TDI regret

[maxim]

I think I'm starting to regret buying the TDI. I'm very happy with the performance (love the low end torque, although more hp would be nice of course), and the economy is exceptional, but this damn DPF has got me worried and annoyed. From what I've been reading lately, vehicles fitted with DPFs are not even recommended in some locations. Everyone (that's everyone I've spoken to) has said they would be getting rid of the car well before 100,000k's unless I was prepared to spend thousands replacing the DPF. Where were these people 2 months ago?! Anyway, what concerns me more is the possible gradual reduction in engine performance as it clogs up. What a stupid, ridiculous system. AND, what makes it even more annoying is that new research is concerned that the nano particles that are now produced from vehicles fitted with DPFs could be far worse than those without them fitted. In 5 years’ time, current DPF design will probably be illegal!

I bought the TDI thinking I was helping our struggling environment, saving resources and making ‘a difference’. Seems I was grossly misguided on all counts. I’m beginning to think I should have just bought the V6. It seems more and more like a big con.

BTW, can anyone shed some light on Adblue? Seems it’s some sort of additive, but I don’t have it that I can find, even though the handbook doesn’t say anything about only being fitted to certain vehicles etc. I’m guessing it has something to do with the dreaded DPF system though.

Rant over, sorry but I just feel like I've been conned by the sytem once again.

[team_v]

I was worried about the DPF so it turned me off the TDI Tiguan.
Will be interesting to see how they pan out in teh next few years.



Hope we can get you to some of our events in SE-QLD to see the Diesel beasty though.

[Transporter]

Don't worry too much about it. We have 2 VW's with the DPF and it doesn't bother me. I'm using the diesel additive every time I fill up, so the DPF doesn't have to work as hard and it should last longer. The VW manual says check the DPF loading at 180,000km service interval, so it has designed life for significantly more than 100,000km, if you use the car correctly. The latest DPF should be more reliable. There is a lot of info in the Diesel section of the forum.

[dopey]

Preventing DPF clogs is easy. Once it's run in, give it the beans regularly. Higher RPM clears out the DPF.

Anyhow, the more advanced the car the more expensive it is to fix outside of warranty time. It's not just diesel cars or Volkswagens that are in that category. If you're that worried get rid of it after 100,000km or when the warranty expires.

With regards to particles, well, there's lots of other more harmful things floating about outside in the traffic that you wouldn't want to breathe in. The particles coming from your own car are the least of your worries. Put the window up and the air con on recirc while you're stuck in traffic. Easy.

In the meantime, why stress over speculation?

[gldgti]

Is this the new Passat?

If you have the new passat with common rail injection, youre far less likely to experience any problem - most of the dpf problems have been with the PD engines (like the golf mk5 GT and the previous passats) which weren't really optimised to work with the particulate filter system.

also remember that forums always condense problems and make them appear to be more prolific than they really are..... for every story of a failure that you hear about on a car forum, there's plenty of people driving around happily (most of the time)

[wai]

I bought the TDI thinking I was helping our struggling environment, saving resources and making ‘a difference’. Seems I was grossly misguided on all counts. I’m beginning to think I should have just bought the V6. It seems more and more like a big con.

BTW, can anyone shed some light on Adblue? Seems it’s some sort of additive, but I don’t have it that I can find, even though the handbook doesn’t say anything about only being fitted to certain vehicles etc. I’m guessing it has something to do with the dreaded DPF system though.

Ok, first, you must remember that posts on forums are generally because someone has a problem. This does not mean there are overstated, just that you need to take it into account. On the DPF clogging up, the system is supposed to have procedures in place where multiple injection of fuel into the engine at various times through its power cycle produce additional exhaust heat to help regenerate the DPF.

On Adblue, from what I have read, it is a urea additive injected into the catalytic converter to help reduce the nitrogen oxides in the exhaust. Not all vehicles have them.

[maxim]

Preventing DPF clogs is easy. Once it's run in, give it the beans regularly. Higher RPM clears out the DPF.

With regards to particles, well, there's lots of other more harmful things floating about outside in the traffic that you wouldn't want to breathe in. The particles coming from your own car are the least of your worries. Put the window up and the air con on recirc while you're stuck in traffic. Easy.

In the meantime, why stress over speculation?

You've got me wrong dopey, I agree 100% - I'm not worried about my personal health. That's what is so annoying about this system, it's not proven to be environmentally sound (for our health anyway). I know for a fact that there are much more harmful particles floating around Brisbane streets than diesel emmisions (trust me, you don't want to know how much asbestos there is floating in the air every day around our capital cities). I'm jsut concerned with declining performance and if this is a real issue, the zero resale value that will result. I'd like to think that my car won't be known as 'one of those with a DPF' that no one will touch in 4 years time.

[maxim]

Is this the new Passat?

If you have the new passat with common rail injection, youre far less likely to experience any problem - most of the dpf problems have been with the PD engines (like the golf mk5 GT and the previous passats) which weren't really optimised to work with the particulate filter system.

Yes, it is a B7 125TDI Passat, so that reassures me a little thanks.

[kaanage]

Preventing DPF clogs is easy. Once it's run in, give it the beans regularly. Higher RPM clears out the DPF.

That happens not to be the case. While the high rpm driving will regenerate the DPF from the trapped soot, it will not flush the ash contained in the soot. The ash remains in the DPF and will eventually clog it. How long this takes is the big question.

[Buzy_Robot]

Maxim, it'll take you a long time and many kilometers to reach the point where you may have trouble with the DPF.

As for the nanoparticle debate, I posted my concerns about that back in July. Given that I have a heart condition, I freaked out initially about my new Passat, but the saner folk on this forum put my fears to rest.

It's all speculation at this point, so rid yourself of the negativity and enjoy your gorgeous new car!