Skoda diesels need larger fuel filler tubes!

**BlackSuperb** · 28-04-2010, 08:13 PM

<rant switch ON>

It's frustrating to pull up at the diesel bowser, get out of the car, and start to fill her up when you realize that you have pulled up to the high-flow pump and the nozzle won't fit into your Skoda's fuel filler tube properly.

You glance across to the only other diesel bowser in the garage, a low flow one, and there is some buffoon using the petrol nozzle.

Aaaarrgggh.

So you persist and you get 0.015 litres of diesel into your tank before the auto-shutoff triggers. You gently squeeze the trigger of the nozzle, about 0.2mm so it won't happen again, but it inevitably trips off and now you have 0.020 litres in your tank. So on it goes on until you can't bear it anymore, and you go and pay for that hard earned 10 litres of fuel you have just added.

Now a couple of observations/questions:

1. It doesn't really matter because the vehicle is so fuel efficient, it will be a long time before you have to visit a bowser again.

2. Do Skodas have smaller diesel filler nozzles than other brand diesels? I know my old Land Cruiser had a whopping filler tube and high flow pumps weren't a problem. What about Audis or Mercs or even Hyundais?

3. Who do I speak to in order to get more diesel bowsers installed?

4. Why on Earth do people insist on using the petrol nozzle of the only diesel bowser in the garage when there are 15 other dedicated petrol bowsers available?

5. Why are there so many stupid people who think you must pull up to the bowser the same side your filler tube is on. People, the hose will reach onto the other side.

<rant switch OFF>

There, I feel better now. I was going to kick the cat when I got home but I couldn't find it, so this post is resultant. Most cathartic, thanks for bearing with me.

**pwcar** · 28-04-2010, 08:28 PM

LOL, I got 50c worth in at one of those large hose/nozzle bowsers before I gave up

**K1W1** · 28-04-2010, 09:42 PM

I haven't had a real good look (don't have to fill up that often!

) but isn't the restricter in the fuel filler neck fairly flimsy. When I first noticed it I thought it would probably be easy to modify.

**brad** · 29-04-2010, 08:23 AM

3. talk to the fuel companies & complain to the console operators. That's what I used to do when we had the Captiva Diesel
4. When i am looking for a bowser, I'm looking for a 98 pump - don't really care if there's a diesel pump as well as it doesn't affect me.
5. The hose might reach but there's no way I'm dragging it across my shiny paintwork.

**team_v** · 29-04-2010, 08:28 AM

Originally Posted by brad

3. talk to the fuel companies & complain to the console operators. That's what I used to do when we had the Captiva Diesel
4. When i am looking for a bowser, I'm looking for a 98 pump - don't really care if there's a diesel pump as well as it doesn't affect me.
5. The hose might reach but there's no way I'm dragging it across my shiny paintwork.

Agree completely.

**Inego** · 29-04-2010, 08:30 AM

I got caught with tis at the weekend - my local BP only has one diesel pump (standalone), with one nozzle clearly marked high flow. I went to a different main road station and they didn't have the pumps marked other than for type of fuel and, with a 2yo in the car as well, I wasn't going to move once I started pumping. took almost 10 mins, with trucks queuing behind me to trickle 45l into the tank.

Unfortunately, the person you pay is unlikely to be the operator, so whether a complaint will make any difference I don't know.....

**brad** · 29-04-2010, 08:33 AM

Originally Posted by Inego

Unfortunately, the person you pay is unlikely to be the operator, so whether a complaint will make any difference I don't know.....

i think you mean owner, not operator. I used to bitch about the cleanliness around the diesel pumps & I was surprised at how effective it was. Never actually noticed an issue with hiflow and the captiva

**K1W1** · 29-04-2010, 01:59 PM

Originally Posted by brad

Never actually noticed an issue with hiflow and the captiva

SUV type vehicles usually have unrestricted inlets so the hi flow nozzles fit in them.
Don't forget guys that the restrictor may well be in place because the inlet tract for the fuel tank can't handle the flow rate of the hi flow nozzles. There would be no point in shoving a hi flow nozzle into the opening if all you get is back pressure and stop start filling.
Fortunately the two BP servos I generally use have good access to their diesel pumps.

**Inego** · 29-04-2010, 02:12 PM

And I wasn't necessarily supporting the need for the larger pipe - I choose the standard flow when I can. It's not as though I'm pumping 200l, and the flow rate I was having to tweak the other day suggests that the tanks can't accept the high flow volume, not just the nozzle.

But the nozzles need to be clearly marked!!!