All Mk6 GTI owners need to see this!! I find out why my engine seized and fix it 

The most important aspect of this DIY is BEOFRE removing the main chain is to have the camshafts lined at TDC BEFORE making sure crank is lined up with it, you bent a valve, another can of worms added to the mix. Is not a difficult job, but any stupid error will cost you a lot and I mean a lot of headaches. When doing this project, replace the crank pulley bolt and possibly the input (three) gear that goes at the end of the crankshaft, which is the gear that runs all three chains at once. Why? When removing the crank pulley you are running the risk of bending the crank input gear, don't ask me how I know .... LOL! The crank bolt, is a no brainer, and double check the crank pulley itself was not bent when using the locking crank tool. To clean all the crap plastic inside the hole, exhaust side, spray inside w WD-40 and let it soak for a day or so, then scrub it using a toilet bowl brush. Some of those toilet bowls the brush is not held too tight, so crazy glue the brush to the handle. Then from the bottom, removing the oil pan, Walmart sells this long brush for cleaning pipes, and scrub up from the bottom of the engine block into the return oil holes. No need to teardown the engine, but trust me, you do not remove the crusted black plastic it will clog again and fail. The intake balance shaft has a reverse thread bolt at its end that runs the water pump belt. I cut a 12mm socket enough that the head of the bolt would fit, and instead of using a rachet, on the ratchet side, I cut enough metal and then chamfer it's side to fit an open wrench, I used a 13mm. In other words, the length of the modified socket is enough to cover the bolt head and enough to insert a 13mm open wrench. I did not choose a 14mm because it cuts too much metal to the socket making it weak. Have a few 13mm of different length to maneuver when removing the bolt. Some of mine were bent as they would hit against the water lines. I had to loosen a bunch of sensors under the manifold and loosen the water line that connects with one bolt into the water pump. To make it stick to the bolt while giving you time to insert the wrench, magnetize the socket. DO NOT USE THE OPEN WRENCH 12MM if the bolt is too tight, you strip that sucker, dang, engine needs to be pulled out and access through the transmission face where the freeze plug is. The initial amount of engine oil is about 6 quarts, else the oil dipstick will be more than halfway low. Remember, about six quarts after the repair, after that follow the recommended amount. Is not a difficult job, but if this is your first rodeo, you are in for some soul searching, this engine will make you humble in a heartbeat.

This is good info. Doing my timing chain replacement very soon. Sitting at 95k miles with my fingers crossed

big up on vid bro......you brought that 2.0 back to life...... cant say much about the engineers that are responsible for my rebuild though. they are bunch of failures

Perfect video was a massive help to me now I am struggling to find the balance shafts

Very interesting! I've seen a lot of mk6 videos, but never seen the actual balance shafts removed before. Cheers!

Great video brother!!

I have a feeling this is the same thing my car needs done. Don't have the tools for this stuff either! I reckon it's gonna be an arm and a leg to get this done somewhere. PAIN. Great job on showing how it's done, though!

I would like to say i have a mk5 gti gen 1 tsi motor and they suffer from the seals failing in the balance shafts during high revving . especially for tuned cars . those little rubber seals they revised with a different seal and only came in the 2014 gti from my knowledge .

Good job!

Happy for you guys. This was an amazing video too. My Mk6 currently going through the same issue. The balancers (exhaust side mainly) apparently are loose on its gear and are making knocking noise and rough run. Waiting for the balancers to arrive. Hope all goes well and fixed safely.

Great Video! Very helpfull! I have just a little question, the old balance shafts had a little cut-out at the end but the new one dont? why is that?

Do you use oem timing chains or is their a good aftermarket company you recommend

Was there any special way to install the exhaust balance shaft plastic baffle? Did you slide it in first before installing the balance shaft or did you install it together as one unit?

Never thought that balance can be seized... I always thought time skips and it will damage the valves and piston.. thanks for sharing..

What a great video! Really excellent instructions!

i never remove the lower timing gear. I always keep the crank bolt installed with a plastic spacer and just slide the chains on

Hey bro im having a little bit low oil pressure when hot idle(with new oil pump) 10psi ,people tell the problem is balance shafts what do you think should i check them and replace?

What slide hammer will I need to remove balance shaft

bro where did you get the the bar that was that long for the balance shaft tool ?

Did you happen to throw the shaft in a freezer first? I’ve heard of people needing to do that to shrink it a bit to fit it back in. I’m waiting on a new part due to running into that issue. When I get the shaft in, it’s super snug. And once it’s in, the gear won’t spin, at least not with out more force than should be needed. Any ideas?

This is big problem even with new ones, many people have bought new ones from vw, and they have problems with low oil pressure at idle, bacause the new ones have too much play on the block and make you loose oil pressure. New ones have to be very titght fit, if is loose is bad, best solution is just delete the balance shafts,

Did you replaced the intermediate shaft sprocket or did you re-use it ? Nevermind, I see you replaced it. Do you know the part number?

My balance shafts needed to be replaced right at 150K, any ideas on how to prevent this issue in the future? Maybe change the oil every 3K instead of the recommended 5K? That's what I've been doing ever since. I don't mind because I use a pneumatic pump, so that makes it kind of fun! 😁

Where did u get the puller from

Nice video but i think more probkems wil comme ....engine has more of this screens....sooner or later wil bee alsso bloked...this engine is ticking bomb

12:40 I thought you wanted the yellow line/timing mark on the intake balance shaft to be pointing at the freeze plug/10 o'clock when you throw on the chain, not pointing at 12, o'clock, and the lower pulley timing mark pointed at the t30. Is that not right?

Wonder why it failed. Thats a pretty easy job tho basically just a timing chain job with a few extra steps. Hope the engine is good after this. I just had to tow my mk6 for a battery and starter job. Threw a starter jammed code that scared me. Thought my engine was locked up xD

That's solid carbon build-up isn't it? I've heard it's even better to just remove the screen, but I wonder if the ball valve will stay inside....or just remove the ball as well. I guess it's there to keep the oil in when at a park so it doesn't dry out, but that is a weak point.

Great job 👏 , which tune on the car ?

Cost my $1,600 in repairs for my balance shaft. Oh and my oil pump

Why does everyone forget to mention, mileage on the engine or year of the vehicle manufacture ??

I had the same issue but mine was the coolant side that seized

Where I buy new parts for my car.

Wear on cams and Cam bridge

the question is; Where did the metal shavings came from? One quick question, did the engine throw any codes before the balancers failure? How much were the balance shafts?

Hey good work. Hope she's still running well following the $$$ rebuild. What is the purpose of the plastic balance shaft sleeve only on the exhaust side? What happens if you didn't run it? Is it part of the balance shaft recess open to bottom of engine?

what needed to be removed on the intake side to get the in intake balance shaft out? Currently going to the same thing exhaust side failure. but had to order both. Intake balancer seems OK but wondering how much more work it is to take out and inspect.

I have had the same thing happen on my VW Scirocco did you get any warning prior to this happening?

Because the code p0299 mk6 2013 gti golf...

Just wondering if this motor is still running or if you had other problems later on.

What would have happened if you just cut the chain and removed it ? Even without removing the main chain ? Would it be best to just leave that chain off like I used to do with Evo/dsm

Yo!!! Do you have any social media to contact you on? I'm having a huge issue with the removal of the exhaust side balance shaft on my engine

لقد تلقيت نفس المشكل يوم أمس وكان توقف المحرك بدون آي إشارة على سيارتي tsi 2.0 mk6 واليوم عند الميكانيكي وجدنا مضخة الزيت و العمود الأيسر لا يتحركون . Blockage du balance gauche Et la pompe a h'uile. شكرا على هذا الفيديو الرائع و يوم السبت سوف أرد عليكم النتيجة بعد إصلاح السيارة انشاء الله وحسب مرأيت إنه نفس المشكل.

Just had the exhaust balance shaft fail AGAIN after only 60K miles after replacing the original ones! STAY AWAY FROM THIS ENGINE!

Now I remember why I lost faith in VWs back 20 years ago. I loved the simplicity of the SOHC and a timing belt....ah the 80s....

How much would this job cost 🤔

I just replaced all my chains.

😬😬😬