Permanently remove the 2.0 TDI balance shaft moduleComplete conversion · Oil pump driven directly by chain
The wear-prone drive pin and the entire balance shaft module are eliminated. The oil pump is once again driven directly by the crankshaft — via a robust chain and a larger high-performance oil pump. The long-term solution since 2015.
The oil pump drive in the 2.0 TDI is under-engineered from the factory.
That is our claim, on our own site. It does not stand alone.
By the time the red light comes on, the damage has
already been done.
VW and Skoda confirmed case numbers
in the three-digit range
to the editorial team, and Audi ran
service campaign 13D7 in response.
- Report
- “VW-Konzern-Motor 2.0 TDI: Ärger mit der Ölpumpe”, 7 May 2013
- Covers
- Pump-injector engines, built 2005 to 2009
- Quotation
- Excerpt, published in German, translated by us
Planned Obsolescence
Wear by design
We all know this scenario only too well, and it brings real frustration: many manufacturers seem to design their products with a built-in weak point. It's an open secret that certain components are engineered so their service life is artificially limited — for exactly as long as suits the manufacturer. Often these specific parts are either expensive or simply unavailable. A strategy aimed at pushing customers toward repeat purchases.
Of course, it is not our intention to jump to conclusions or attribute unjustified motives to manufacturers. Our observations are based on first-hand impressions, backed up by what we consider an unusually high failure rate for these products.
This is especially striking with certain engines, where the suspicion of planned obsolescence is reinforced not only by numerous reports online, but also by our direct customer contact spanning more than a decade. Our experience and the exchanges we've had with our customers have shown us that this is more than just a handful of isolated incidents.
Improvements
With this conversion, you remove the balance shaft module problems for good. Continuous oil pressure is restored and significantly improved by a high-performance oil pump.
How it works
Balance shaft module out, oil pump driven directly
Let us clarify upfront that the drive pin driving the oil pump, while the biggest problem, is not the only one.
The balance shaft module is driven by the crankshaft and in turn drives the oil pump. It's well known that oil pressure is critical to engine longevity. Oil pressure that is too low leads to increased wear. Our reinforced drive pin is a good, cost-effective solution, but it doesn't offer absolute certainty.
The problem already starts at the crankshaft, which carries either a sprocket or a spur gear. This drives the balance shaft module via a chain or an idler gear. The first balance shaft then drives the second balance shaft via two further spur gears. The second balance shaft finally drives the oil pump via a far too small drive pin (hexagonal).
So there is a whole series of components sitting between the crankshaft and the oil pump. Traditionally, oil pumps in a combustion engine are driven directly by the crankshaft. Our conversion system restores exactly this simple, proven principle to your vehicle.
Another advantage is that the far-too-small oil pump is also replaced with a larger one in the process. The original oil pump is positioned so unfavorably on the balance shaft module that there's no room for a technical upsize. The manufacturer tries to compensate for the low delivery volume of the very small oil pump with a higher rotational speed. Our experience shows that this causes problems. Engines that are typically somewhat worn due to their mileage need more oil than new engines. This can lead to insufficient lubrication in the engine and turbocharger — and a repair then quickly becomes very expensive.
Our reinforced drive pin is a cost-effective solution for one major problem. But if you want to be on the safe side, you're better off replacing the entire balance shaft module with a directly driven high-performance oil pump through a conversion. Why the factory drive fails so often is explained in our article VW 2.0 TDI problems.
Long-term experience
What our customers say
Our products are designed digitally on computer using CAD technology and have to prove themselves in practice over a long period.
Besides the practical tests, it's also the customers who carry out this conversion on their vehicle who contribute valuable long-term experience. We maintain a lively exchange with our customers. Many of them get in touch with us on their own initiative after many years to share their experience.
We feel truly honored by the positive feedback from our customers, and it reinforces our approach. Every single testimonial underscores the effectiveness of our method. The feedback shows that our solution has so far been the most effective way to permanently fix the balance shaft module problems. No other method can compete in this respect.
Of course, if the balance shaft module, the oil pump, the spur gear drive, etc. fail, a repair is also possible. But such a repair often leaves behind:
- undetected, worn parts in the vehicle that may then be the next to fail,
- newly installed replacement parts that still carry the same known design flaws, and
- the too-small oil pump remains a risk for insufficient lubrication — and thus likely the next cause of engine failure.
On top of that, a repair is often so expensive that it doesn't make economic sense. The labor time for a repair is also a significant cost factor. We therefore recommend carefully considering whether the cost of that labor wouldn't be better invested in a permanent solution.
“As an automotive repair shop specializing in engine and turbocharger repairs, we have been dealing for quite some time with low oil pressure on certain 2.0 TDI engines, especially at operating temperature and idle. Neither local workshops nor authorized service centers could solve it permanently. With the conversion, the oil pressure problem was completely resolved. We finally have a reliable solution to offer our customers.”
Before the conversion, the oil pressure warning kept coming on, and the gauge showed the reading on the left when warm at idle. After the conversion, the needle sits clearly higher.
What these photos show and what they don’t. The photos come from the customer’s workshop. We did not take the measurement, and engine speed, oil temperature and measuring point were not recorded. The gauge is accuracy class 1.6. For this class of instrument, manufacturers do not specify reliable accuracy below 1 bar, and the left photo sits right in that range. That is why we show the photos as an impression of the difference, not as a measured value. For the same reason we do not publish bar figures ourselves (oil pressure gauges · why we don’t quote bar values). Only measurement series under recorded conditions are reliable. How we measure: how we measure oil pressure.
See when the oil pressure drops off
Rotate, adjust engine speed, compare stock against MMHP — in your browser, no sign-up.
Best experienced on a desktop or laptop — it runs on mobile, but space gets tight.
eGuide
Installation with the online guide
The eGuide is the foundation for a conversion. The necessary steps are described clearly with images and text.
It also includes valuable tips on the 2.0 TDI engine, drawn from years of experience, that help you spot typical problems early.
The complete conversion kit including high-performance oil pump, chain drive, special tooling, and eGuide — in the MMHP shop.
Conversion kit in the shop