Surely everyone who was thinking about buying German Skoda or Volkswagen cars thoughtfully looked at the abbreviation of the TSI engine type, thinking about what is special about this power unit. In the vastness of Russia there are still many misconceptions about this. Some believe that this type of engine runs on diesel fuel, because with a smaller specific volume, it produces a much greater power value compared, for example, with a simple turbocharged engine. But in reality everything is different. The TSI engine is far from a diesel.

How does a TSI and FSI engine work?

FSI.

In order to better understand how a TSI engine works, let's take an example of the operation of its “brother” FSI engine. The abbreviation FSI (Fuel Stratified Injection) denotes engines developed by German specialists with so-called “stratified” fuel injection. in this engine it is designed similarly to diesel units:

The fuel pump pumps gasoline under high pressure into a fuel rail common to all cylinders. Fuel injection, controlled by a system of electromagnetic valves, is carried out using injectors; by the way, if you want to wash the injectors, then you here. The opening of each of the nozzles occurs after a command is given by the central control unit. The operating phase depends on both engine speed and load.

FSI engine video

Advantages of the FSI engine.

The advantage of such an engine is that due to strict dosing of fuel injection into the combustion chamber, savings of up to 15% are achieved in comparison with gasoline engines equipped with a classic injection system. In addition, more uniform traction at low and medium speeds is ensured by changing the camshaft phases.

TSI.

Unlike the FSI engine, the TSI engine is a gasoline power unit with a dual turbocharging system. The abbreviation TSI (Turbo Stratified Injection) can be translated here as an engine with stratified fuel injection and turbocharging.

This engine inherited the fuel injection system from the FSI engine and received an additional mechanical compression system. Naturally, the design of such an engine is much more complex. However, this disadvantage is fully compensated by its greater reliability, power and efficiency.

TSI engine video

The layout of the TSI engine is different in that the turbocharger and mechanical compression system are located on opposite sides of the engine. A traditional turbocharged engine obtains additional power by using the energy of exhaust gases, which spin the turbine wheel through a drive system, creating compression and air injection. Compared to a classic gasoline engine, this system is more efficient, but the efficiency of the TSI engine with stratified injection and turbocharging system is much more efficient.

Advantages of the TSI engine.

The big disadvantage of a simple turbocharged engine is that it is poorly efficient at low and idle speeds. In contrast, the TSI engine has a mechanical compressor that operates at low speeds and a turbocharger that provides increased power at high speeds. Thus, additional compression and injection of air into the engine system occurs over almost the entire operating speed range. It is this factor that contributes to a multiple increase in power with reduced fuel consumption, which is provided by a metered, stratified injection system and a double injection system.

All of the above factors lead to the fact that the TSI engine, developed by the German “aces” of Volkswagen, reaches impressive power values. Thus, in comparison with a classic turbocharged engine of the same manufacturer, with a nominal engine volume of 1.2 liters, the TSI engine shows an average result of 12 hp. better (90 hp for the turbo engine vs. 102 hp for the TSI engine). In addition, the dual compression system results in no power loss and excellent traction, both at low and high engine speeds.

Naturally, the complexity of the engine design could not but affect its price. But the slight increase in price is fully compensated by the reduced level of consumption and increased power.

Today we will tell you what these three letters TSI, which are a patented trademark of the Volkswagen group, mean.
The TSI engine stands for Turbo Stratified Injection - turbocharging and layer-by-layer injection.

TSI is a twin-turbocharged petrol engine which consists of a mechanical compressor and a turbocharger, as well as a direct fuel injection system. The mechanical compressor and turbocharger are located on opposite sides of the engine.
The combined use of these devices allows the rated torque to be realized over a wide range of engine speeds.

Twin turbo scheme.

1 - pressure sensor in the intake manifold with air temperature sensor
2 - compressor drive
3 - mechanical supercharger
4 - control valve
5 - air filter
6 - pressure sensor in the intake manifold with air temperature sensor
7 - intake manifold
8 - throttle valve
9 - magnetic coupling
10 - boost pressure sensor with air temperature sensor
11 - intercooler
12 - boost pressure control valve
13 - vacuum drive
14 - exhaust manifold
15 - catalytic converter
16 - turbocharger
17 - bypass valve
18 - turbocharger recirculation valve
A - air
B - exhaust gases

The only difference with a TSI engine is that the mechanical compressor operates at low speeds, while the turbocharger operates at high speeds. Thanks to this, less fuel is consumed, and with a small engine volume, high efficiency can be achieved.
A simple Volkswagen turbo engine with a volume of 1.2 liters has an output of 90 hp, and a TSI can produce about 102 hp with the same volume. And most importantly, TSI has no power failures and at any speed the engine pulls the car with high potential.

Now about the principles of operation of superchargers.

It all depends on the number of engine revolutions.

Up to 1000 rpm - naturally aspirated mode
from 1000 to 2400 rpm - the mechanical supercharger turns on
from 2400 to 3500 rpm - both mechanical compressor and turbocharging operate simultaneously
and over 3500 rpm - only the turbocharger works

This is what a mechanical supercharger looks like, like Roots.

It provides traction to the car at low speeds, which is what turbo engines often lack.

1 - vacuum drive
2 - boost pressure limiting solenoid valve
3 - exhaust manifold
4 - charge air cooler
5 - intake manifold
6 - pressure sensor in the intake manifold with an air temperature sensor
7 - throttle module
8 - boost pressure sensor with air temperature sensor
9 - turbocharger recirculation valve
10 - air filter
11 - turbocharger
12 - bypass valve
A - air
B - exhaust gases

The design of the turbocharger ensures that the rated torque is achieved already at low engine speeds and maintained over a wide range (from 1500 to 4000 rpm). The outstanding characteristics of the turbocharger are achieved by maximizing the reduction in inertia of the rotating parts: the outer diameter of the turbine and compressor impeller is reduced.

Supercharger operating ranges.

The blue area is the area of ​​responsibility of the mechanical supercharger, the green area is the turbocharging area, and the blue area is the area of ​​​​their joint work.

It was also mentioned that the engine has a direct injection system.
Injection takes place through 6-jet nozzles, and the maximum injection pressure is up to 150 bar. And despite this, TSI engines are distinguished by high fuel efficiency.

With the help of such developments, it was possible to reduce fuel consumption and reduce emissions of harmful gases.
Engines with this technology became "Engine of the Year" in 2006, 2007 and 2008 in the most prestigious technical competition "Engine of the year".

Well, as always, we try to tell everything so clearly for you that all site users are technically savvy, so we present a detailed video about the TSI engine.

In the early 90s, when injection engines just began to appear on car markets, the public was baptized and ran away, preferring the good old carburetors, with which not everyone was friends either. The same picture is observed in relation to the ten-year development of the Volkswagen AG concern, engines with the trivial abbreviation TSI. If diagnosticians and mechanics have slowly begun to understand standard injection engines, then such a thing as TSI causes a storm of rejection, although, to be honest, it does not deserve it. What is a TSI engine and what do Volkswagen abbreviations generally mean, how much should you be afraid of them and why they are so scary, we will figure it out after a linguistic study.

TSI engines: what are they?

The photo shows the TSI engine, which was developed by Volkswagen

In order not to confuse motors and somehow distinguish them from each other at the user level without factory 17-digit indices, many companies assign certain indices to particularly distinguished or the most typical motors. Moreover, some of them are fixed at the patent level, as is the case with the TSI motor. This engine of a certain design type, developed by Volkswagen, is installed on almost all cars of the alliance - Volkswagen, Audi, Skoda, Seat.

Twincharged Stratified Injection is the original meaning of the acronym, which means "twin-charged stratified injection engine". It sounds really scary. But that's not all. Later, this index began to be understood simply as a turbocharged engine with stratified direct injection, Turbo Stratified Injection, without specifying the number of superchargers. Before this, the company used engines with the Fuel Stratified Injection (FSI) index, which were without a turbine, but with direct injection. Audi confused everyone when it wrote TFSI on the engine. Later, these engines began to be installed on powerful versions of the Skoda Octavia and Seat Leon. These were 1.8 and 2.0 liter engines, but a year later, when a 160-horsepower engine with one compressor came out, Audi left the abbreviation TFSI, and Skoda and Seat, for unknown reasons, continued to label the engines as TSI.

Video about the operating principle of the TSI engine

In 2006, another innovation occurred. Volkswagen presented exactly the engine that we will talk about - a 1400 cc, 122-horsepower engine with two superchargers and direct injection. It would seem that the confusion is over. No matter how it is. When double-charging technology began to be installed on 1.8-liter engines, two absolutely identical engines appeared with codes BYT, BZB, CDAA, CDAB, with a power of 160 horses and a CDAB engine, which had a power of 152 horses with the same design solution and absolutely the same same gland. It turned out that for some markets the company developed a lower-power motor in order to comply with environmental standards and meet acceptable state duties. (Referring to the Russian Federation). In a word, all these indices: FSI, TFSI, TSI, are officially registered with the Volkswagen AG alliance, and what distinguishes the TSI engine in technical terms is a separate story.

A separate story about two superchargers and TSI direct injection

It’s worth starting with what the TSI engine brought to the automotive world that was new and beautiful. We emphasize that we are talking about a 1.4-liter 122-horsepower engine. This engine freed the driver from one important drawback of all turbocharged units - turbo lag. The fact is that with such a small volume it is almost impossible to maintain torque over a wide speed range. The turbine begins to work only with an increase in speed, more than 3000 rpm, before this threshold the engine actually sleeps. Volkswagen engineers did a simple thing - they installed another supercharger, but not a turbo, but a mechanical one, like Roots. A mechanical compressor pumps air directly into the combustion chamber until the turbine starts operating. After this, the wastegate cuts off the mechanical supercharger, leaving the engine under the supervision of the turbocharger.

The abbreviation TSI in translation reads as “engine with two supercharging and stratified injection”

As soon as the engine speed drops, the control unit immediately switches the wastegate to mechanical supercharger mode, which ensures that maximum torque is maintained over a wide rev range. And this is not the only feature of the TSI engine. Another innovation was the use of direct injection nozzles with 6 holes. The six-jet injector supplies fuel to the combustion chamber at a pressure of approximately 150 bar, ensuring ideal filling, thereby reducing fuel consumption. The engine performance is truly phenomenal, if we talk about an established production unit, and they are quite easy to track according to modifications of this engine, of which there are several:

• The most modest in the family is 1.2 TSI. This is a cast iron cylinder block, a stamped crankshaft and one turbine. Yes, it's a TSI, but not in the tween sense, in the turbo sense. The turbine pumps about 1.6 bar, and the engine can produce from 86 to 90 horsepower, depending on the market. It is installed on Audi A1 and A2, all small Volkswagens, Skoda Roomster, Yeti, Fabia and Rapid, on budget Volkswagens and on Seat Ibiza, Altea and Leon.
• The same 1.4 TSI. Optimal ratio of power, torque, efficiency and volume. The company says that this is the best turbo engine that money can buy. Perhaps, but its price is approximately $1000 when compared with a simple MPI motor on the same Golfs or Jettas. It's worth it, because on the Fabia RS this engine produces no less than 180 horses. The charged Polo GTI and Ibiza Cupra have the same parameters, and in standard versions the engines produce 105, 122 and 150 horsepower, depending on whether the car has one or two superchargers.
• Another one. This time, the most common in the US - the 1.8-liter TSI produces the same 180 horses as the little Fabia. It completely replaced the characteristics of the 2.5 liter engine. The alliance also produces 2.0 TSI engines for large crossovers and hybrid versions of the Tuareg. These engines can develop from 200 to 230 horsepower, and now V-shaped three-liter sixes with a capacity of 333 horsepower are being actively introduced.

Why be afraid of TSI?

Because this engine is designed to run only on good fuel and only on excellent oils. If these conditions are met, the engine will work flawlessly, and the plant guarantees it a service life of 300 thousand km. Reviews report problems with the injection system during the first acquaintance with our gasoline. Well, nothing can be done about it, but the problems with the chain that the same reviews talk about can be avoided. The chain can slip on the gear, then a phase shift occurs, and if it is strong enough, this can lead to bending of the valves. But this is, again, due to the human factor.

Modern cars should not be started by towing. If it does not start, you need to look for the reason or contact specialists and carry out qualified repairs. They also talk about increased oil consumption in these engines, but the factory consumption limit is a liter per 1000 km, however, this depends on what kind of oil is poured. The reliability of this engine is beyond doubt, and if you protect it from bad oil and filter gasoline properly, there will be no problems with it throughout its entire service life.

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Often, car enthusiasts, before purchasing a new car from the Volkswagen brand or its subsidiary Skoda, are in some kind of misunderstanding when they see the unusual engine abbreviation TSI. There is a misconception among car enthusiasts that this designation determines the presence of a diesel engine, but this is absolutely not true.

TSI engine definition

The TSI engine is a device that runs on gasoline and is equipped with a double turbocharger with mechanical compressors, with a direct “multi-directional” fuel injection system. The design of this type of unit has a more complex technical structure, but its reliability, durability, and power indicators are also at a high level. Very economical fuel consumption under load is also considered important.


The TSI type unit has a slightly modified form of the device, which consists of the following parts and assemblies:

1. Mechanical type turbocharger and compressor. In TSI they are located on different sides of the block. The presence of a mechanical compressor avoids a common problem with turbocharged engines, which is called “turbo pit”. It implies a drop in engine speed and power at rpm below 3000. To avoid this effect, the driver must be sure to maintain this level using constant “gas boost”. The additional installation of a compressor provides stable power at low engine speeds.
2. Cooling system. In the classical sense of a turbocharged engine, cooling occurs purely due to air flow. The TSI has a pipe system that works with the intercooler. This improvement makes it possible to pump air into the cylinders, and thereby increase the pressure force. This makes it possible to obtain the declared torque at low engine speeds.
3. Fuel mixture injection system. Gasoline is supplied directly to the cylinders, plus the mixture is mixed layer by layer with air, which increases combustion efficiency.
4. Reduced block weight. To improve quality indicators and increase power, it was decided to structurally reduce the weight of the unit, which was ultimately achieved. Replacing individual components made it possible to reduce weight by 14 kg.
5. Price. The cost of the TSI engine does not add much to the price of the car. On average, such an engine will cost the owner $1,000 more than the classic version.

Positive qualities of the TSI engine

This type of engine has already won a lot of engineering awards and become a breakthrough in automobile construction. Many car owners have already appreciated the operating principle and quality indicators of such a unit, which made it possible to determine the following advantages of the design:

1. A hybrid that uses fuel economically and achieves high power levels.
2. Protecting the environment from large amounts of CO2 emissions.
3. An increased rpm interval makes it possible to reduce the amount of fuel required. The bottom line is that the crankshaft on a car rotates at 1500-1750 revolutions per minute and this directly affects consumption.
4. Modified injectors that have high pressure supply and 6 injection points. The system automatically controls the pressure and frequency of injection, which also saves fuel volumes.
5. No turbo lag.
6. Improved cooling system optimizes combustion power.

Negative qualities of TSI

In addition to the huge number of advantages of TSI engines, there are several differences that can negatively affect the overall rating:

• The high price of a car with such an engine (1-3 thousand dollars higher than a car with a classic gasoline unit).
• Expensive maintenance and repairs.
• Replacement of the turbine after 150 thousand km.
• Frequent engine oil changes.

Thus, the TSI engine is a very successful development, which is characterized by high power, environmental friendliness and economical fuel consumption. Timely maintenance will make it possible to operate the car without troubles in the form of breakdowns.