Fuel Injector

[lucca]

Hi Everyone,

I have got a Jetta TDI 09, just in for 105000 service. Dealer has recommended Fuel Injector clean ($200). I never used any additive or lubricant with the fuel in the past. And I do feel sometimes that car does not run as smoothly it should sometimes there is heavy knocking when car is idle. Its DSG and another issue is that gear shifts are not smooth either. I have been driving it in manual mode for the last few weeks. Dealer is already charging me arm n leg for oil change service and I am not sure if spending another $200 is worthwhile. I actually has no idea what do they do to clean the fuel injectors? do they just use additives of some sort or it involves actually taking apart the injectors and cleaning them manually?

Very confused, please help.

Regards,
Lucca.

[Umai Naa!!]

The injectors aren't removed for cleaning.

They simply bypass the fuel system and run the car on a diesel treatment.

I'm not confident it will fix the issues with your DSG transmission though.

[lucca]

I asked the dealer to re-calibrate (if that's the right term) the DSG.
Should I be considering Liqui Moly DIY to treat the issue with the injectors. I am wondering if dealer use the same for fuel injector clearners. There is so much out there more I read it more I get confused.

[Amalgam]

Ciao Lucca,

The forum probably need to have more information about your car and driving habits to more accurately help.

1/ How long have you owned the car for and how many kms had it done before you bought it?
2/ What type of driving do you do? Mainly stop start city or highway
3/ What type of driver are you? Sedate, performance, drive it like you stole it
4/ Previous service history of the car? Dealer, VW specialist, K Mart / Ultratune

Just to cover a couple of basics.

The DSG is notorious for being a little jerky at lower speeds, changing from 1-2-3 and then smoothing out. Has the DSG been serviced as per the log book? It is a little expensive and some owners may skip it especially if they plan to sell it

The jury is out on the effectiveness of injector cleaners, whether they are bypass type unit or something you pour into the fuel tank. The only guaranteed way cleaning injectors is to remove them and ultrasonically clean them, which is very expensive.

Always use good diesel. The general consensus is that BP Ultimate or Caltex Vortex are the go.

Once or twice a year, i take the TDI on our family holiday which is 3 hours worth of highway running with a bottle of Liqui Moly in the tank. It seems to make a difference, but it could all be placebo.

Some like adding Moreys Diesel Smoke Killer as a diesel lubricant.

Hope it helps

[Greg Roles]

Mate if you can live with losing your radio stations and comfort settings you enter in the speedo display, just unhook the black negative lead from the battery overnight. Will reset everything for free. Get down to super cheap and buy whatever diesel fuel cleaner you like the look of, they are generally all hydrocarbon solvent based cleaners. Most have the term 770g/L hydrocarbons or something on the side, that's how I compare cleaners, get the cheapest one with the highest concentration. So too sometimes the most radical colour wins.

At those kms the inlet will be quite dirty, see if super cheap can get you the Liquimoly diesel inlet cleaner from the professional line. They stock the stuff for petrol cars, but this is NOT suitable for diesel cleaning, your car will rev out on it.

If you are game, pulling off the EGR valve and throttle flap, and cleaning them out physically would be ideal. Not that complex a job with a decent socket set and some torx style allen keys.

Finally a tank full of BP or Caltex ads further cleaners, and its worth the extra to choose those if possible.