than anything.
I drive quite sedately I imagine with rare burnouts but it certainly feels a lot more enthusiastic with a remap and it’s been useful a time or two joining faster roads and so on
My friend was moving from his S6 to an A5 and had a shot of mine and was very impressed with the enthusiastic pull of the engine and the burble of the engine.
I may need to replace an intercooler and turbo and balance chain in the next couple of years but the car has done almost 1/4 million miles on the originals so I’m content with their endurance so far.
Perhaps have a drive of both and see if the extra worry is worth the extra power.
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I drive quite sedately I imagine with rare burnouts but it certainly feels a lot more enthusiastic with a remap and it’s been useful a time or two joining faster roads and so on
My friend was moving from his S6 to an A5 and had a shot of mine and was very impressed with the enthusiastic pull of the engine and the burble of the engine.
I may need to replace an intercooler and turbo and balance chain in the next couple of years but the car has done almost 1/4 million miles on the originals so I’m content with their endurance so far.
Perhaps have a drive of both and see if the extra worry is worth the extra power.
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timmus
A2OC Donor
This is what I was going to say. The VGT turbo that's fitted to the TDI90 means that the engine can generate a lot of torque at low revs. Piston engines don't turn smoothly like electric motors, but instead create rotation with a series of 'kicks'. These kicks blend into a smoother, more continuous rotational force at higher revs, but at low revs the individual kicks are much more discernible. Without the DMF, the teeth inside the gearbox of a TDI90 would feel that they were being repeatedly hit with a very powerful hammer. The DMF absorbs these kicks and transmits a more continuous rotational force to the gearbox. The TDI75 doesn't require a DMF, even when remapped, because it's not able to generate big power/torque until it's spinning at higher revs.
My A2 was remapped 10 years and 120,000 miles ago. It just works flawlessly.
The A2 was designed to be an economical car. That doesn't just mean fuel efficiency, but also cheap road tax and cheap insurance. Rather than thinking of the TDI75 as a 75bhp engine that can be tuned to 100bhp, think of it as a 100bhp engine that's been restricted to 75bhp through software in order to keep performance, and therefore insurance, down. In this particular case, remapping the engine is simply removing its shackles, not squeezing every last drop out of it.
I've little doubt that, if I used the maximum power and torque that my engine produces at almost every opportunity, I'd reduce its life, but that's obviously not the case. A vast majority of the time, I pootle about in it, rarely asking it to accelerate in anger. Am I worried that its remap is inherently life-limiting? Not at all.
Cheers,
Tom
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It is worth remembering that a remap doesn't have to involve maxing everything out - careful manipulation of the parameters can smooth out torque delivery as well as widening the overall power band. For that matter, things can be turned down as well. As an 'in principle' exercise, I generated a low power / linear fuelling "winter" map which eliminates wheelspin and the non-linear rise in torque that one gets when the turbo spools up going through 2000-2300rpm completely - good for snow / slippery conditions. Perfectly driveable although it makes my A2 feel like an atmospheric diesel Transit I used to drive for the University 20 years ago. Increases fuel efficiency by about 3mpg. By switching coding blocks I can turn the wick up considerably in 30 seconds or so with my ODB reader.
92kW is 123hp - which is more than any commercial mapper claims. Perhaps this is the maximum that VW has extracted fir race purposes - where longevity isn’t important?
This statement was not for A2 spesifically, but meant as a general statement
I guess it’s for any of the VAG group 75hp 1.4tdi. I’ve had numerous remaps on twin turbo petrol Audis and one of the limiting factors is egt. There’s a safe limit which if you exceed brings problems pretty quickly. For motorsport it’s less important. I had a customer rallying in group N in a Mitsubishi evo. His car was mapped to get maximum power irrespective of egt. His turbo would only last about 500 miles and his season typically cost £50k. Horses for courses!
Malcyb
Member
That‘s pretty good however that’s not very high mileage by comparison with the interstellar mileages many diesel A2s have achieved, are there any remapped ones which have achieved well over 6 figure mileages in their remapped states? Otherwise I think the warning from VW motorsport further up the thread still remains (potentially) valid. Not that I really have any axe to grind here as I didn’t buy a remapped 75 and given ULEZ would never do now.
My own car is now at 160000 miles. 51000 on my own map
Malcyb
Member
So until it’s reached 260000 without having major parts of the drivetrain prematurely replaced, that’s not really refuting VW motorsport’s assertion. Still, given there are lots of people who don’t use their A2s as a daily driver now then perhaps none of this really matters and if a remap improves the driving experience so much (which seems pretty indisputable) then that’s just fine. I’m sure if my dad were still here he’d vehemently disagree, I can hear him chuntering now
. Anyway I stand corrected I guess, if I’d read the replies properly, as @timmus and @Evoman both have reported 6 figure mileages in remapped cars…
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Malcyb
Member
Quite right. You’re never going to prove or disprove VW motorsport’s assertion, all you’ve got is anecdotal evidence which as we know from medical science has to be treated with a large pinch of salt. So for the way a lot of people use their A2’s it’s probably fine, though that’s a million miles away from saying that any manufacturer could safely increase their engine’s output by x% with no adverse effects.