Blew up the VR6 literally the day after I registered it...
 

And got myself a Passat TDI instead of replacing the VR6 engine. :D

Paid $400 for a 1996 Passat TDI the other day. Needs a little work but it's worthy, despite having 299,500 miles on it.

It /may/ need a turbo CHRA rebuild/replacement though, which will be the most devastating part besides a new timing belt/water pump [if it appears to be loose/worn].

The cam chain broke on the VR6. :sadface:

Parting out that car anyway, hopefully I can recover what I spent [too much] on it.

i had a friend blow the timing chain on his VR6. seems to be common.

also, i'd love to get a TDI. my sister has a golf TDI that I want to get my hands on.

also, about engine swaps, when I blew the engine on my SVT focus, I was able to sell enough parts off the blown engine to pay for a used replacement engine (but i did need to pay for labour)

I do the labor myself, so that's not a problem. I already have the front end completely off the car and the engine ready to come out, did that in my driveway in a couple hours after dollying the car home.

The timing chain on a VR6 is a wear part, subject to 100,000 mile service interval. That's no joke, either.

The problem is that it's a $2,000 service, parts and labor. The chain[s] are on the back of the engine, between it and the transmission. There is no way to change it without pulling either the engine or the transmission and the clutch/flywheel.

I have plans of making a coffee table from the VR6 block and rotating/reciprocating assembly.

i always assumed chains were lifetime parts and belts were the only ones needed frequent (100k mile) changing. learned something new

Technically the chains are a lifetime assembly, according to VW - they're intended to last beyond the warranty period. The RSI is 100k miles. My VR6 had 213k on it, and I"m gonna assume that it/they were never changed.

I'm sorry I let you down, for as we all know, my motto is "Friends don't let friends buy VWs".

It's OK, I'm only swapping one into a Ford.

BTW - the pilot bearing came in, so I can finally line it up properly and determine the mounting angle of the engine in relation to the ground, then mock up the adapter plate.

My Fit has a "lifetime" chain. Maybe it's just because the VR6 is a high-power engine and strains it more?

And why is this in "success stories"?

Because I picked up a TDI instead, which is a personal success. I've always wanted a TDI lol

The chain design is what makes it a lifetime part, not the power of the engine. The VR6 uses 3 chains, one from crank to intermediate, one from int to first cam, and one cam to cam. It's usually the first one that fails, IIRC.

No chain is a 'lifetime' part. Ever. They are wear parts, they do wear out, and as they do, it affects cam and ignition timing [by extension]. The 'lifetime' designation of the chain refers to the 'serviceable life' of the vehicle, which typically coincides with the warranty duration.

Edit: VW calls the VR6 chain a 'lifetime' assembly as well. It lasts often more than 100,000 miles - the serviceable lifetime of the vehicle.

Ouch, that's pretty sour.



These days, belts last longer than chains.

On the li'l 1L VW up! :
check after 240.000 km / 150,000 miles , then every 20,000miles