TSI engines: what it stands for and what its performance parameters are

TSI are a range of turbocharged direct injection petrol engines from the German Volkswagen Group . The very first TSI engine had a displacement of 1.4 liters and was presented for the first time in the Golf GT 5 in 2005. Highly acclaimed by experts, it was named Best New Engine in the prestigious International Engine of the Year polls. Today, vehicles from Volkswagen, SEAT and Škoda, among others, are equipped with TSI engines. Although the displacement is relatively small, they deliver high power and torque. These engines are characterized by low fuel consumption.

The features of TSI engines

TSI engines have 4 cylinders with 8 or 16 valves. The engine blocks can be made of cast iron or aluminum. The cylinder head is always made of aluminum. The engine can be turbocharged or twin-charged. In the double-charged version, the engine has an exhaust gas turbocharger and a mechanically controlled compressor. The timing mechanism uses either a chain or a belt, depending on the type of timing system.

Popular TSI Engines

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Engine series Displacement, l Index Number of cylinders Number of valves <Max. Power, hp Max. Torque, Nm Year of manufacture Applicable models
1.2 CBZA 4 4 86 160 2010 SEAT Toledo 4; Skoda Fabia 2; Volkswagen Caddy 3; Volkswagen Golf 6; Škoda Roomster 1
CBZB 8 8 105 175 2009 Volkswagen Caddy 3; SEAT Leon 2; Volkswagen Polo 5; Skoda Roomster 1; SEAT Ibiza 4; Volkswagen Golf 6; SEAT Altea 1; Volkswagen Beetle 2; Skoda Fabia 2; Skoda Rapid 1; Volkswagen Jetta 6; Skoda Yeti 1; Volkswagen Touran 1; SEAT Toledo 4
1.4 BMY 4 16 140 220 2005 Volkswagen Jetta 5; Volkswagen Golf 5; Volkswagen Touran 1
CAVA 4 16 150 240 2008 Volkswagen Tiguan
CAXA 4 16 122 200 2006 Volkswagen Golf 5; Volkswagen Jetta 5; Skoda Octavia 2; Volkswagen Golf 6; Volkswagen Jetta 6; Skoda Rapid 1; Volkswagen Passat B6; Skoda Yeti 1; Volkswagen Passat B7; SEAT Toledo 4; Volkswagen Scirocco 3; Volkswagen Tiguan 1; Volkswagen Eos 1
EA211 1.2 CJZA 4 16 105 175 2012 SEAT Leon 3; Skoda Octavia 3; Volkswagen Golf 7
CJZB 4 16 86 160 2012 Škoda Octavia 3; SEAT Leon 3; Volkswagen Golf 7
1.4 CMBA 4 16 122 200 2012 SEAT Leon 3; Volkswagen Golf 7
CZCA 4 16 125 200 2013 Škoda Fabia 3; Volkswagen Golf 7; Skoda Superb 3; Volkswagen Tiguan 2; Skoda Kodiaq 1; Skoda Octavia 3; Volkswagen Jetta 6; Volkswagen Passat B8; Skoda Rapid 1; Volkswagen Polo 1; Škoda Yeti 1
CZDA 4 16 150 250 2014 Volkswagen Beetle 5C; Volkswagen Tiguan 1; Skoda Octavia 3; Volkswagen Golf 7; Volkswagen Touran 2; Skoda Kodiaq 1; Skoda Yeti 1; Volkswagen Tiguan 2; Volkswagen Passat B8; Volkswagen Sharan 2
1.5 DACA 4 16 130 200 2016 Volkswagen Golf 7; SEAT Leon 3; Volkswagen Golf 8; SEAT Leon 4
EA888 1.8 BZB 4 16 160 250 2007 Volkswagen Passat B6; SEAT Leon 2; Skoda Superb 2; SEAT Altea 1; Skoda Octavia 2; SEAT Toledo 3
CDAB 4 16 152 250 2009 Volkswagen Passat B7; Volkswagen Passat CC; Skoda Octavia 2; Skoda Superb 2; Škoda Yeti 1
CJSA 4 16 180 250 2012 SEAT Leon 3; Skoda Octavia 3; Volkswagen Passat B8; Skoda Superb 3; Volkswagen Touran 2
2.0 CCZB 4 16 211 280 2009 Volkswagen Golf 6; Volkswagen Tiguan 1; Volkswagen Scirocco 3; Volkswagen Eos 1; Volkswagen New Beetle 2; SEAT Altea 1; Volkswagen Passat CC; Volkswagen Passat B7
CHHA 4 16 230 350 2013 Škoda Octavia 3; Volkswagen Golf 7
CYRC 4 16 250 370 2018 Volkswagen Touareg 3

Common defects of TSI engines

Defects Engines
The timing chain or belt wears out or fails relatively early. CBZA; CBZB; BMY; CJSA; CCZB; CDAB; CH HA; BZB; CZCA; CJZB; CAVA
Excessive engine vibration at idle. CBZA; CBZB; BMY
Engine is slow to warm up in cold weather. CBZB; CBZA; CMBA
The engine is very sensitive to the quality of the fuel. Carbon deposits will form on the intake valves if poor quality fuel is used. BMY; CAVA; CJZA; BZB; CJZB
The engine's pistons burn out due to engine knock. BMY; CAVA
The piston rings stick fairly quickly, which consumes more oil. BMY; CCZB; CZCA; CZDA; CDAB
Refrigerant leakage near the intercooler. BMY
The turbocharger electronic control valve often fails. CAVA
At relatively low mileage, the engine pistons begin to knock. CJZA
The ignition coils may fail due to a malfunction of the spark plug or mistakes when replacing spark plugs. CMBA; BZB; CCZB
Turbocharger wastegate rod often sticks. CJZA; CMBA; CZCA; CZDA; CJZB
The engine stutters at low revs. DACA
The crankcase ventilation system clogs quickly , resulting in an increase in oil consumption. BZB
The high-pressure fuel pump has a short service life. CDAB; CCZB
The oil pump often fails, causing the oil pressure to drop and causing the crankshaft main bearings and connecting rod to slip. CHHA