dealer checking fuel quality

[jasedavid1]

While I was at the dealer on Friday, I was informed by the service manager that VW was going to take a 1 liter fuel sample out of my tank. He said VW is going to start checking diesel fuel quality. Has anyone else been to the dealer lately and ran across this? I'm sure this is about the HPFP failures.

 

[DieselJeff]

Hopefully they asked you if they can sample your fuel and didn't tell you they were going to do so.

 

[Fordcougar]

Are they paying for your fuel? If not, either way point them in the direction of your last fillup station... Tell them to buy their own fuel... I'd be wary of motive.

 

[jasedavid1]

They haven't done anything yet, they were suppose to replace my stereo due to a bad lcd screen but it wasn't in stock. My concern is if I let them check the fuel quality and it comes back as bad fuel. Then if my HPFP breaks, they say their not going to fix it because the cause was bad fuel and we have proof.

 

[i64w2gohome]

Are they paying for your fuel? If not, either way point them in the direction of your last fillup station... Tell them to buy their own fuel... I'd be wary of motive.

^ +1
VW can do its own diesel sampling on its own time, own dime.

 

[jasedavid1]

On the other hand maybe VW is finally trying to find a cause and solution to this problem. Obviously they are aware of it.

 

[aywkubttod]

How much fuel is really needed for a sample? An entire liter?

 

[jasedavid1]

Actually after the fuel sample is taken they will fill up my tank

 

[jasedavid1]

They did say a 1 liter sample. I should also mention i have not had any problems with my HPFP

 

[rte2MA]

Actually after the fuel sample is taken they will fill up my tank

Then you could test their fuel ...

 

[i64w2gohome]

Actually after the fuel sample is taken they will fill up my tank

The worse tank of diesel my car's had was the delivery fill up.

 

[DanG144]

I would let them take the sample.

 

[jasedavid1]

Unfortunately I will not be back to the dealer for a couple of weeks, they had to order my new stereo. At that time I will ask the manager what they want with the sample, and what if the fuel comes back as "bad fuel in VW standards", Any other questions you guys would ask?

 

[El Dobro]

Ask for a copy of the report for your records.

 

[dweisel]

While I was at the dealer on Friday, I was informed by the service manager that VW was going to take a 1 liter fuel sample out of my tank. He said VW is going to start checking diesel fuel quality. Has anyone else been to the dealer lately and ran across this? I'm sure this is about the HPFP failures.

VW is just trying to establish that bad fuel is the cause of hpfp failures and not the Bosch hpfp they use. Once a few out of spec fuel samples are gathered VW will then be able to say "Our hpfp performs fine on spec fuel, but fails on out of spec fuel. Fuel quality is out of our control. Warranty denied!"

IMO,this fuel sampling is evidence gathering to be used to in the NHTSA Investigation.

 

[Slo.Mo.Shun]

Subscribed

 

[IMAAaron]

^ +1
VW can do its own diesel sampling on its own time, own dime.

+2. If I can't get a "sample" litre of oil you don't get a "sample" of fuel.

 

[HaveBulldogWillTravel]

Unfortunately I will not be back to the dealer for a couple of weeks, they had to order my new stereo. At that time I will ask the manager what they want with the sample, and what if the fuel comes back as "bad fuel in VW standards", Any other questions you guys would ask?

I'd ask them for a copy of the report on the fuel that they are going to fill your car up with. How will you know that that fuel is any good?
Like someone said before, they should do their own fuel purchases at local stations without having to sample fuel from every car that comes in. They could easily send some $10.00/hr car washer out for 2 hours with 20 1 liter bottles and $25. There...all done for less than $50.

 

[CedarPark68]

Its an interesting move by VW.

I do not trust the motive only because of magnitude of people who via this forum have let us know that it is often a dog fight to get resolution.
It should not be stressful and I feel for those who have to deal with this issue with a dealer that is not friendly.

I would fully assume the results of the sample will follow your VIN in their database.
I do suspect also that they cannot afford to do this long term and I would imagine that they would have a set number of times that the samples will be performed by each dealer.
For example, each dealer is to obtain 50 fuel samples from the vehicles that meet X.

The meet X worries me also, what if they only wish to sample in warranty, again the results will follow the VIN.

 

[HaveBulldogWillTravel]

Its an interesting move by VW.

I do not trust the motive only because of magnitude of people who via this forum have let us know that it is often a dog fight to get resolution.
It should not be stressful and I feel for those who have to deal with this issue with a dealer that is not friendly.

I would fully assume the results of the sample will follow your VIN in their database.

The meet X worries me also, what if they only wish to sample in warranty, again the results will follow the VIN.

I'm not sure what others here think, but IMO it's completely up to VW to make sure that the cars they build are capable of running on the fuel available here in the USA. If they can't achieve that then they shouldn't be sending the cars over here. Certainly can't blame the consumer for this and you can forget about pointing the finger at the Fed. If there's problem between the TDi engine and the available fuel supply then that liability falls squarely on VW. I'm not worried about it but at the same time I won't allow them to sample my fuel...period.

 

[nikhsub1]

If they want to sample fuel why can't the go to 1000 (of however many) gas stations and pay for samples directly from the source? Since I use an additive to help combat potentially crappy fuel, you can bet they won't get my permission to take any of mine.

 

[P0234]

If they want to sample fuel why can't the go to 1000 (of however many) gas stations and pay for samples directly from the source? Since I use an additive to help combat potentially crappy fuel, you can bet they won't get my permission to take any of mine.

Exactly, this smells fishy. I would request the dealer show you some official documentation from VW. There is no reason for pulling fuel from people's tanks.

 

[jasedavid1]

If they want to sample fuel why can't the go to 1000 (of however many) gas stations and pay for samples directly from the source? Since I use an additive to help combat potentially crappy fuel, you can bet they won't get my permission to take any of mine.

You would think Vw or Bosch would have done this before they began selling the cars in the US.

 

[jasedavid1]

I'm not sure what others here think, but IMO it's completely up to VW to make sure that the cars they build are capable of running on the fuel available here in the USA. If they can't achieve that then they shouldn't be sending the cars over here. Certainly can't blame the consumer for this and you can forget about pointing the finger at the Fed. If there's problem between the TDi engine and the available fuel supply then that liability falls squarely on VW. I'm not worried about it but at the same time I won't allow them to sample my fuel...period.

Agreed, how does this become my problem as a consumer!

 

[jbright]

You would think Vw or Bosch would have done this before they began selling the cars in the US.

Bingo.

 

[geodug]

There is no upside for this request worth considering.

This is comparable with a murder taking place in your home and the police wanting to talk to you. In 100% of the cases, particularly if you are innocent, you should hire a lawyer to represent you. You know you didn't kill the victim but the police can find a way to use your actions to make you look guilty.

Giving up a fuel sample is exactly the same thing. You bought fuel on a good faith basis from everybody you purchased from. If there was some contaminant in your fuel system, you will be blamed. If the fuel is not contaminated but their analysis procedure is flawed, you will be blamed. If the dealer has sinister motives, you will be blamed.

You're not going to hire a lawyer but you should have the good sense to say no.

 

[SoTxBill]

I would be sure to know where that particular tank came from so that is vw says its bad, you can go back and make that station buy you an engine.

 

[Thommy D]

I am taking mine in for 10k mile service. I was using additivie, and decided for the last 1000 miles I would run straight No. 2 to avoid this situation. I have been filling up in low quanities to dilute any remant power service....

 

[travelteam]

I have the 30k service coming up, and if asked I will let them take it so long as they provide me a copy of the report and the report includes the HFRR score.

I'm very curious to see what the 4oz Optilube XPD I'm adding every tank is actually doing for lubricity. Not that I have a baseline to compare it against - but still it would be nice to see if the score comes back under 460.

 

[TDiSkater]

I'm putting my Stant locking fuel cap on when I bring it in next month for my 10k mile service.