VW TDI Intercooler Ice Up
This post comes from a personal area as this happened to me this past week. I’ve owned quite a few diesel powered vehicles but my 2010 VW Jetta SportWagen has been the most efficient. Powered by VW’s 2.0L clean diesel motor the bast 14,500 miles have averaged out at respectable 42mpg (including break-in and city driving).
It seems like me, and a hand full of others on TDIclub.com have experienced either frozen intercoolers or hydrolock. The current assumption is that the aggressive EGR (Exhaust Gas Recirculation) system settings are allowing too much moisture into the induction system. There it pools up in the intercooler and either freezes in cold weather or allows the motor to suck up the water. If enough water enters a cylinder, and the cylinder is unable to compress – the motor effectively explodes. Death by hydrolock.
Lucky for me, my intercooler just froze up. It seems like many of us in the ‘snow belt’ northern states are awaiting a permanent fix from VW for this problem that happens under specific weather conditions.
