TDI Engine Lifespan: How Long Do They Last?

Hello!

I've been reading here for quite some time now and have already picked up many helpful suggestions.
Since I will be relying on a car starting in mid-year (approximately 40,000 km/year for commuting), I would like to know how long a TDI engine typically lasts under the following conditions:
The car (Golf III Variant, first registered in 8/95) now has 130,000 km on the clock, has been regularly serviced according to the manufacturer's schedule, does not use biodiesel, and I always warm it up slowly (for the first 5-8 km, the maximum speed is 2000 rpm). I've been doing this with my vehicles for 20 years, and it's proven extremely beneficial, especially with my motorcycles. I also don't 'push' the car on the highway. The workshop foreman told me that they recently had one in with 450,000 km, and someone I know has one with 600,000 km (who has only needed a new head gasket so far).
So, is that possible? A new car is financially out of reach for me right now.

Greetings.
Jürgen.

Generally speaking, such mileage is not unusual.
'Service history and workshop maintenance' don't really tell you much about the overall condition of the engine. If you've broken in the car and can be sure that it wasn't mistreated during the first few kilometers when it was new, then you can enjoy your TDI for many years with your careful driving style (I specifically say 'can,' because you can't actually see inside the engine!).

Continue to strictly adhere to the warm-up phase, avoid over-revving the engine, and it will last a long time. However, occasionally you should still push it a bit to 'clean out' the entire fuel injection system.

jotes wrote:

has been regularly serviced and its service history is documented,

.

Hi Jürgen,

That doesn't mean the crankshaft bolt has already been replaced. Many of these have failed . I would definitely check again to see if it has been replaced.

http://home.arcor.de/sgrafen/salatoel/kw_schraube/kw_schraube.html

A quick check under the hood is enough to tell you if the better screw is installed . Furthermore, it wouldn't hurt to reduce the timing belt replacement interval (including all tensioners and idler pulleys) to 60,000 to 80,000 km. However, for long distances (which is probably the case for you), this is not quite as critical because the engine makes fewer revolutions per kilometer driven!

Best regards, Christian.

Hi,

It is important to also consider the recommended time interval for replacing the timing belt.
You can't say it enough.
For example, a timing belt that has run over 90,000 km in 3 years might still be more stable than one that has been used for 9 years and only 50,000 km! The material becomes 'brittle,' especially with prolonged periods of inactivity, such as those experienced by vehicles at used car dealerships.

Otherwise, such a question about running mileage is really difficult to answer.
VW would say: The lifespan of a car is 180,000 km.