Is “Lifetime” Really Lifetime?

VW Audi "Lifetime Timing Belt"

Not all Volkswagen/Audi engines come equipped with a timing chain; for instance, the 1.4 TSI/TFSI engines on models like the Golf MK7 and Audi A3 use a timing belt setup.

Surprisingly, my car falls into this category, and I only found out after nearly reaching 300,000km! Why is that? Well, during all my visits to the Volkswagen service center, I was never advised to replace the timing belt. Even their official service maintenance schedule doesn't mention it. They claim it's a "Lifetime Timing Belt" that doesn't need replacement.

Similar to other "Lifetime" claims by car manufacturers, like "Lifetime Transmission" or "Lifetime Coolant," what does this "Lifetime" term mean for us as car owners?

What is “Lifetime” ?

From what we understand, "Lifetime" likely means that it should last for the average ownership cycle of the car. To put it in numbers, it should endure at least 10 years or the equivalent of 300,000km of usage. Most consumers don't keep their cars for that long, and other components start to wear out by then. In my case, the oil seals failed, so it was clear that we needed to change the seals and the contaminated belt. Perhaps this is the philosophy behind the "lifetime" terminology.

When to Worry ?

Should you be worried? I'd say, if you have a brand new car, you don't need to worry until it reaches the "lifetime cycle" we mentioned earlier. However, after extended or high-mileage use, you MUST be cautious about these 'lifetime components.'

Buying a used car can be tricky. Regardless of the mileage you see on the instrument cluster, we recommend changing all these components! More often than not, those mileage readings have been tampered with, believe me!

Happy motoring! If you need any advice, just drop us a WhatsApp message at [https://wa.me/+60193920850], our consultations are free.

Zhafri, Mobeel