Source URL- https://medium.com/@abansal27301/what-are-the-common-problems-with-volkswagen-vr6-engine-and-how-much-reliable-it-is-fc445aababd5

OVERVIEW

The Volkswagen vr6 engines have a narrow-angle (10 or 15 degrees) between the cylinder’s banks. These are the v6 piston engines with a single cylinder head covering both banks of the cylinder. The surprising fact is that the initial V comes from the German language which typically signifies the V-shaped narrow angle between the cylinders. Unlike other Volkswagen engines which use two cylindrical heads, this one uses one cylindrical head. It was produced in the era of 1990. Vr6 engine contains 6 cylinders. The benefit of the narrow angles between the cylinder is that this engine is wider and longer than the other four cylindrical engines. Therefore, it was easier to fit this into the engine bay. In the beginning, Volkswagen started to produce the 2.0-liter vr6 engine in 1978, but as this engine continued to gain popularity among the consumers, Volkswagen increased the engine capacity from 2.0 liters to 2.8 liters, just to meet the consumer’s needs. In the starting era, the vr6 engine was Passat and after some time, in the Corrado sport coupe. But, as its popularity began to grow, it began to be used in other popular Volkswagen vehicles such as Jetta and gti. The engine can give up to 240 horsepower for the 2004 models, and up to 250 horsepower for the 2008 models.

Common problems with vr6 engine

1. Failure of ignition coil pack- the ignition coils are very important parts of your vehicle from the starting to ending. As the name suggests, it helps the fuel to heat up by converting the battery’s lower voltage to higher voltage. Common symptoms of the failure of ignition coils are- Difficulty in starting up the vehicle, engine misfires, engine light blinking constantly, or reduced power. This is the problem with Volkswagen vr6 engines, but unsurprisingly, this is the usual problem with almost every vk engine. But this is not a very big problem that cannot be undone. The repair and replacement of the failed ignition coils is very easy and can be done by any of the auto mobile repair shop.

2. Leaking head gasket- the role of the head gasket is to make sure that the maximum compression is achieved by sealing the cylinder’s pressure. Symptom of leaky head gasket are- oil and coolant mixing, overheating of the engine, white thick smog or ashes coming from the exhaust, increased pressure in the coolant system, etc. unlike the failure of ignition coil pack, if your head gasket fails or leaks, you will be end up paying a lot of money for its repair because head gasket leakage is a very big problem.

3. Warm stalls- when the engine warms up to the optimal engine temperature, vehicle stalls at that point of time. It can be extremely annoying but this is not something that can cause big issues. Warm stalls can also lead to the issue where no matter how much you are trying the vehicle does not start when the engine is hot. This normally means that your vehicle needs some cooling therapies or repairs. You can visit an auto repair shop and get the issue solved.

4. Water pump failure- This the most common issue with all the Volkswagen vehicles. Its job is to pump the coolant so make sure that the temperature is maintained throughout the vehicles at all time. Believe it or not, but this is a very serious issue and you need to get it solved as soon as you experience this. Common symptoms are- the engine overheats, motor causing a loud sound, visible white thick smoke coming out of the vehicle, etc. although removing a water pump is not a complex job to do, but is is always advisable to go to a professional if you don’t have any knowledge about the auto parts.

5. Timing chain failure- whether it is the timing chain or the timing belt, many Volkswagen users have been seen continuously reporting the issue. The main reason for the failure of timing chain is wear and tear. The parts like timing chain are prone to cause issue over a fixed period of time. They are not be used for a longer period. Some might experience the issue within a short span of time or some might experience after a long time, that’s completely depends upon the maintenance but everyone will have an issue with timing chain once in a while. Common symptoms are- unexpected misfires, vehicle stops while driving, rattling and grinding noise coming from the vehicle.it cannot be repaired, these are meant to be replaced every time you experience an issue with these. Unfortunately, timing chain failure is a big problem and will cost you a lot of money to get it replaced.

Conclusion- Although the Volkswagen vr6 has tons of problems, some of them are not so big but some of them will get you not a lot of trouble and will cost you a lot of money for the repairs and replacements. But none of the problem is not something that is not common with any other vw engine and any other brands. These are the common problems and can be solved easily. Despite having these issues, it is not wrong to say that the Volkswagen vr6 engines are very much reliable and the proper and timely maintenance will avoid these kinds of problems for a longer period of time. This vehicle is so much durable that they can easily run up to 1,50,000 miles or even longer than the double i.e., 3,00,000 miles if maintained properly.