Chinese Reman TSI Engine – BETTER than Used?
MSB has just done a video where he buys a reman TSI engine from China (Alibaba) for his Golf MK7 GTI track car/project car. In this article I cover his problem, how he tried to solve it, look at his conclusion and see if he is correct.
Reman TSI Engine Gamble
He knew (he says so in the video) it was a gamble buying a used TSI engine from China from an unknown source and with limited comeback.
Result
The result was not great. The garage that installed the engine took the car for a test drive and 40 miles in, the reman engine developed what sounds like rod knock.
MSB was quick to point the finger at the Chinese engine but I’m not sure the issue is so clear cut.
Blown TSI Engine – Background
A bit of background on the MSB MK7 GTI track car.
It was mapped and was tracked.
Engine developed a fault on track which resulted in loads of smoke coming from the exhaust.
Returning to the pits the engine was hard to start. When it did start it would only run for a few seconds before stalling. And then it would not restart until it was cold.
The garage where he took the car did not know what the problem was.
Because new engines from VW are so expensive, MSB order a new/reman TSI engine from China because it was left than half the price.
Install
The refurbed TSI engine was supplied bare.
All the ancillaries from the old engine were fitted onto the new engine. I assume injectors and coil packs were used from the old engine.
The engine was started and all seemed to be okay. MSB the received a phone call some time later where the garage said they had the car on a test drive and the engine broke down.
The next shot in the video is MSB back at the garage with the engine knocking badly.
Conclusion
The conclusion in the video was the engine was garbage to start with. And it was a mistake to buy it.
Not So Fast – Chinese TSI Reman Engine
But I think they may be jumping to conclusions.
Installation Issues
Comments on the video highlight some possible issues with the installation that could have led to the premature failure that MSB had in the video.
Start Up
Apparently the engine was started up first time with the fuel system connected. Someone has said they should have started it without fuel so the engine could build oil pressure first. The thinking being that the engine was not properly lubricated on first start and this is what has destroyed the bearings (if indeed the bearings are the problem).
Old TSI Engine
The garage that installed the new GTI TSI engine in the his MK7 GTI Golf did not know why the old engine would’nt run. From the video they just installed the new engine. This is an alarm bell in itself. I mean, without knowing what happened to the old TSI engine, how did they know the same thing wouldn’t happen to a new TSI engine?
Injectors
Apparently TSI injectors are known for failing, namely sticking open. And from what I understand from the video, they installed the old injectors in the reman TSI engine. Another alarm bell that could damage an engine.
Tolerances
Commenters highlighted it looked like maybe the garage did not check tolerances. Did they check the torque on everything they could get access to like the rod bolts? They believed a reman TSI engine from China was a risk but they didn’t appear to do what they could, to limit the chances of an issue.
Commenters also highlighted the fact that it didn’t look like they checked clearances in the head. Again, if you think an engine is a risk to start with surely you have to do these checks.
Chinese Reman TSI Engine – In A Nutshell
For all the reasons I highlighted above, I think it’s premature to say it was fundamentally a bad reman engine.
Basic things were not done during the installation process that should probably be done on any engine which has not be run before and whose providence you doubt.
Paid Advert – To be continued?
It does say in the video, that it contains a paid product placement. I assume this is the engine.
Have we seen the end of Aliexpress/Alibaba engines on the MSB channel?
Or will this be a series of videos where they show how Alibaba also offers warranty and send him a new engine (To give potential purchasers of new/reman engines on Alibaba peace of mind that they do have a warranty)?
To be continued……maybe……
