VW Clean diesels.... how did they get them so clean?

[tcartwri]

I didn't think it was only the 2009 TDI. There are about 20 threads on HPFP on the TDI forum so I assumed it was a broader problem. Feds Close Probe Into VW, Audi TDI Vehicles for High-Pressure Fuel Pump Failure | Edmunds.com Surprised VW hasn't issued an extended warranty and rebates to those who have replaced them if it really is just that one year. I saw several posts about owners who had to replace the pump twice too.

Agree about the cult status, mostly deserved. The difference in purchase price is easily made up by higher resale if you intend to sell the TDI at least if you live in New England or the NW.

You will actually see bargain prices for the 2009's, just for that reason. We paid $18K for a 2006 Jetta Wagon that already had 100K on it. Believe me we jumped when we saw that. It was almost two years old at the time. ... and then we found out about the cam issues in the PD motors. Valve cover came off once a year just to have a look. Got a $1000 for it when the rockers failed with rust. ( it had lived on gravel all it's life )

 

[Garandman]

Well, we had to go to Richmond to see my eye surgeon 2 weeks away from the DSEK surgery. He removed the stitches and showed my wife how clear the left eye looked vs. the right one with Fuchs still.

Anyway, it was raining. So, I drove slower than the speed limit. Got almost 51 mpg for the 150 mile trip and brought the tank average up to almost 45 mpg on our 2010 Jetta TDI.

Most capable, fuel efficient vehicle we've ever owned. Great car.

Ralph

I got 48.7mpg in our Cruze TD on a 700 mile trip Boston -> going speed limit on 95. Our highest 500 measure is 54.

How big was the cheat?

 

[Oaktree]

Twas a three cylinder and the transmission had a freewheel so when you backed off the gas it coasted. Four speed on the tree. The bottom was perfectly flat and people would take them tobogganing.

The freewheeling was added later (or maybe was optional)...someone had a '59 at a car show I was at this past summer, and while it did have the 2 stroke engine it did not have freewheeling according to the owner. Freewheeling definitely took some getting used to, with it you had no engine braking. There was a lever to enable/disable it (at least in the mid-60s one my mother had many years ago). I don't think my mother's was a 2 stroke though.

The 4-in-the-tree took some getting used to as well, especially if you had large hands. I'd always bump the wiper switch shifting from 1-2 or 3-4.

 

[California]

[Saab] was a three cylinder and the transmission had a freewheel so when you backed off the gas it coasted.... The bottom was perfectly flat and people would take them tobogganing. The heater was about the same size as the engine. They were the dial tone for winter driving (replaced by Subaru).

A friend was of the opinion that Saab freewheeling was for cautious and delicate winter driving on glare ice, a normal driving environment in Scandinavia.

Also - the little Ford V8-60 (1930's flathead V8) appeared in some 50's Scandinavian car. Was that Saab too?

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Edit: I misremembered. See post 336 below.

 

[2LaneCruzer]

A friend was of the opinion that Saab freewheeling was for cautious and delicate winter driving on glare ice, a normal driving environment in Scandinavia.

Also -

the little Ford V8-60 (1930's flathead V8) appeared in some 50's Scandinavian car. Was that Saab too?

That's interesting. I believe that little engine made it's appearance in the '32 model B Ford. I know they continued to make the little flat head 4 cylinder Model A engine, industrial version, for many years after they quit putting it in the Model A. I believe the flat head V8 was still being used in the Ford cars until they came out with the Y-Block V8 in 1954.

 

[California]

Man I'm going to get banned for pulling this thread off-topic so much.

As I recall - Ford's 32~39? flathead was 221 ci. Then 239 ci through 1953. Years approximate! (Old fart here, BTDT, '36 and '53). But the little 60 hp V8 of maybe 140 ci was an economy option around 1937. Ford soon learned it cost as much to manufacture so they dropped it. Thinking about it some more, 50+ years after my last flathead, I think the baby flathead reappeared in 50's Simca, not Saab. So please ignore this distraction!

Ok, back to TDI recalls.

 

[sseelhoff]

Man I'm going to get banned for pulling this thread off-topic so much.

As I recall - Ford's 32~39? flathead was 221 ci. Then 239 ci through 1953. Years approximate! (Old fart here, BTDT, '36 and '53). But the little 60 hp V8 of maybe 140 ci was an economy option around 1937. Ford soon learned it cost as much to manufacture so they dropped it. Thinking about it some more, 50+ years after my last flathead, I think the baby flathead reappeared in 50's Simca, not Saab. So please ignore this distraction!

Ok, back to TDI recalls.

No recall yet. The have until 10/7 to lay out their plan for German's regulators.

The last I read is they are going to reprogram the ECMs. That will cause a loss of horsepower and MPGs, which leaves them open to civil lawsuits for selling a product that did not have the advertised performance specs.

 

[RalphVa]

I'm still hoping it'll have better mileage and performance than the 2.0 liter turbo gas one.

Ralph

 

[ultrarunner]

No recall yet. The have until 10/7 to lay out their plan for German's regulators.

The last I read is they are going to reprogram the ECMs. That will cause a loss of horsepower and MPGs, which leaves them open to civil lawsuits for selling a product that did not have the advertised performance specs.

Do you think the new lower mileage will be less than the EPA window sticker mileage?

The reason I say this is everyone I know says the VW diesel is one of the few cars that routinely beats the EPA mileage ratings... which makes sense if the emission software is enabled while the vehicle is tested on the EPA simulation.

 

[IslandTractor]

Do you think the new lower mileage will be less than the EPA window sticker mileage?

The reason I say this is everyone I know says the VW diesel is one of the few cars that routinely beats the EPA mileage ratings... which makes sense if the emission software is enabled while the vehicle is tested on the EPA simulation.

I've wondered about that too. However, I thought the EPA mileage testing was done on a dyno too so I'd expect the VW to switch into EPA mode. I'm sure the truth will come out in a few weeks.