VW Touran Camshaft & High Fuel Usage: Quick Fix Guide

A similar issue occurred with my 2008 VW Golf GTI. The symptoms matched exactly, increased fuel consumption and check engine light. The diagnosis revealed a VANOS failure affecting the inlet camshaft position sensor. The root cause was oil sludge buildup around the variable timing components, which restricted proper solenoid operation. The timing chain tensioner also showed wear, likely due to the same oil contamination issues. Critical areas to check: Camshaft position sensor readings, Variable timing solenoid resistance values, Oil pressure at the VANOS unit, Timing chain wear indicators This was a serious repair requiring specialized diagnostic equipment. The entire variable timing system needed cleaning and component replacement. The job involves removing the valve cover and timing chain cover to access the affected parts. Recommendation: Find a shop specializing in VW engines with proper diagnostic tools. Delaying repairs could lead to timing chain failure and severe engine damage. Have them check the oil condition first, as contaminated oil often triggers these variable timing issues.

Thanks for sharing your GTI experience, sounds very similar to my Touran issues. I ended up taking it to a specialist after reading your post. Can you remember roughly how much the full repair cost you? Also curious if you had any other problems pop up since fixing the VANOS and timing chain system? The check engine light keeps me worried there might be connected issues I should watch out for.

Glad my previous post helped guide you to a specialist. Since fixing the inlet VANOS mechanics and the faulty camshaft solenoid valve, my GTI has been running perfectly. The repair cost was 250€ for the solenoid replacement and system cleaning. This price was actually reasonable considering the specialized work involved with the variable timing system. No additional issues have emerged in the months since the repair. The fuel consumption returned to normal and the check engine light has stayed off. The oil pressure is now optimal, which is crucial for proper VANOS operation. Just make sure to use high-quality oil and stick to the recommended service intervals to prevent oil sludge from building up again. Regular oil changes are much cheaper than dealing with another VANOS failure or timing chain problems down the road.

I wanted to update everyone on my Touran situation. Took it to a VW specialist shop last week after getting the advice here. They confirmed the VANOS system failure and found significant oil sludge buildup affecting the inlet camshaft. The total repair came to 280€, which included cleaning the variable timing components and replacing the worn VANOS solenoid. They also inspected the timing chain while they were in there, fortunately it was still in decent shape. After the fix, the engine runs smoother and fuel consumption is back to normal. The check engine light is finally off. The mechanic showed me all the gunked up parts they cleaned out, really eye opening to see how bad it had gotten. Going forward, they recommended switching to synthetic oil and shorter service intervals to prevent future oil sludge issues. Much better experience than with my previous mechanic who kept missing the real problem.