VW/Skoda 1.2 HTP engine problems and life expectancy

The 1.2 HTP engine was made by Volkswagen Group from 2001 to 2015 and had basically two generations. The first generation made before 2009 was way more popular and is still common for European roads.

The engine had several engine codes like AWY, AZQ, BMD, and BME for the earlier generation and CGPA and CGPC for the later generation. It belonged to the large EA111 engine family and was basically the simple 3-cylinder motor with nothing special inside.

This article will tell you more about its features, application, common issues, and also life expectancy.

Where was the 1.2 HTP engine used?

The first generation was mainly engineered for the three smallest vehicles in the corporation: Skoda Fabia, Volkswagen Fox, and Seat Ibiza. Later, it was also used in Polo.

The upgraded engines were also installed in the Skoda Roomster and Seat Cordoba. It was often used along with the 1.0 MPI in the same models.

After a complete renovation in 2009, the engine was installed into the new generations of the same models plus also into the Skoda Rapid in some markets instead of the European 1.0 TSI.

So, basically, VAG used this small engine to power the smallest vehicles. One of the greatest features of the powerplant (if you can call it this way) is its price – it was cheap enough to not even care about repairing it after fatal failures. Owners just bought the new engine.

Main features of the 1.2L 3-cylinder VW engine

So, this is a small 3-cylinder in-line (of course) engine. It’s made of aluminum and if something goes wrong with the block, the engine is dead with no chance of good repair.

The engineering is extremely simple which is good for durability. Also, the small displacement made this engine fuel efficient, so engineers didn’t have to add a ton of emission equipment. This is also great news for owners.

Here are several key highlights of the engine:

• this is the simple gasoline 3-cylinder engine with 1.2 liters of displacement and 2 or 4 valves per cylinder depending on the year;
• I know about the versions producing 54, 64, 70, and 75 horsepower and up to 112 Nm of torque;
• first engines had a single camshaft, later they were DOHC, in all versions, the camshafts are driven by the timing chain;
• there are no variable valve timing phasers as well as nothing special in terms of engineering;
• all engines had hydraulic lifters, so no need to adjust the valves manually;
• fuel supply is a simple port injection with no problems on this side at all;
• average city consumption is 7.3-7.7 L/100 km, on the highway you can expect 5 L/100 km or so.

The engine needs about 2.8 liters of oil for oil change. They all use 5w30 oil and there is no need to experiment with the viscosity.

Fortunately, these engines are relatively cheap to own and maintain. They won’t surprise you with their power and acceleration but these machines are simple, reliable, and predictable.

How long will the 1.2 HTP engine last?

Well, these engines are quite old now and I can clearly say that the pre-2009 versions of these engines can last up to 200,000 kilometers or 120,000 miles. After upgrades in 2009, the durability was a little better – 220,000 kilometers or 130,000 miles.

Most of the 1.2 HTP engines were equipped with simple manual transmissions, so no problems on this side. VW transmissions will last more than the entire car.

What affected the durability was the weak aluminum block that was afraid of any kind of overheating. Also, any damage to the block led to immediate engine death. You could replace the block with the new one but the price of such repair would be more or less equal to the price of the new engine.

The chain could significantly affect the durability. If you ignore the rattling sound coming from the 1.2 HTP engine, you are playing a dangerous game – the chain may jump and the head will be totally minced.

What are the common problems with the 1.2 HTP engine?

Volkswagen’s 1.2-liter non-turbo engine does come with a pinch of salt. I still believe this is a very decent small engine that deserves lots of good words. But my aim today is to highlight the possible problems to warn you.

Here are the issues you may need to remember about when owning a small VW, Skoda, or Seat vehicle:

1) Timing chain disaster

The thin chain and unreliable tensioner form a deathly combination in the 1.2L 3-cylinder engine. Very often, owners reported chain failure at 30-40 thousand miles (up to 60,000 km). So, changing it every 30,000 miles or 50,000 km does seem like a good idea.

If the chain jumps, it will destroy the valves and probably affect the pistons. There will be nothing left to repair, in most cases, and the engine will have to be replaced with a new one.

Please never leave your car in gear without a parking brake applied. This will stretch the chain much faster.

2) Valve problems

Engines with high mileage on them very often have burned valves. I literally saw holes in the valves of the 1.2 HTP that one of my colleagues was repairing. The engine only had 100,000 km on it (60,000 miles).

I believe Volkswagen didn’t invest a ton of money in using the best high-quality materials for these budget-friendly engines. But also, the temperature of combustion should be a little too high for this tiny guy.

3) Throttle problems

You will have to clean and adjust the throttle and its sensors pretty often, otherwise, it’s going to make your engine work harshly. If idling RPMs aren’t stable, it means the throttle needs some attention.

Alternatively, some issues with ignition coils may happen. The coils aren’t really durable here. One good thing is that they are quite cheap.

4) Crankcase ventilation system

The entire EA111 family has this kind of problem. The crankcase ventilation may get clogged with thick oil and its products and you will see an oil fountain from the dipstick hole once you start the engine in the cold weather.

Actually, the crankcase ventilation valve is pretty cheap and it should be replaced once every 2-3 years in these engines.

5) High-mileage problems

These motors are prone to a lot of various problems when they reach high mileage. I would say after 150-160 thousand kilometers or 100,000 miles, it’s not a good idea anymore to buy a car equipped with this engine. It can just fall apart the next day after you purchase such a vehicle.

If you own the car and it behaves well, you can still own it for some years with good maintenance. But when the engine starts malfunctioning, it’s better to get rid of it as soon as possible.

How can you prolong the life of the 1.2 HTP engine?

It’s not that common for these engines to live much longer than stated above. But you still can make sure the powerplant doesn’t die prematurely.

Here are several things you can do:

• change the chain kit once every 50,000 kilometers or 30,000 miles;
• make sure you never ignore any weird sounds or behavior of this engine;
• install new coils once the vehicle registers misfiring;
• use 5w30 oil, buy OEM oil and filter if possible;
• make the oil change intervals shorter than recommended by the manufacturer;
• never drive your car aggressively;
• warm up the engine for at least 1 minute before you start driving in the morning;
• don’t rev up the engine over 4000 RPM when driving on highways.

If you follow these tips, there is a chance you will own the engine quite long and won’t need to invest a lot of money in it. Also, it won’t let you down in the middle of nowhere because this generation of VW engines is pretty predictable.

Have personal experience with the 1.2 HTP engine? Please share it in the comments below!