Tiguan and the Snow

[cerb]

If you're driving up and back in the same day, you're unlikely to encounter issues as daytime temperatures rarely drop below zero.

If you're staying overnight, it is definitely a concern - One which i've experienced before! (Spending hours waiting for the temperature to rise and the diesel in the lines to warm up is a pain!)

Essentially, diesel fuel has wax in it which will crystallize at cold temperatures and block your fuel pump filter and sometimes even the fuel lines.

Petrol stations generally stock different diesel depending on their location and time of year - Standard Diesel, Highland Diesel and Alpine Diesel. Just ask what type they have at the servo.
- Alpine diesel is only available from a small number of petrol stations in Vic (all very close to the mountains) and is good for very low temps.
- Highland diesel is sold in areas which generally get cold, but do not dip far below zero (inland areas, but not necessarily in the mountains).
- Standard diesel is what you'll find in the major centres.

If filling up with Alpine diesel when very low temps are expected, you want to put in at least 3/4 of a tank!

Other methods if Alpine diesel not available:
- Adding Kerosene or Lamp Oil to the diesel is one way to reduce the temperature at which the wax crystals will form. These methods are rather impractical for many people as you end up having to add significant quantities of kero or lamp oil.
- Diesel additives do not change the temperature which the crystals form. Some additives can inhibit the crystal growth to smaller sizes and shapes so that they are less likely to block your filter.

Enjoy the snow!

[MikeeR]

Not exactly. If you park your car overnight at -10deg. and start driving in the morning the cold wind will cause the temperature drop to much more than -20deg on the surface and inside the fuel tank, fuel lines and hoses. That will reduce or stop diesel fuel flow and the engine will stop working.

Huh? How so? If the air temperature is -10, well driving will not make the air any colder. If it's wind chill you're talking about, that's really only an approximate feeling of air temperature on exposed skin with a given wind strength. Zero effect on metal - unless there's some liquid moisture around I suppose and therefore an evapoartive cooling effect.

[Transporter]

Huh? How so? If the air temperature is -10, well driving will not make the air any colder. If it's wind chill you're talking about, that's really only an approximate feeling of air temperature on exposed skin with a given wind strength. Zero effect on metal - unless there's some liquid moisture around I suppose and therefore an evapoartive cooling effect.

Unfortunately, real life experience proves your theory wrong.

[Captain Bungers]

I think it has to do with the decompressing air, which doesn't really make sense, but it gets colder. Like when you have a beer in the freezer which, before you open it is liquid, freezes once it is opened.

[Foxpuppet]

Well I can tell you right now regular/standard diesel does freeze and I'm parked on the road at -6 waiting for my engine to warm up in the sun! Funtimes....
So after reading this thread I wished i had of read it before going away.... 3 weeks into ownership and I have my hazards on... Balls! I figured antifreeze was a given after buying the van from orange. But never knew that the fuel could be an issue. Been through the handbook a few times while sittig here and saw no mention of below zero fuelwarnings.

[203132]

I went to the snow with a PETROL tiguan. I started the car up at around 0 degrees and smelt petrol inside the cabin.
Anybody experienced this? It went away afterwards though, still driving at around 0 degrees.

[ralp2dam]

I went to the snow with a PETROL tiguan. I started the car up at around 0 degrees and smelt petrol inside the cabin.
Anybody experienced this? It went away afterwards though, still driving at around 0 degrees.

Nope, I have a petrol Tig. Minus 3 when I started it up this morning and it ran as normal. Although, I babied it for about 20 mins.

[borbor1313]

Well I can tell you right now regular/standard diesel does freeze and I'm parked on the road at -6 waiting for my engine to warm up in the sun! Funtimes....
So after reading this thread I wished i had of read it before going away.... 3 weeks into ownership and I have my hazards on... Balls! I figured antifreeze was a given after buying the van from orange. But never knew that the fuel could be an issue. Been through the handbook a few times while sittig here and saw no mention of below zero fuelwarnings.

Hope your home now.
Alway just buy /use Alpline diesel from the local alpine servo and be done with it ! Too many people unable to see the forrest from the trees me thinks. I the end who cares it it freezes at -6 or -10 with or without the northwind windchill on the dark side of the mountain at 5.35pm. We're not talking $10/litre liquid gold here.