Yes. Fuel dilution is part of the TGDI experience. But does it really result in premature engine failure? No evidence I’ve seen.
small motors and a turbo = short life?
- Thread starter Chris19
- Start date
Yes. Fuel dilution is part of the TGDI experience. But does it really result in premature engine failure? No evidence I’ve seen.
AZjeff
$50 Site Donor 2023
Not many automotive things today should be judged on how they were 25 years ago.
I irrationally distrust small displacement turbo engines because they're more complex.
ls1mike
$50 Site Donor 2024
Your sampling is small. I was heavy into turbo Dodges and while they had their problems, the rotating assemblies were solid. The used a Garrett or Mitsubishi turbo that were relatively trouble free. There problem was head gaskets and electronics (hall effect pickups, ECMs and power control modules.) Between 1984 and 1989 Chrysler made over 822,000 2.2 and 2.5 turbos. The does not account for the years from 1990 to 1993 which should easily put it over 1,000,000.
2.2 turbo: High performance from a surprising source
www.motales.com
Last edited:
I don't care what anybody says, you add a turbo....more complexity and more likely to break down. Now you add the engine being smaller displacement AND turbo'd.....more stress on the mechanicals. Nope, won't last as long. Throw all thje modern engine oils at it you want.....won't make the motor go 295K miles.
Its the CVT making it feel gutless.
Unless of course, it does.
With factory OCI. Factory specified oil. Nothing fancy. Nothing special (though it gets HPL these days, most of its life was whatever I could buy on sale).
Most of these turbo engines make full boost and torque at less than 1500rpm. Turbo lag died in the 90s.
x2, love the little 2.0 LTG Turbo in my Regal GS, think the key to longevity is 5K oil changes, lots of good oil out there so stay away from extended OIC's.
What's the actual damage its causing, mental? Or is it what you don't know wont hurt you? I'd rather have the mindset of uninformed Jill than know it all Bill at times.
Ford's 'Eco Boost' is something of a contradiction: You either have the 'eco' or the 'boost' - both don't exist together at the same time.
Speaking of turbo lag, and I know this is outdated. I rented a Chevy Cruise in 2012 qith an turbo and automatic. The lag was OK. Then test drove a similar Cruise in 2020 with a manual. Man the lag was SOOO bad. A manual will highlight the lag. Not a car I would purchase.
- Joined
- Jul 11, 2014
- Messages
- 4,118
Thats magzine and marketing bull for the masses. Not all want to drive with the pedal to the floor for any response all the time. I'll take a V6 over any of the turbo'd 4 offered.
I haven't driven one without lag. Wait for it wait for it wait for it, wait for the transmission to do its thing and then yippee ki yay. I guess the drones can be happy since they won't know any better. 2GR, VQ3-3.5, GM 3.8.... even a pushrod vulcan 3.0 Taurus reponds quicker.
What it comes down to is expectation.
BTW, I daily drive commute a 1.4TGDI VW 6-speed manual, and owned/driven enough of the so-called make believe peak torque at low rpm 2-2.5t engines. All have noticeable lag.
While Chevy did try to get it right with the Cruze, the engine had a number of shortcomings, and was not tolerant of extended OCI's, crummy oil or abuse. The very thing an economy car is subject to.
Other manufacturers tended to do better.
My suggestion, use a quality synthetic oil of adequate viscosity, and stick to 5000 mile OCI's. As DI turbocharged engines tend to contaminate the oil.
It's science and engineering.
- Joined
- Jul 11, 2014
- Messages
- 4,118
Prove it
The statement of lag still existing is correct, even with low RPM boost onset. There really is no way around it with an exhaust driven supercharger. Even so, turbocharged engines tend to be quite pleasant to drive, as once on boost, they don't often require high RPM for typical needs. In other words, it's much more pleasant to drive up a long interstate hill or to achieve more than adequate part-throttle acceleration.
My TDi definitely had lag. I usually would not slip the clutch more than I needed to (it was in perfect shape after 249k, only replaced due to failed flywheel), so off-idle, it was laggy. Well, that and the larger turbo I put on did not help... but boy oh boy did I smile when it spooled up and did its thing. 
Couple times it surprised me, would leave the line slow then decide to spin the tire, not a clutch dump, just the turbo hitting stride. Ah, to be young again...
Stock I don't remember if it had a lot lag or not, I don't recall it being that bad if at all. Of course, with all 100hp everyone here would decry it anyhow, on the boost or not.
Couple times it surprised me, would leave the line slow then decide to spin the tire, not a clutch dump, just the turbo hitting stride. Ah, to be young again...Stock I don't remember if it had a lot lag or not, I don't recall it being that bad if at all. Of course, with all 100hp everyone here would decry it anyhow, on the boost or not.
+1
In Europe, these small motors have been able to last much longer due to stringent maintenance guidelines.
In NAmerica, most folks are too lazy do basic maintence.
Combine that with ultra thin oils being pushed up 20k miles (with manfacturers supporting this behaviour) leads to premature failure, regardless of the manufacturer.
I have a brother who's GF leased a brand new 2021 Malibu. She drives it constantly, city, long distance road trips etc. easily racking up 15-20k miles a year.
Recently she's been having issues with it due to the "sensors".
Turns out, she's never changed it's oil once in her ownership.
Last edited:
Then you downshift and stop complaining about the lag.
EDIT: I would like to expand; the only times I experience turbo lag is when I'm at too low of an RPM at too high of a gear. Like cruising at 45mph in fifth gear at 2000rpm. In that case I just downshift. That's the point of a manual car. In an turbo'd automatic, the transmission is probably in the wrong gear. Solution: press down on the accelerator more. In both cases, a higher displacement engine would have been in the same predicament.
Last edited:
ls1mike
$50 Site Donor 2024
Yep, I change the oil every 4000 miles, I have no loss or no gain of oil. GM puts them in everything. Cadillacs, SUVs and Camaros just to name a few.
The have a 1300HP one they use for drag racing. Here is a Nova they built with one.
https://www.motortrend.com/features/2-0l-turbo-1967-nova-by-chevrolet-performance/
2.0 turbo lag isn't horrible, not like my old turbo Dodges. It is probably due to the twin scroll turbo they use.
Similar threads
