Yesterday I went to see one TDV8 to replace my TD6, the car is amazing! Looks great and driving was a very good experience... Is so smooth the driving, looks it has so much less weight! And the looked great! i'm in love with the TDV8!

But the car has an coolant leak and my mechanics told me to be very carefully with this matter!

He told me, and i already saw on the forum that is a common problem in this models, but if the problem is not a leak problem, could be an engine problem, the head gasket.

The owner told me that made a lot of testes, put the circuit in pressure and didn't found any leak! The mechanics of the owner told him, to found the problem they need to take everything to reach the thermostat, where is the common source of this problem. But 12hours work, is expensive and the owner didn't repair it. But the car looses coolant.

When i saw the engine, the coolant reservoir was full. But after the engine started after a minute the dash info said to check the coolant. So the sensor maybe is also bad.

I didn't want to buy the car with this problem! I told the owner that i loved the car and i want to buy it, but only with this problem solved! And we agree that he will gonna make the test of gases to the see if there is any leak to the combustion ( mislead the the head gasket problem ) and then replace the thermostat.

Paul already comment this situation with me! But i love to hear some thoughts about this problem and this buy!

How can i get the guarantee, after the repair the problem is solved and is not an engine problem?

Other BIG QUESTIONS and ADVICES:

If i buy this TDV8, want i can make in a preventive way to don't have engine problems?
Stan one day told me if there is no problem don´t touch! But there is any good things we can make to prevent problems?
- Replace the EGR's?
- Buy and apply the EGR's emulators?
- Check the twin turbo engines?

COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS are well appreciated!

This TDV8 is from 2007 and has 160.000Km (100k miles)

Now i'm really excited to buy one TDV8, but here in Portugal we don't see everyday one on selling.

Many Thanks! Ex-FULLFATTY now downgraded

L494 RRS P400e Dynamic Narvy Black

-------------------------------------- gone
6 | FF-RR 2007 TDV8 Vogue JAVA BLACK
5 | FF-RR 2003 TD6 Vogue Bonatti grey
4 | Ex-RR 2000 P38 automatic
3 | Ex-RR 1994 300tdi classic
2 | Ex-RR 1993 200tdi
1 | Ex-RR 1991 turboD VM engine

Hi Gonçalo
I'm glad you liked the car. But don't let that affect your checking of other stuff.

The tdv8 with the ZF transmission and MS transfer box is a very reliable unit. What causes turbo failure isn't really clear except when a foreign object tries to get through the fans. Turbo seals seem to fail at varying km. Correct on time servicing seems to be important. EGRs opening excessively or getting stuck open could be a cause. Crank case vent filter being ineffective is another possible contributor, but that only vents to the driver side turbo.

I bought a car with a perfect service history, put through a few doses of induction cleaner and fitted emulators. It's going great at 265,000km.

I had a small coolant leak that sounds like the car you're looking at. The pressure test didn't identify the leak. In the end the mechanic put a stop leak treatment through, which fixed it. Stop leak treatments are not favoured by some as can block galleries and cause other problems. It worked ok for me. However others on here have had to replace the thermostat housing which is a fairly involved job.

Good luck deciding. ______________________________
Vogue tdv8 08MY poverty pack - wow

You should find the leak before you buy it (or factor into the price) - head gasket is an engine out job - so >20 hours of labour

Thanks rar and Alistair!

The agreement with the owner wast to buy it when the problem is fixed!
He gonna replace the thermostats housing, the place where more probably is the source of the leak!

All the rest looked fine to me! The engine noise was constant without any strange noise, the same of other TDV8 that i experienced to ear.

I just forget to see the compressor, didn't make any tests to the suspension.

And also forgot to put in low and drive to see is all ok!

I will check these things!

Everything else looks great! But i'm not mechanic or expert only have my TD6 experience.

After buying i think i will order the EGR emulators... is easy to install? There is only available from US? Ex-FULLFATTY now downgraded

L494 RRS P400e Dynamic Narvy Black

-------------------------------------- gone
6 | FF-RR 2007 TDV8 Vogue JAVA BLACK
5 | FF-RR 2003 TD6 Vogue Bonatti grey
4 | Ex-RR 2000 P38 automatic
3 | Ex-RR 1994 300tdi classic
2 | Ex-RR 1993 200tdi
1 | Ex-RR 1991 turboD VM engine

Last edited by goncalo on 11th May 2017 9:20pm. Edited 1 time in total

If there's a lack of choice in Portugal can't you import one?

Hy Kurt!

I just can't the legalisation here is by the C02 emissions and the tdv8 is 294... I think is almost 30k of imposts or more!!!

We only can import cars with small engines like 2L and low C02 emissions  Ex-FULLFATTY now downgraded

L494 RRS P400e Dynamic Narvy Black

-------------------------------------- gone
6 | FF-RR 2007 TDV8 Vogue JAVA BLACK
5 | FF-RR 2003 TD6 Vogue Bonatti grey
4 | Ex-RR 2000 P38 automatic
3 | Ex-RR 1994 300tdi classic
2 | Ex-RR 1993 200tdi
1 | Ex-RR 1991 turboD VM engine