Diesel city driving anyone?

[sVWatt]

Thanks -tourist route it is ...

[Horse]

Seven months ago I started this thread because I was having trouble deciding between a petrol or a diesel Polo for city driving. Finally got the TDI last week and I'm loving it. Thanks to Greg, Poyta, Kaanage and Transporter for your advice.

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[Transporter]

Nice color, congratulations!

[William_Foster]

Congratulations; the yellow with the sports pack looks great. You will have no issues around town; we noticed a few issues in the first few hundred kilometres, but never since.

[weiz]

Seven months ago I started this thread because I was having trouble deciding between a petrol or a diesel Polo for city driving. Finally got the TDI last week and I'm loving it. Thanks to Greg, Poyta, Kaanage and Transporter for your advice.

[/IMG]

How is going with your lovely Polo TDI? I am choosing between diesel and petrol. Hopefully you would love to share your views on diesel in city. Have you done any highway run to clean DPF? Has the light come on yet? Any advise to diesel city drivers please?

[Transporter]

Any advise to diesel city drivers please?

Still no probs here. The Touareg is driven mostly in the city, not even the hint of the problem with the DPF during almost 70,000km . (dirven normaly, not modifications). The Tiguan is the same 11,000km the average longest trip 17km and a lot of shorter trips up to 10km. How ever, I use the diesel additives (search the forum).

[Horse]

How is going with your lovely Polo TDI? I am choosing between diesel and petrol. Hopefully you would love to share your views on diesel in city. Have you done any highway run to clean DPF? Has the light come on yet? Any advise to diesel city drivers please?

Hi weiz, my Polo TDI is going great thanks.

So far only 4800 kms which includes more highway driving than I thought I would be doing and, as I've been off work, much less driving in heavy traffic. Nothing like your daily 12km 30min x 2 commutes which you mentioned in your other post "Has your PASSAT TDI clogged?"

I have not noticed the DPF light come on but I would not expect the DPF to have become saturated with soot at this low mileage.

The following quotation from the car manual refers to what I think is called regeneration. I've not noticed regeneration happen yet in my car.
"To minimise a blockage of the diesel particulate filter, the engine speed in vehicles with an automatic gearbox may increase slightly in order to automatically initiate the cleaning processs of the diesel particulate filter. The indicator lamp will, however, not light up."

I'm happy with the engine and there have been no issues with it so far but here are some factors you may want to consider before buying a diesel:
Initial cost of car with diesel engine is more than petrol engine.
Diesel engine is heavier, not as powerful and noisier.
Service costs more.
Distillate usually costs more than petrol and may contain some nasties.
DPF:
Life expectancy about 150,000 kms and costs about $5000 to replace.
While sitting in traffic or below 1800rpm, soot is deposited in the DPF.
To correct a soot saturated DPF, Volkswagen recommend driving for 15 minutes at a speed of at least 70kph, which is not easy to do in Sydney. If you can't get out of town then an alternative is a workshop regeneration which would take the car off the road for a day.

Fuel consumption has been well above VW advertised figures but, to be honest, driving the Polo without regard to fuel economy is much more fun.
Best 5.5L/100km (avg. speed 39kph).
Worst 7.7L/100km (avg. speed 28kph).
Average is 6.4L/100km at avg. speed 34kph.

The car has completely changed my driving style. Not so sedate these days.

I feel slightly uncomfortable when sitting in traffic for long periods because it's not doing the engine any good, but it doesn't bother me too much because I know it's only temporary. If I had to sit in bumper to bumper traffic, 5 days a week like you during your commute, then I think I would prefer a carefree petrol engine.

The upside of the diesel engine for me has been that it simply drives better. I initially went for 4 test drives and each time confirmed that the diesel was more enjoyable to drive than the petrol. It probably has to do with the higher torque of the diesel which I suspect is more noticeable in a small car like a Polo. In a larger car like Passat or Tiguan the higher torque may not be so noticeable.

And finally wiez, don't forget this is a diesel forum. The excellent advice already offered to you has come from kind diesel enthusiasts who love diesels. Their advice needs to be viewed in that light.

Good luck with your decision, I know what you are going through. It's a big investment and you want to get it right. Diesel was right for me, but you're not me.

[weiz]

Still no probs here. The Touareg is driven mostly in the city, not even the hint of the problem with the DPF during almost 70,000km . (dirven normaly, not modifications). The Tiguan is the same 11,000km the average longest trip 17km and a lot of shorter trips up to 10km. How ever, I use the diesel additives (search the forum).

Transporter, thanks for fuel additives. In your short trips, how often do you have start/stop drive in traffic? or is your case like short trip has no traffic? I believe you are using Moreys Diesel Smoke Killer changed from Fuel Doctor. Do you use 1L of it per tank?

Horse, thanks a lot for your reply. I wish you would have driven Polo in the city, sit your car in the traffic a lot and tell me it has been all positive. I have noticed you mentioned below 1800rpm will cause soot. I could test drive again to see how easy I get keep revs above 1800rpm in normal driving. It sounds naive. I remember I have to keep my foot on acceleration all the time to keep the heavy diesel passat moving. As a result it may be above 1800rpm as long as the car moves. Does this sound right?