Over Rev. report on used car?

[Tom '74 911]

Hi,

I know w/newer Porsches that one can plug a computer into the ECU and get an over rev. report that tells the range (1-6ish) and operating hours of over rev. events. Is this possible w/most modern cars? Reason I ask is that I'm in the market for a used Golf R and given the type of car and likely driving habits of owners, I'm wondering if there is a way to get a little extra info on the engine's history and possible use/abuse etc...

Thanks,
Tom

[onewhippedpuppy]

I did a quick Google search, looks like you can find that information on a VAG product if you have VAG-COM diagnostic software. Which is awesome btw, easily as good as Durametric for Porsches. I assume the dealership can also get that info for you as well.

[Tom '74 911]

Thanks for posting back.

What is something like this called - is it simply an "over rev report"? I want to be sure I'm asking for the right thing.

And am I being overly cautious to even consider asking for something like this? Is it a reasonable request? If I were buying a $150K GT3RS I'd consider it necessary for sure, a mini van, not so much. I think a Golf R is maybe somewhere in between.

Thanks,
Tom

[onewhippedpuppy]

Is it a stick or DSG? Because the DSG won’t even allow mechanical overrevs.

[Tom '74 911]

Stick.

[onewhippedpuppy]

It’s probably overkill on an otherwise nice car but I suppose it can’t hurt to ask. In the Porsche world it always gets attention but I’ve never heard any real correlation between the report and toasting an engine either.

[widebody911]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

I did a quick Google search, looks like you can find that information on a VAG product if you have VAG-COM diagnostic software. Which is awesome btw, easily as good as Durametric for Porsches. I assume the dealership can also get that info for you as well.

I'm not sure I'd want to deal with a VAG that was over-revved.

[911boost]

A lot of the 996TT guys get these reports.

I prefer to just check out the condition of the VAG, if it looks worn and beat up, I pretend I am gay.

Not that there is anything wrong with that.

[LWJ]

My buddy got this on his cayman, he was concerned that previously the car was revved to the redline twice. Some wuss didn't understand porsches - meaning the salesguy.

Over-revs are a different matter.

[911_Dude]

On the Porsche over rev reports a level 1 or 2 is just hitting the rev limit. Not a big deal for short duration. Anything over level 2 is a mechanical over rev, or miss-shift.

[MBAtarga]

One of the references on over rev data:

Porsche Rev range activity guide | 911virgin
From the site:
Until a few years ago ignitions recorded in ranges 3 and 4 were considered by the Manufacturer to be safe with such vehicles still eligible for Porsche Extended warranty. Ignitions recorded in Ranges 5 and 6 would not be considered for warranty with existing policies invalidated at the point of over rev. Current Porsche warranty procedure ( as of 2017) considers activity in ranges 3 and 4 to be potentially problematic with compression tests and / or oil checks deemed necessary irrespective of whether or not incursions occurred several hundred operating hours prior to the check. However, in a pragmatic relaxation of previous protocol vehicles with activity in ranges 5 and 6 will be considered for extended warranty provided the over rev activity occurred more than 200 operating hours ago. The warranty provision is at the discretion of the importer and subject to the aforementioned compression/oil checks.

*** Porsche dealers are advised by the manufacturer to disregard over rev data on all PDK transmission cars when assessing a car for warranty provision. Consequently a PDK vehicle with activity recorded as high as Range 6, assuming all other mechanical checks are passed, will be applicable for warranty*** - Accurate as of 2017.

[Jeff Alton]

Originally Posted by widebody911

I'm not sure I'd want to deal with a VAG that was over-revved.

They don't last long. This was a DSG that over revved. Tuned ECU/DSG allowed a downshift when it should not have. Lasted another minute...

[Nickshu]

^^^Damn Gina.

[Tom '74 911]

Originally Posted by Jeff Alton

They don't last long. This was a DSG that over revved. Tuned ECU/DSG allowed a downshift when it should not have. Lasted another minute...

Ok, those are grizzly images... I'll hopefully get more than 1 min. of test driving, so not too concerned about immenant failure - more with long term wear & health etc...

The more I read about Golf R's, the more I realize that a lot end up getting an ECU flash and/or hopped up, which always makes me a little wary.

[Tom '74 911]

To bring this full circle, I called a VW dealer and spoke to someone in the service department who told me that the computer in the VW Golf R does not data log, so it is not capable of generating an over-rev report etc... It is capable of giving a current snapshot of error codes and other info, but nothing historical.

Drove my new-to-me Golf R home on Saturday... fun car. : ) : )

[asphaltgambler]

^^^Tom - that's incorrect information. That data exists, is recorded and can be retrieved with the an OEM/ spec scan tool. It is used primarily for warranty purposes if there is engine or driveline damage not easily explained.

[manbridge 74]

Look how spindly those rods are. And cast crank? Yep, they never expected these to over speed.

[Arizona_928]

Never over revved but the cummins I have now... I have redlined a lot.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Jeff, that's definitely not pretty. So I assume the DSG tune was what allowed the overspeed? Typically the TCU will protect the engine and not allow such things to happen.

[Tom '74 911]

Originally Posted by asphaltgambler

^^^Tom - that's incorrect information. That data exists, is recorded and can be retrieved with the an OEM/ spec scan tool. It is used primarily for warranty purposes if there is engine or driveline damage not easily explained.

Wait a second, you mean the dealership didn't give me accurate information? Huh...

Maybe they don't want to share this capability w/JQ Public, as then they'd be inundated with PITA requests from idiots like me...

Either way, too late for me now as bought the car... : ) so far, so good.