Fuel additives for 09 TDI

[funkyjoevw]

Hello all. I am a newbie and recently puchased my Salsa 2009 Jetta TDI on Christmas Eve (what a gift). Anyway, I was wondering if I can use Amsoil Diesel Fuel Modifier or if any of you know of any problems with this product. I've got a bunch of it. I bought a 5 gallon can awhile ago for my 1995 Dodge Cummins and the truck is now going to be my secondary vehicle. Thanks.

 

[velociT]

Hello all. I am a newbie and recently puchased my Salsa 2009 Jetta TDI on Christmas Eve (what a gift). Anyway, I was wondering if I can use Amsoil Diesel Fuel Modifier or if any of you know of any problems with this product. I've got a bunch of it. I bought a 5 gallon can awhile ago for my 1995 Dodge Cummins and the truck is now going to be my secondary vehicle. Thanks.

It should say either online or on the bottle if it is ULSD compliant.

If says that, it is fine.

 

[DoctorDawg]

It should say either online or on the bottle if it is ULSD compliant. If says that, it is fine.

-1

VW would give you a different answer. Additives are not recommended in the '09.

 

[velociT]

-1

VW would give you a different answer. Additives are not recommended in the '09.

You're probably getting additives right now with winterized diesel (Arctic Powerservice) anyway.

Fuel additives will not blow up your engine, shoot your dog, or kidnap your children, I promise.

 

[DPM]

no, but if they form ash on combustion they may clog your DPF.

 

[funkyjoevw]

Thanks for the input. I will dig deeper.

 

[velociT]

no, but if they form ash on combustion they may clog your DPF.

Only additive I use is PS, and it states it is ULSD compliant and ashless on the box.

 

[Squid6290]

PS is just fine for your 09... use it, love it.

Not according to VWoA. I just got a follow up phone call from customer service today.

They are adamant that ANY additive, PS included, will void the warranty due to potential damage to the emissions system.

I also received my owner's manual supplement in the mail. I'm scanning it and forwarding to PS for their review. I'll be sure to post their follow up.

 

[DPM]

That's good that PS is ULSD compliant and ashless, velociT. In your post#62 you make no reference to ash content...

 

[El Dobro]

I also received my owner's manual supplement in the mail. I'm scanning it and forwarding to PS for their review. I'll be sure to post their follow up.

What supplement is that?

 

[Diesel Addict]

They are adamant that ANY additive, PS included, will void the warranty due to potential damage to the emissions system.

In that case as soon as you fill up, your warranty is void as well, since diesel fuel at the pump always contains some additives, and sometimes water too.

 

[Squid6290]

In that case as soon as you fill up, your warranty is void as well, since diesel fuel at the pump always contains some additives, and sometimes water too.

I made that point to the the rep on the phone. I could tell she thought I was being combative, so I let it go. Bottom line is nobody at VW is willing to say adding anything is OK right now.

 

[velociT]

I made that point to the the rep on the phone. I could tell she thought I was being combative, so I let it go. Bottom line is nobody at VW is willing to say adding anything is OK right now.

Like I've said before, if PS gave them 10 grand, they'd sing a different tune.

VW isn't going to market or endorse someone elses product for nothing.

As stated, you're probably getting white bottle PS anyway with Winter diesel additives.

There are fuel additives out there that are not ULSD/ashless compliant, that's why it's important to do your homework and use quality products.

 

[DoctorDawg]

I suspect the situation with VW is a simple as this: the combination of their DPF and America's cr@ppy ULSD is new not only to us, but to them as well (sure, they've tested it, but nothing beats having a few thousand customers doing follow-up real-world testing for you, too). Until they have lots of real-world data on how well and how long the DPF holds up under the best and simplest condition (no aftermarket fuel additives) under real-world conditions they're not eager to further complicate the analysis by factoring in what a dozen different brands of fuel additives might be doing, too. I expect in a year or two they'll come back with a recommendation to use an additive.

Of course, by then my fuel pump may be shot all to heck

 

[Plus 3 Golfer]

Not according to VWoA. I just got a follow up phone call from customer service today.

They are adamant that ANY additive, PS included, will void the warranty due to potential damage to the emissions system.

I also received my owner's manual supplement in the mail. I'm scanning it and forwarding to PS for their review. I'll be sure to post their follow up.

Can you post the owner's manual supplement? I have not received one yet.

 

[dieselmike]

Amsoil Additive

Have my 09 TDI Jetta, does anyone knows if which fuel additive is better: Stanadyne, powerservice, or amsoil?

 

[velociT]

Have my 09 TDI Jetta, does anyone knows if which fuel additive is better: Stanadyne, powerservice, or amsoil?

Better is probably up for debate.

The facts are Stanadyne used to be recommended by VW, many here have used powerservice including myself with good results, and the AMSoil additive seems to also be a quality product.

Whichever you choose, make sure on the box it says it is ULSD approved, and will not damage DPF's (Powerservice says this on both the winter and summer formula).

 

[Diesel Addict]

I suspect the situation with VW is a simple as this: the combination of their DPF and America's cr@ppy ULSD is new not only to us, but to them as well (sure, they've tested it, but nothing beats having a few thousand customers doing follow-up real-world testing for you, too). Until they have lots of real-world data on how well and how long the DPF holds up under the best and simplest condition (no aftermarket fuel additives) under real-world conditions they're not eager to further complicate the analysis by factoring in what a dozen different brands of fuel additives might be doing, too. I expect in a year or two they'll come back with a recommendation to use an additive.

Of course, by then my fuel pump may be shot all to heck

That's a good hypothesis. I didn't even think of that one.

 

[Squid6290]

Can you post the owner's manual supplement? I have not received one yet.

I don't know how to post a pdf to the forum, but if you PM me with an email address, I'll be happy to send it to you.

 

[Plus 3 Golfer]

I don't know how to post a pdf to the forum, but if you PM me with an email address, I'll be happy to send it to you.

Thanks for sending me the supplement. The supplement has already been incorporated in my owner's manual. The printing date of my manual is 4/2008 while the supplement print date is 2/2008. So the supplement really adds nothing to the discussion.

The supplement nor my owner's manual specifically prohibits additives. So IHMO, VW will lose a claim if they deny warranty coverage because an owner used a ULSD compliant additive. Unless VW can come up with a definitive statement prohibiting additives (much like biodiesel>5%) and inform owners, they are blowing smoke that all additives are prohibited in 2009 TDIs.

 

[hevster1]

Plus, it's a dessert topping!

it's a floor wax!

 

[Elfnmagik]

Is this the specific PS product being termed as "white bottle"?

 

[velociT]

Is this the specific PS product being termed as "white bottle"?

Yessir. That's the winter PS aka white bottle.

 

[hip metal]

I had the most ridiculous phone conversation with my local VW dealership service manager (SM) the other day when I called to complain about my '09 TDI not starting. After reminding him how cocky and confident that the dealers were when selling me the car about there being no starting problems in the '09's it went something like this:

SM:"It sounds like your fuel is gelling."

me:"Well I have been filling up with fuel advertised as winter blend."

SM:"Winter blend? there is no such thing."

me:"Are you kidding me. Do you know anything about diesels?"

SM:"Well you should have been using anti-gel additives."

me:"The owners manual says nothing about using additives. I thought you weren't supposed to in the '09's."

SM:"That's funny, then why we would we sell anti-gel it here at the dealership." progressively more argumentative tone.

me:"Hey, I am just telling you what your owners manual says."

SM:"It's not my owners manual. I didn't write it."

I can't believe he said that!

 

[velociT]

They only know how to do one thing. Cover their ass.

I use powerservice year round. I recommend it. White bottle has anti-gel additive.

 

[DidJettarun]

FWIW..my local dealer no longer sells Stanadyne and when I inquired about purchasing the product the parts manager had no idea what Stanadyne was

 

[Powder Hound]

They only know how to do one thing. Cover their ass.
...

Yup. Welcome to today's overly lawyered overly litigious USofA, where an idiot that doesn't know how to drive and put a cup of coffee in a proper holder instead of spilling it on themselves gets $5 million.

And those same lawyers are busy writing things that make no sense. And people wonder why some segments of this society are fubar.

BTW: since a nitrogen compound is responsible for the cetane improver in additives, using too much of it will be a bad thing for the engine. Keep the concentration down to prescribed levels for best results.

 

[ruking]

I had been using Primrose 405 C (3000 to 1 dilution) for app 113,000 miles in the 03 Jetta TDI. Truly I have been using it a tad like throwing salt over one's shoulder. It works, but in comparison to... what, even as I am fully aware of the design claims: 1. emulsifier (H20 supression) 2. fuel pump lubricity 3. cetane boost 4. mpg boost 5. etc.!!??

So I was surprised by the answer from the long time vendor who sells Primrose 2003 : check your 09 Jetta TDI owners manual, when asked if the Primrose 2003 product was the correct product. What started out as a slam dunk no brainer turned into deep research and no real conclusions; other than right now, it might be best to NOT use Primrose 2003 in the 09 Jetta TDI !? That vendor and Primrose does say it is good for 2007 and up (2008 implied) diesels.

I did read as they were developing and testing the new 2009 emissions components (different from 2008 and below) for the then new 50 state emissions. They were concerned about durability and the ability to meet standards for an undisclosed number of hours/miles. The release of the 2009 was delayed due to non specific emissions testing concerns.

The 2009 is fairly new in the 50 states emissions systems and historical real world experience portions. So it will be interesting to keep up with what folks with the 09 systems report.

 

[rcracer]

how does this stuff work?


any diff than powerservice stuff?

 

[no-blue-screen]

The problem is not the additives really. Someone else made a good point earlier when they said it is a liability issue.

Diesel fuel is regulated and all diesel fuel has to meet certain quality requirements for retail sale. The problem with additives is that VW has no control over the additive and what is in it since it is sold by a 3rd party. If you say you approve additives, then you are also saying that you are going to cover any damages that result from the use of said additives....probably won't happen. Jeep/Mercedes has the same stance on my OM642 that is in my GC....no additives. Will they hurt?....probably not....will VW or Mercedes ever approve additives?.....probably not.

I use power service additives, and I don't see how they can hurt anything. Additive must be added to the fuels you buy anyway to bring them up to spec....so you are already getting additives even if you don't use Stanadyne or PS.