Service guy says turbo on GTD's fail at low K's... true?

**gfish** · 09-02-2015, 10:41 PM

Hi all,

We just spoke to a Euro VW/Audi service guy regarding getting a pre-purchase done on a GTD. He said that the GTD's have a problem with the turbo failing at low KM's... He has supposedly seen a few recently that require a 2K fix at around 80K's.

This sounds like he was just trying to get us to utilise his more expensive pre-purchase inspection/report, detailing likely future expenses, rather than go to someone like audvolks, volkscare, who are significantly cheaper and have great rep.

He could be right, though.. anyone heard anything about this?

**GTD_XU1** · 10-02-2015, 01:42 AM

My GTD has done 119,000+ km at the moment and is going great. Dealer servicing since new. I just make sure it is warmed up before I give it the beans and try to not switch off until it is warmed up if doing short trips. On hot days if I have worked it hard I will idle it down for maybe a minute. About once a month I will do a big back off down a hill to exercise the VNT mechanism to blow off any soot on the vanes. I haven't heard anything about the GTD's having turbo trouble at all.

**gfish** · 10-02-2015, 07:04 AM

Originally Posted by GTD_XU1

My GTD has done 119,000+ km at the moment and is going great. Dealer servicing since new. I just make sure it is warmed up before I give it the beans and try to not switch off until it is warmed up if doing short trips. On hot days if I have worked it hard I will idle it down for maybe a minute. About once a month I will do a big back off down a hill to exercise the VNT mechanism to blow off any soot on the vanes. I haven't heard anything about the GTD's having turbo trouble at all.

I had a sneaking suspicion it was the guy trying to up-sell us on his pre-purchase report buy putting the fear of god into us. I'd never read anything about GTD turbos commonly failing/having problems.

Thanks GTD_XU1 for the reply. Glad to hear yours has had no problems. Can't wait to get ours and hope it checks out OK.

Any things wife should pay particular attention to?

**Snail Style** · 10-02-2015, 11:13 AM

Not common at all, in the earlier 2.0tdi's the actuators failed(can't remember having a GTD one fail). Even still that is <1,000 to fix aslong as it is diagnosed correctly.

**GTD_XU1** · 10-02-2015, 08:17 PM

Plenty of info in the diesel forum. I try not to let it lug around town, sometimes I drive in "S for shopping mode" to keep it running along nicely. Be aware of your DPF and how to care for it, consider an additive such as Morey's DSK. I use the DSK every tank these days and I do a shock treatment with Fuel Doctors every 15,000km, usually after a service.

**gfish** · 10-02-2015, 10:04 PM

Originally Posted by GTD_XU1

Plenty of info in the diesel forum. I try not to let it lug around town, sometimes I drive in "S for shopping mode" to keep it running along nicely. Be aware of your DPF and how to care for it, consider an additive such as Morey's DSK. I use the DSK every tank these days and I do a shock treatment with Fuel Doctors every 15,000km, usually after a service.

OK, great. Been thinking about fuel additives so I'll take your advice. Thanks.

Now fingers crossed that inspection doesn't turn up anything bad.