There are some true engineering marvels of the automotive world on the market, just like the Bugatti Veyron, previous Method 1 racers such because the Lotus 78 and even humble metropolis automobiles just like the Scion IQ can have some fairly unimaginable engineering inside. Now, a teardown of a diesel engine produced by Volkswagen within the early 2000s has confirmed why it’s one of the crucial intricate and sophisticated items of engineering on the market.
The engine in query isn’t one thing mundane just like the three-cylinder diesel you may discover in a automobile just like the Polo. As a substitute, it’s the large V10 diesel that VW made for the Touareg SUV and the Phaeton luxurious sedan.
The 4.9-liter, twin-turbo, V10 diesel engine is one we’ve lusted over rather a lot right here at Jalopnik, after all of the Phaeton is a automobile that we’ll discover any excuse to speak about. Now, YouTube channel HumbleMechanic has dug into the workings of this mighty motor to disclose why it’s one of the crucial complicated road-going engines ever made.
To do that, the crew bought a VW Touareg that was destined for the scrapheap and ripped out its huge engine. They then set about taking it to items in an effort to uncover a number of the quirks and tech that make this engine sing.
The teardown begins with the removing of all of the hoses and housing that surrounds the principle block of the engine. Within the course of, HumbleMechanic uncovers all kinds of points with the engine, like transmission fluid leaks, engine oil leaks and harm that will have value greater than $10,000 to repair and convey the motor again to life.
So as a substitute, it’s grow to be an internet science experiment wanting into what HumbleMechanic calls the “least serviceable engine ever made.” The rationale for its robust popularity turns into clear as soon as a valve cowl is eliminated and the timing gear is revealed. That’s proper, this motor has timing gear as a substitute of a timing belt, as Motor1 explains:
Like most aged German-sourced motors, this one, at first look, seems like a hunk of metallic coated in hoses and oil stains. However look nearer, and also you’ll see not one of the regular equipment usually discovered on the entrance of the engine—issues like the ability steering pump, the alternator, or the A/C compressor—are lacking. They’ve been moved alongside the block or within the valley of the V form. As a substitute of being powered by a serpentine belt, they’re powered by metallic gears in the back of the engine.
The V10 TDI makes use of gears to drive its timing, slightly than a belt or a sequence. It additionally makes use of gears to drive its equipment. That is some actual race automobile stuff, utilized in a decidedly pedestrian SUV. Volkswagen was on one other stage with this within the mid-2000s.
It’s at this level that the rationale for the engine’s demise is found: a worn cam shaft. The shaft on each side of the V10 is worn, which might have led to the misfires or loss in energy that its former proprietor reported. The repair for this difficulty would reportedly value greater than $3,500 provides HumbleMechanic, so as a substitute of stopping to deal with the issue, he continues to tear it to items.
After eradicating a number of extra elements, the alternator is uncovered, which leads the host to say that the motor is “not serviceable in any significant capability, but it surely’s rattling cool.” Different components just like the consumption manifolds come off, revealing every kind of gross buildup via years of use, and the entrance cowl is taken off to disclose every kind of cooling and oil leaks.
It’s a captivating dive into the workings of this ridiculous engine, which lasted in manufacturing for greater than six years. Ultimately, the large motor was fitted to simply the VW Phaeton between 2003 and 2007, and the VW Touareg from 2002 till 2006 earlier than it was killed off by the German automaker.
Now, VW doesn’t provide a single diesel engine for patrons right here in America and European prospects solely have a three-liter V6 diesel engine to decide on in the event that they’re that method inclined.
