filling fuel

CPO '15 passat.
what's the deal with this? any pump I use will not fill the tank completely. When the pump shuts off, the needle only makes it up to around 3/4 to 7/8 full. Anyone else have this issue? Is it worth it to follow up with the dealer on this?

My 2015 does the same thing. I assume it's caused by the fuel foaming up the filler neck. I can slowly top it up after the pump automatically stops and the needle will read full.

my 2015 does the same thing too.

roni024 said:

My 2015 does the same thing. I assume it's caused by the fuel foaming up the filler neck. I can slowly top it up after the pump automatically stops and the needle will read full.

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ditto, once it clicks off I finish filling it slowly manually.

Because of where I am in the winter, I have removed the filler restriction at the neck of the filler. It allows me to use larger i.e truck pump nozzles. I think it also vents the fill line better. Instructions can be found as to how to.

been an issue on the NMS since 2012, crazy foam rate. I usually fill on the slowest "click" then manual slow it down for the last 1-2 gallons.

If you want to "brim" the tank it takes another 2-5 minutes of trickling in fuel, you'll see it at the filler neck and then it'll settle in to the tank due to foam settling out, keep repeating until you see fuel.

I have this issue with mine. I've taken off the rubber cover on the vent (it's just behind the fender well) and it didn't make a difference. It seems to be worse with some pumps but not others. I'm currently waiting on a call from my local dealer as to what the next step is.

Pilot,

It looks like I can easily yank it out with a pick or a nail. If you noticed an improvement, I'll try it. I'm not worried about misfueling since we replaced the wife's Mitsu-****ty years ago with another tdi. Now the only thing I buy gas for is the snowblower and power equipment.

Swinging Steel said:

Pilot,
It looks like I can easily yank it out with a pick or a nail. If you noticed an improvement, I'll try it. I'm not worried about misfueling since we replaced the wife's Mitsu-****ty years ago with another tdi. Now the only thing I buy gas for is the snowblower and power equipment.

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It needs two picks to pull it out. I find filling seems to go easier.
But just for the hell of it I'm saving the piece I pulled out with the spare tire.

my 2013 did not have this issue, but my 2015 sure does. Years back there was a topic about a venting issue-

Same thing happens to me.

Best to fill the tank super slow, to try and minimize foaming.

I've learned to live with it, I still go 2 weeks between fill ups...

I've never had any issue with filling or topping off my 2014 Passat TDI or 2015 Passat TDI. The filler restrictor has always been a non-issue for me. Nor has the filler restrictor prevented me from adding any additives.

I fill the fuel tank until the pump shuts off. My fuel gauge will read full at this point. Then I manually trickle fuel in until the foam is gone. Typically I can trickle in another .75gal to 1 gal of fuel. Sometimes I overflow a few ounces if I'm not careful. Keys words here: sometimes and I'm not careful.

Drive more and worry less.

On the advise of a local TDI specialist, I've modified the vent by hiding the open part of it behind the cover that protect the filler and the vent. The car was filled this morning (it was around -20c) and everything went as it should.

Before doing the mod, I poured a bit of diesel 911 down the vent to try to displace any moisture. After I poured the 1st little bit, I heard a fairly loud Glug-Glug, but then didn't get any noises when I poured a bit more. I assume it was clearing ice/condensation. I'll update this thread if we have any more issues with filling

It was suggested a few years back in these forums that filling while the engine was still running helped to minimize foaming. Speculation was that it had something to do with fuel circulation but I don't remember it being proven. Cheap and easy to try at least!

jck66 said:

It was suggested a few years back in these forums that filling while the engine was still running helped to minimize foaming. Speculation was that it had something to do with fuel circulation but I don't remember it being proven. Cheap and easy to try at least!

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I can't actually legally do that up here, even with a diesel

Legalities aside, if you do that at any US station reactions are going to range from concern to confrontational.

My experience is similar to BKmetz' in that I have not had any issues with my 2012 or 2015. I tend to walk around and clean the windows while the last of the fuel is trickling in. I've never had the needle be anywhere other than full, however; the needle just tends to "stick" on full for longer when I "brim" the tank.

One bit of caution regarding removing anything related to the filler is that the HPFP extended warranty was contingent on the misfueling guard being installed so I would expect warranty issues arising if the 2015 was missing anything like that.

jck66 said:

It was suggested a few years back in these forums that filling while the engine was still running helped to minimize foaming. Speculation was that it had something to do with fuel circulation but I don't remember it being proven. Cheap and easy to try at least!

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There are many states/provinces where you are by law not allowed to fuel up without the engine shut off.

Regardless it's bad advice !

Meah nanny states love to worry about stuff they have no intention of enforcing. They prob also have laws where you're supposed to stop filling after the first click of the pump handle.

I've done it a few times without any harm, mostly when it's bitter cold out. When I have done it, i have noticed less foaming add easier time to brim the tank.

Many states also have anti idling laws on the books yet are never enforced as well.

I've filled while idling many times (but not every time) and never had an issue whatsoever (knock wood). I'm sure the clerk inside the mini-mart isn't even aware. My wife & kids appreciate me keeping the climate control on though!

I noticed this too when I first got the car that it only would be up to 7/8 full. ***? Then I looked in the owners manual and found that the car has a 70 Litre tank (roughly 18.5 us gal) and I was only putting in say 56-57 litres at roughly 0 range. When you look in the owners manual it states a 70 Litre tank INCLUDING AN 8 LITRE RESERVE. So it is my understanding that the car has a reserve built into the zero range of 8 litres (2 us gal apron.) This is Bourne out by the fact that when I top the car off to brimming (that takes time to wait for the foam to settle) I put in 62 litres at zero range. I’m thinking the filler neck is not included in those numbers. I also find attitude makes a difference too as in nose up. Park at the pump with the nose up an that helps if possible. Nonetheless it is as others say it will click off because of foaming but I can usually put in another 5 or maybe 6 litres after the first click off. I have no problem with this as I burn off a couple of litres on my drive home but you must be aware that the headspace in the filler neck allows for thermal expansion. If you brim the tank on a very hot day and park the car without burning off some fuel you could be into some thermal expansion problems. The owners manual states to not fill the car after first click off for this reason. Some may chirp about running it down to 0 range but I’ve had no issues and do my own fuel filter yearly and have found very little in the filter canister in the way of contamination or water. But then I try to buy from a station that turns over their fuel. The fuel gauge is vey accurate and linear in this car except from maybe 3/4 down to half full then it is a little optimistic on the range. I always reset one of my trip odometer counters as a range cross check and know in the summer with all highway driving I’m good for 1200-1300 km summer and 1000-1100km winter. The average fuel consumption is always a little optimistic with it saying as low as 4.5 litres/100 km summer when I do the math it is more like 5.1 so .5 to .6 on the optimistic side. Winter I get maybe 5.9 litres per hundred when I do the math.

bizzle said:

Legalities aside, if you do that at any US station reactions are going to range from concern to confrontational.

My experience is similar to BKmetz' in that I have not had any issues with my 2012 or 2015. I tend to walk around and clean the windows while the last of the fuel is trickling in. I've never had the needle be anywhere other than full, however; the needle just tends to "stick" on full for longer when I "brim" the tank.

One bit of caution regarding removing anything related to the filler is that the HPFP extended warranty was contingent on the misfueling guard being installed so I would expect warranty issues arising if the 2015 was missing anything like that.

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I have found the same thing when I brim the car properly the needle stays pegged on full till I’ve driven 30 or maybe 40 km. Always keep thermal expansion in the back of your head when brimming the tank though. You could cause yourself some more problems.

Flyboy777 said:

Always keep thermal expansion in the back of your head when brimming the tank though. You could cause yourself some more problems.

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That really is a non-issue unless you live next door to a station. Usually a few miles down the road and it's not anywhere near the top any longer.

Yeah, I don't fill to the top of the neck. I'm not sure what the issue was with my '12 JSW but one time I filled it to the point that I was actually fueling a puddle under the tail! I always thought since then there might be some vent hole or something near the top of the joint so I only fill to bottom of the neck where I just start to see the fuel, but maybe there was a fitment issue with the neck. It didn't come out the top. My bug is completely different though. Sometimes I get a little aggressive and will literally shake my car vigorously to make more room!

The issue with running the fuel too low for me is that, at least coming from the BMW world, the (gas) fuel pump is cooled by the fuel. In the classic world it was cost prohibitive to risk burning out a fuel pump, which was of lesser concern than scooping up impurities. I don't know how that translates to a modern BMW but I imagine it's probably more affordable to just buy a completely different car What any of this means in our diesel world I have no idea. From what I think I know, we have a low pressure pump in the tank? I don't know what kind of heat they generate, if any.

Thermal expansion is largely a non-issue, except in the most extreme of circumstances. Please see:
http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=62886&highlight=thermal+expansion

yatzee said:

I can't actually legally do that up here, even with a diesel

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When did we start caring about laws around here?

We got people doing deletes and all kinds of other things. Let alone the fact that we own cars involved in "dielelgate." Diesel fuel behaves so differently from gas that it really isn't a concern.

BKmetz said:

The filler restrictor has always been a non-issue for me. Nor has the filler restrictor prevented me from adding any additives.

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What are you using to get your additives into the tank? We just picked up a 2015 Passat SE TDI and while I had no problem getting the station filler nozzle into the restrictor I find that I can get neither my funnel nor the filler nozzle from my Blitz jug into it.

Dave

Fuel nozzle adapter
https://www.idparts.com/diesel-fueling-adapter-p-2418.html