As soon as upon a time, Volkswagen constructed V-10 engines for its highway vehicles. All through the 2000s the German firm, previously recognized for its widespread diesel fashions, bought its full-size Touareg SUV with a twin-Turbo V-10 TDI. It was pulled from the US market in 2008 as a result of it might now not move emissions exams, and has since change into a legendary powertrain for the VW obsessed. A teardown reveals simply how a lot effort engineers put into this engine to make it work.
The HumbleMechanic YouTube channel purchased considered one of these Touareg V10 TDIs simply so they might pull the engine and take it aside. And earlier than you allow an indignant remark, the engine was junk, because it had worn cams and would’ve price an excessive amount of to repair.
Like most aged German-sourced motors, this one, at first look, appears like a hunk of steel coated in hoses and oil stains. However look nearer, and you will see not one of the regular equipment usually discovered on the entrance of the engine—issues like the facility steering pump, the alternator, or the A/C compressor—are lacking. They have been moved alongside the block or within the valley of the V form. As an alternative of being powered by a serpentine belt, they’re powered by steel gears in the back of the engine.
The V10 TDI makes use of gears to drive its timing, moderately than a belt or a series. It additionally makes use of gears to drive its equipment. That is some actual race automobile stuff, utilized in a decidedly pedestrian SUV. Volkswagen was on one other degree with this within the mid-2000s.
Host Charles Sanville highlights the geartrain discovered on the rear of the V-10 in the direction of the tip of the video, after what looks as if hours of disassembly to take away wiring harnesses, hoses, pipes, and emissions gear. In all, Sanville says the engine makes use of 20 particular person gears to spin the cams and the entire equipment.
That sort of setup is often remarkable in something aside from pure racing functions. Plus, the gear setup itself appears extremely cool. We doubt Volkswagen will ever return to engineering ridiculous stuff like this for manufacturing, however it’s good to revisit the greatness that when was.
