fuel sloshing around

[falcon_1898]

This may be one of the bizarre threads you'll see on this forum:

Yesterday, after filling up my 09 Jetta TDI, I noticed the sound of liquid sloshing around while driving/braking. It is the first time I have ever heard fuel in a tank on any car.

Has anyone else had the same experience?

 

[chemeng1661]

I have heard the same thing in my JSW.

 

[Da~da~da]

My 06.5 has done it from the very beginning, I like to think of it as a friendly reminder of how little fuel is used
http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=171468

 

[Sip'n Diesel]

not bizarre

that's not bizarre... I'm very disappointed! I wanted to read about something bizarre and you have tricked me !

I've heard the fuel sloshing around on every single automobile I've ever operated... TDI included

 

[jpliii]

I usually hear this as well for the first few days. It is very noticeable after a fillup. After you use a quarter of a tank it isn't as noticeable.

 

[Elfnmagik]

All I hear is Medeski, Martin & Wood.

 

[NarfBLAST]

Check the anti-slosh valve it may not be closing in time to prevent sloshing. These valves clog sometimes, usually caused by poor quality fuel.

 

[Sip'n Diesel]

All I hear is Medeski, Martin & Wood.

LOL! I love MMW man! good stuff

 

[Da~da~da]

I've heard the fuel sloshing around on every single automobile I've ever operated... TDI included

I have owned more than 20 dif cars in my lifetime, this is the first out of all of them that I can hear the fuel sloshing around. It has even caused comments from family and friends who have ridden with me as to what the noise is since none of them have ever heard fuel sloshing around in their vehicles. My wifes 09 Acura which is whisper quiet, has no noise whatsoever coming from the tank when full or otherwise when we have tried to duplicate the noise.

I know a lot of you here are enjoying rolling your eyes at what is at its root a non issue, but when you have "never" heard it before and it only happens in the one vehicle, it could potentially be a cause for some concern, since the fuel pump is cooled by the fuel. This got me to thinking that perhaps there might be baffles in the tank to help keep the fuel around the fuel pump when you are closer to empty. If that could be the case, then if a baffle had come loose it could potentially cause a problem. When looked at in this light, it does not seem as far fetched or crazy as some of you would have the rest of us believe.

 

[Sip'n Diesel]

maybe you just never noticed it before because you were too distracted doing other things. radio could have been on. you could be losing your hearing. spouse/significant other could have been jabbering in your ear. etc, etc...

I agree with you though, if I had never heard that before in any car I would certainly want to know why and if it is normal or not

 

[Da~da~da]

maybe you just never noticed it before because you were too distracted doing other things. radio could have been on. you could be losing your hearing. spouse/significant other could have been jabbering in your ear. etc, etc...

I agree with you though, if I had never heard that before in any car I would certainly want to know why and if it is normal or not

Agreed, still does not explain others hearing it in my Jetta and wondering what it is, nor does it explain my never hearing it in ownership of over 20 different cars of varying makes and models.

As an example, my neighbor also has a Jetta. We went out to dinner and the wives sat in the back seat. I got a "***" is that noise both times I came out of reverse. I said "doesn't" yours make the same sound? She said that she had never heard that sound but would start listening for it in hers. Over the course of several months I would ask her if she had heard the sloshing in her Jetta. She has to this date not had the sound in hers, **radio off, not futzing around, no significant other in her ear and hearing is the same as it is when riding in my car as we all can hear the sloshing in mine**.

So from the way it sounds, a select few of us here on the boards are crazy, including family members and friends that for some strange reason can hear it in no other car but mine.

 

[bustNfuel]

I've received many comments about my Jetta..

Q:"What's that noise coming from under the hood? Is the engine oil low?"
A:"There are acorns in the engine to feed the squirrels, ya know.."

Q:"There's a strange sound from under the car.." (after shutdown, the EGR valves etc).
A:"Probably the squirrel wheel spinning."

Q:"And what's that sloshing noise?"
A: "That's the water tank for the thirsty sqirrels."

 

[falcon_1898]

I've received many comments about my Jetta..

Q:"What's that noise coming from under the hood? Is the engine oil low?"
A:"There are acorns in the engine to feed the squirrels, ya know.."

Q:"There's a strange sound from under the car.." (after shutdown, the EGR valves etc).
A:"Probably the squirrel wheel spinning."

Q:"And what's that sloshing noise?"
A: "That's the water tank for the thirsty sqirrels."

you crack me up like an acorn

thank you all for answering my question. It has been my second fill-up, and I have never heard it in other cars, or this one (after the first fill-up). Maybe I haven't been paying attention. Hopefully it's a non-issue.

 

[40X40]

I would expect to hear this sound on all TDI Jettas sedans built on the MK5 chassis. (2005.5 and newer) But only when the car is full or nearly full. It has been mentioned here before and I have heard it from both of my cars. BTW, it used to be common to hear fuel sloshing in pickups back when the fuel tanks were routinely placed immediately behind the seat, it was common to smell it too... Heh.

Bill

 

[40X40]

Check the anti-slosh valve it may not be closing in time to prevent sloshing. These valves clog sometimes, usually caused by poor quality fuel.

Hmm, What anti-slosh valve? Both of my cars have made this noise when driven off the lot brand new..

Bill

 

[PaxTDI]

This may be one of the bizarre threads you'll see on this forum:

Yesterday, after filling up my 09 Jetta TDI, I noticed the sound of liquid sloshing around while driving/braking. It is the first time I have ever heard fuel in a tank on any car.

Has anyone else had the same experience?

Mine does it with a full tank of fuel. I still get 42mpg, so I stopped sweating it. THough it is a strange sound.

 

[velociT]

I do drive with the windows down 99% of the time, but, I don't think I have ever heard this...

 

[Bob_Fout]

VT, after a fill up, and when you're pulling to a parking spot, stop rather briskly. (radio off too)

 

[Sip'n Diesel]

Hmm, What anti-slosh valve? Both of my cars have made this noise when driven off the lot brand new..

Bill

I was wondering the same thing... I think (hope) it was a joke? (think: anti-shudder valve) get it?!?!

hopefully Narf hasn't given me one more part of my TDI to get paranoid about

ya know... now that I think about I'll bet that I hear it sloshin' around so often because my suspension needs to be refreshed. bouncy bouncy

 

[El Dobro]

I don't remember the '06 making noise, but the '09 has sloshed from the beginning. The only other car I've owned that would slosh was a '93 Allante. It had a 23 gallon tank.

 

[velociT]

I don't remember the '06 making noise, but the '09 has sloshed from the beginning. The only other car I've owned that would slosh was a '93 Allante. It had a 23 gallon tank.

The Allante was such a piece of crap, it had its own cust. relations team.

No joke.

 

[Zlartibartfast]

I hear the noise when I am taking a sharp corner, or coming to a quick stop then reversing (think bat-turn). Sounds like there are no anti-slosh plates in the tank like my Jeep had.
I reckon that it might be easier to hear it in the JSW than in a sedan (acoustic isolation)

 

[El Dobro]

The Allante was such a piece of crap, it had its own cust. relations team.

No joke.

For the 7 years I owned it, I never had a problem with it. The only reason I sold it was that I got an offer for it I couldn't refuse.

 

[DoctorDawg]

Hmm, What anti-slosh valve? Both of my cars have made this noise when driven off the lot brand new.Bill

Methinks he's pullin' yer fuel line.

 

[velociT]

For the 7 years I owned it, I never had a problem with it. The only reason I sold it was that I got an offer for it I couldn't refuse.

That cracks me up.

I got a story that reminds me of.

I used to be a cust relations manager for GM.....

(for those who don't know) 2002 Trailblazers & Envoys (the 1st year) had toooons of problems. Most of them had a 2-3 page warranty claim history, and I think by 2006 they already had 14ish recalls on them.

Well, this guy calls in one day yelling about his Rendezvous tranny repair at 66k miles.

Guy comes out with "If only this p.o.s. was as reliable as my brother's 2002 trailblazer, he never had a single problem with it..."

I honestly thought he was joking. It completely train-wrecked my thought process and I forgot what I was about to say.

And I really wasn't kidding. To get on the Allante team you had to have at least a year experience in the regular call queue and the cadillac & hummer queue.

 

[oatman]

sure it is gas? and not water?

I was searching for a "water sloshing" thread and found this "fuel sloshing" thread. Are you sure you are hearing the fuel tank sloshing? I have a 06 A5 Jetta issue: I am collecting water in what appears to be the driver door panel. After driving in rain, etc, I will hear the sloshing and then observe a water spot from the dripping days afterward. If I don't find a thread addressing this, I will be posting a new one.

 

[PaulGiz]

There is a large unbaffled tank, no more than 4 feet from your head. It is full of liquid.

It sloshes.

You hear it.

Now what?

P.

 

[mnguy]

Methinks he's pullin' yer fuel line.

It is right by the Blinker fluid!

 

[narongc73]

I've never heard my fuel tank sloshing before. In any car for that matter. You guys must have good ears.

 

[ZiggyTheHamster]

I definitely hear my fuel tank slosh when it's full. Turn up the radio and/or roll the windows down. It goes away.