Emissions recall.

**Howjen** · 07-01-2017, 09:40 AM

Has anyone got any opinions about the current emissions recall? They say it will have no affect on performance or economy but I'm sceptical. I have a 2012 Tiguan which is running well. Very reluctant to allow the recall to occur until I hear some feedback from others.
The issue is excessive Nitrous oxides apparently and as far as I know that is controlled by decreasing combustion temp and in turn controlled by exhaust gas recirculation. I consider that the engineers would have aimed for the optimum in performance and economy and probably fell short in the emissions department hence the deception, so to speak.
Correct me if I'm wrong but now that emissions has become the issue surely there must be a compromise ocurrring in performance etc.
I figure there is no going back once the software has been updated!
Like to hear from anyone who has had the recall done and any other opinions on the subject.
Thanks.

**Guest001** · 07-01-2017, 12:41 PM

Already a thread in the Passsat B6/7 forum with some answers

http://www.vwwatercooled.com.au/foru...te-116285.html

**Ryeman** · 07-01-2017, 01:55 PM

Originally Posted by Howjen

Has anyone got any opinions about the current emissions recall? They say it will have no affect on performance or economy but I'm sceptical. I have a 2012 Tiguan which is running well. Very reluctant to allow the recall to occur until I hear some feedback from others.
The issue is excessive Nitrous oxides apparently and as far as I know that is controlled by decreasing combustion temp and in turn controlled by exhaust gas recirculation. I consider that the engineers would have aimed for the optimum in performance and economy and probably fell short in the emissions department hence the deception, so to speak.
Correct me if I'm wrong but now that emissions has become the issue surely there must be a compromise ocurrring in performance etc.
I figure there is no going back once the software has been updated!
Like to hear from anyone who has had the recall done and any other opinions on the subject.
Thanks.

My theory is that for ease of production the 'cheat' was included in all markets but was only needed for the more stringent U.S./Californian market which otherwise needed SCR/AdBlue, like BMW and Mercedes etc, to pass.
We, at the time, didn't because ours only needed to pass euro5.
If that is correct it's removal will 'just' pass rather than easily and thus expect no negative result from it's removal.
(note: VW have claimed it was only illegal in the U.S., hence my theory)

**feenix74** · 07-01-2017, 03:33 PM

I agree with Ryeman about the passing Euro5 vs the more stringent US diesel emissions standards. Here in Aus we are even more lax in that there is only limited emissions testing ever done on any vehicle.

However, the simple engineer in me says that you can only get so much performance out of the TDI engine, if they have to reduce NOx emissions then either performance and/or fuel economy will suffer. Hence the reason why they used the cheat to get a pass in the US to start with. So I will avoid the recall if it stays voluntary here in Aus. If the recall goes mandatory then I will spend the money on getting my car dynoed before and after the "update", I have 6 years of fuel economy data thanks to my Caltex Starcard, so will be having a long chat with VWA with the assistance of Fair Trading if there is a detrimental change in my vehicle's performance and/or fuel economy if I am forced to have the "update" installed.

**Ryeman** · 07-01-2017, 04:21 PM

Originally Posted by feenix74

I agree with Ryeman about the passing Euro5 vs the more stringent US diesel emissions standards. Here in Aus we are even more lax in that there is only limited emissions testing ever done on any vehicle.

However, the simple engineer in me says that you can only get so much performance out of the TDI engine, if they have to reduce NOx emissions then either performance and/or fuel economy will suffer. Hence the reason why they used the cheat to get a pass in the US to start with. So I will avoid the recall if it stays voluntary here in Aus. If the recall goes mandatory then I will spend the money on getting my car dynoed before and after the "update", I have 6 years of fuel economy data thanks to my Caltex Starcard, so will be having a long chat with VWA with the assistance of Fair Trading if there is a detrimental change in my vehicle's performance and/or fuel economy if I am forced to have the "update" installed.

I believe the crude EGR/valve/cooler system will probably pass the lax euro5 standard sans cheat, but in the post truth world we now live in, anyone who 'claims' no change will be dismissed simply because it doesn't fit the popular narrative.
Facts are equal to opinions today and can only be accepted if they confirm a belief.
Sad
(only my opinion)

**Umai Naa!!** · 07-01-2017, 05:16 PM

Performance won't suffer. Especially considering what gains can be had from re-mapping/tuning.

Your fuel economy might, although some of the affected cars date back 5-6 years. One can only hope that the VW engineers have learned a few things in that time about not adversely affecting the perfomance/emissions/fuel consumption matrix too much. There will always be a compromise on all three of those elements.

I doubt that any of the tunes offered on the affected vehicles willever pass emissions, but I bet there was a decent improvement in performance and economy