vinkodex.4.2 V8 TDI: timing gear and chain
It does not show up on every car. Check before you buy.
critical
severity
not available
mileage
2
sources
2 sources next to the write-up.
The fault
How you spot it
The valvetrain of the 4.2 V8 TDI works with gears and a chain, and this is the best known weak point of the engine: the gear drive wears out and the chain stretches. The repair is as deep as on the V6, only more expensive.
This engine is rare, and that is exactly what makes it dangerous: there is little experience, few workshops, and the parts are expensive. Whoever buys a V8 TDI Touareg has to plan for this risk alongside the purchase price.
Which model
Who it affects
The card opens the generation, the engine or the transmission.
Generations and models
2 generations.
Volkswagen
7L
Touareg
Rudolf Stricker / CC BY-SA 3.0
Volkswagen Touareg 7L
2002–2010
Volkswagen
7P
Touareg
M 93 / CC BY-SA 3.0 de
Volkswagen Touareg 7P
2010–2018
vinkodex.Checklist
4.2 V8 TDI: timing gear and chain
What you would check for this fault. Take it to the car.
Before you buy
Checklist
What you tick stays on this device only.
Sources
How we know
Get Car WiseVolkswagen Touareg Common Problems: Known Issues, Costs & What to Check | GetCarWiseCommon Volkswagen Touareg problems ranked by severity with real repair costs. What goes wrong, what it costs to fix, and what to check before buying.- clubtouareg.com4.2 V8 timing chains — Club Touaregclubtouareg.com
Information, not an expert opinion
We write the descriptions, and we put the source next to them. A person reviews them before they go out. They are still information, not a technical expert opinion.
- A fault on the list does not mean the car you are looking at has it.
- A fault missing from the list does not mean the model is fault-free. Write-ups are made model by model. Not all of them are done.
- You decide whether to buy. This is no substitute for an inspection. That needs a workshop and a history check.