Can D Mode cause long term engine damage?

[Corey_R]

I don't know man... I read your posts on these topics (ECUs and that), and I think you think way too much about things

[Ryan_R]

Hehe, stupid brain - don't get much sleep with all the thinking

[jrgti]

The book says to not vary the range too much for the first ~1500kms or something and after that to vary it.
To be honest I didn't even read that part of the book until I've done about 1000kms. But by that time I've put it into sport mode and put it's acceleration to the test many times....lol.....and then realised even the tyres need to be run in.
The petrol consumption is now noticeably getting better but took about 9000kms for that to manifest. Currently averaging about ~620km on a full tank(mk6 GTI) with my mixed city/highway driving and doing about 500kms per week. Or maybe because it is approaching autumn and temperatures are not as high anymore. The optimum temperature is ~25 degrees celsius from my observations.
I always let D mode handle the gear change for everyday driving. Only put it into manual if I have to pull out of a lane or corner or intersection pretty quickly.

[nat225]

and the manual also says not to put too much load on low rpm during the run in period.

what i did with mine i used manual mode and kept the revv between 2000-4000rpm during the first 1500kms, and drove outside Sydney roads most of the time during the Xmas Holiday

nonetheless, i think VW engineers would have done enough testings to ensure the D mode won't cause any damage in the Mk6 GTI.

but i'm not too sure about the Mk6 118TSI... i babied the car during the run in period in D mode.. 14000kms later i got a new engine replacement despite the recall had been done at 8000kms. the 118tsi just had too many issues IMO.

[REXman]

That's a pretty impressive result considering that's basically what they came from the factory with. I'm guessing you've serviced it extremely regularly, which always helps.

Out of curiosity, any mods to it at all? Or is the engine still as the Gods of Nissan intended it?

Are you serious?! This thing has 200KWs at the wheels!

A stocker had 147 engine kilowatts. About 105-115 KW (different cars) on a roller dyno at the rears. This particular car has almost doubled that.

So your not a japanese car fan I take it.

[prise]

but i'm not too sure about the Mk6 118TSI... i babied the car during the run in period in D mode.. 14000kms later i got a new engine replacement despite the recall had been done at 8000kms. the 118tsi just had too many issues IMO.

I think there was more going on with those failures than just a dodgy Aus spec knock sensor cal. Do a google search and you'll see the piston failures were world-wide. Plenty of speculation on the cause.

When was your 118TSI built? - the reason I ask is that many of the failures appeared to be with early 2009 build engines.

These type of issues happen occasionally with different manufacturers. I remember the piston slap issue with the Subaru motors going back 10 years ago. I was speaking to a Mazda tech the other day who told me Mazda Australia was getting ready to do piston replacements on a batch of Mazda 3's with a short motor replacement if the bores were scored.

The parts come from a global supply chain so a seemingly small production change down the supply chain can cause unexpected failures to appear in a product that was previously reliable (eg the 1.4 twincharger motor in the Mk V GT).

[Guest]

I really think its simple VW would not engineer a vehicle that is going to do engine damage while driving in D mode during the run in period!
If you service it regularly at the 15,000km intervals with correct oils etc etc your vehicle no matter what make or model should last for ages!
Look after your vehicle and it will look after you!

[Leon]

So your not a japanese car fan I take it.

I am, though I think I've been confusing kW to HP. I've owned a 180SX and from memory I thought that was close, but I think I was keeping HP in mind!