Jetta TDI

[bailey9r]

I had a 2000 bug (same platform) with a tdi and never got less than 52 mpg. you can make big power from these things. I met with guys at the tdi forum (freds page) doing autocross type comp. and was impressed with them so you can get good info there. (google brings them right up)

When I got my duramax (around 2006ish) to tow with I gave my tdi to my son (big mistake to my economy!) and a few months later he was in a bad wreck with it and walked away unharmed. (so not a mistake after all) insurance gave him 6500.00 saying they were in demand so prices were up).

we went to mississippi and picked up a 2004 jetta tdi from evil bay and it has been as reliable the bug but maybe 5 mpg less because of less slippery shape.

One thing though, beware of the automatic in these things, way less mpg and unrepairable. The high cost of replacing an auto tranny has a few of them that I know of just rotting away. always get the manual.

 

[DEMON44]

WMO?
Is that waste mineral oil?
And did you say you cut it with gasoline?
I know I am mixing my Waste engine oil 10% with 90% diesel to get rid of the oil and save a bit on my fuel, I am even thinking about bumping it up to 20%, but I am always looking for more things to burn.
That would be in my 6.2

Yep that's right. Waste mineral or waste motor oil, how ever you want to call it. I run no diesel in the mix, 85% wmo, cut with 15% rug (regular unleaded gasoline) that's it. The idi engines will take it. My wmo mix is mostly 15w-40 diesel oil, bit there has been automotive oils, straight weight w30 and w40 from 2 stroke detroits. And I've pushed through some small % of gear oil too. And tranny fluid, Allison transynd. Just about every oil imaginable.

I know some guys will get wound up and their heads will start spinning telling me you can't do that. I won't argue with anyone about it. I've been doing it for years now, not in the winter around here though. I also have 55 gallon settling drums in my garage. Circled with earth magnets. And I pump it all through a series of 2 Micron absolute filters. Also with a series of magnets in the filter heads.

I have run 100% wmo in the middle of summer a few times. It does work, but a little too thick when its cold. I wouldnt do that regularly.

I would never even consider any if this for any modern high pressure common rail engine, or even direct injection mechanicals. Injection pressures are higher in them. The indirect injection engines are closer to multifuel engines in my books.

Sent from my Desire HD using Tapatalk

 

[imiceman44]

Yep that's right. Waste mineral or waste motor oil, how ever you want to call it. I run no diesel in the mix, 85% wmo, cut with 15% rug (regular unleaded gasoline) that's it. The idi engines will take it. My wmo mix is mostly 15w-40 diesel oil, bit there has been automotive oils, straight weight w30 and w40 from 2 stroke detroits. And I've pushed through some small % of gear oil too. And tranny fluid, Allison transynd. Just about every oil imaginable.

I know some guys will get wound up and their heads will start spinning telling me you can't do that. I won't argue with anyone about it. I've been doing it for years now, not in the winter around here though. I also have 55 gallon settling drums in my garage. Circled with earth magnets. And I pump it all through a series of 2 Micron absolute filters. Also with a series of magnets in the filter heads.

I have run 100% wmo in the middle of summer a few times. It does work, but a little too thick when its cold. I wouldnt do that regularly.

I would never even consider any if this for any modern high pressure common rail engine, or even direct injection mechanicals. Injection pressures are higher in them. The indirect injection engines are closer to multifuel engines in my books.

Sent from my Desire HD using Tapatalk

I have 55 gal drums for settling the junk and I am instaling a couple of fuel filters, the only thing I didn't think of is the magnets to hold the metal particles before they reach the filter.
SO you run that high of a percentage of oil?
Now is there any reason why you cut it with gas instead of diesel?
I am trying to learn a cheaper way to run my 6.2 and God knows I have plenty of oil coming out of my big rig and soon my brother in laws big rig along with all the cars I change the oil for in my big family.

 

[sandypants]

Thanks, thats what I want to hear.

How has the reliability of the vehicle been? Are they something the average gearhead can wrench on themselves?

very reliable, NOT ONCE have i had any sort of trouble or a couple people at my work have the same car never seen them have any problems. as far as i concerned it is one the the best cars you can get under 25k period. if i get in a wreck or just something happens i will just buy a new one for sure.
as far as working on your jetta,
yes all cars are they same, they just bolt together.

 

[ssyork]

We own a 2003 jetta wagon tdi, bought new for around $26k. We have 120k miles on it now, wife still loves it. She says she wished we would have bought the passat wagon for a little more room, why we didn't I don't really know. Had the timing belt done at 90k, just oil changes by me other than that. It is an automatic, so our mileage isn't as good. With the car top carrier, two kids, the 70lb dog, me, wife and enough stuff for two weeks over Christmas to include all the presents we where getting around 35mpg, doing 80mph on the GPS. Speedo is about 4 mph slower. I did have the egr turned off at VW shortly after we bought it. I also want to change out the "lifetime" tranny fluid soon. I put a skid plate and side shrouds on from Dieselgeek and highly recommend it over the plastic one. Of coarse this is after we (wife) hit something and I had to drop the oil pan and tig the crack up. The directions that came with the skid where some of the most complete I have ever seen, shipping was fast.
The TDI would be at the top of the list if something happened to this one. Cruises nicely at 95-105mph too

 

[imiceman44]

You think you are not getting goo dmileage with a packed station wagon going 80mph?
I believe Colby had an experience with best mileage at 60 something and average of 40 something when he went on a long trip 80mph avg with a regular jetta and just him and wife.
I would love to get a station wagin TDI.

We own a 2003 jetta wagon tdi, bought new for around $26k. We have 120k miles on it now, wife still loves it. She says she wished we would have bought the passat wagon for a little more room, why we didn't I don't really know. Had the timing belt done at 90k, just oil changes by me other than that. It is an automatic, so our mileage isn't as good. With the car top carrier, two kids, the 70lb dog, me, wife and enough stuff for two weeks over Christmas to include all the presents we where getting around 35mpg, doing 80mph on the GPS. Speedo is about 4 mph slower. I did have the egr turned off at VW shortly after we bought it. I also want to change out the "lifetime" tranny fluid soon. I put a skid plate a side shrouds on form Dieselgeek and highly recommend it over the plastic one. Of coarse this is after we (wife) hit something and I had to drop the oil pan and tig the crack up. The directions that came with the skid where some of the most complete I have ever seen, shipping was fast.
The TDI would be at the top of the list if something happened to this one. Cruises nicely at 95-105mph too

 

[ssyork]

The wife and I are happy with it no doubt. When I share mileage I usually hear well so and so 's TDI is getting over 40. We are also driving in MT and Wy mainly, so wind is worth 2-3mpg alone. The altitude doesn't help either. I just meant the numbers aren't as high as others. It picks up quick when we cruise around 65-70mph, just takes to long to get anywhere out here at that pace

 

[sandypants]

What are you waiting for, go out and get one!

 

[colbystephens]

You think you are not getting goo dmileage with a packed station wagon going 80mph?
I believe Colby had an experience with best mileage at 60 something and average of 40 something when he went on a long trip 80mph avg with a regular jetta and just him and wife.
I would love to get a station wagin TDI.

To clear this up a bit: I got 60 MPG drafting behind my friend has he drove a U-Haul a bit over 300 miles when I helped him move.

I get about 55 MPG if I set the cruise control at 60 MPH, but I never do that because the mileage at other speeds is still so good that I'm happy to pay a tiny bit extra to get there faster.

We got an average of 44 MPG driving from Vale, CO to Reno, NV at a speed ranging from 75 to 85, mostly in the 85 MPH range. Highway 50 is EMPTY so you can really fly. That's roughly 900 miles, did it in one long-ish day.

I typically drive 70 to 75 on the highway and average 45 to 46 MPG. In town I'm getting 38. Could be better in town (like 40-42ish), but the street lights aren't timed in Reno, so by the time you get up to cruising speed, the next light turns red and you have to stop. It's the most inefficient stop light city I've EVER driven in. Royally pisses me off. I talk to folks who've lived here all their lives and they didn't even know that most cities time the street lights so that drivers don't have to stop.

I have a 2002 Jetta TDI with the manual transmission. Tire pressure at about 40 PSI. This car has what's known as an ALH motor, as compared to the slightly less desirable 2004-2006 cars that had the PD motors. I can't remember now why that's a slightly less desirable engine, now. I researched it like crazy before I bought because I wanted a 2004 for the cool tail lights. Figure I'll swap them onto mine sometime in the distant future. The 2004 has the same body style as mine, but 05-06 cars had another body style which I REALLY don't care for. The newest body style that's out is sweet, though! However, I know nothing about the other engines than mine.

 

[imiceman44]

Thanks for clarifying but I wasn't misleading:
I said best of 60 something, which I remember you said was special circumstance, and average of 40 something with high speed which always burns more diesel.
As for WY winds, you don't need to tell me about it, and yeah I always go as fast as my truck can comfortably go with the wind because it's so long and empty I just want to get there.
When the wind is in my tail I alwasy go 75, but when I have the head winds, I rarely go above 65 to save on fuel.

To clear this up a bit: I got 60 MPG drafting behind my friend has he drove a U-Haul a bit over 300 miles when I helped him move.

I get about 55 MPG if I set the cruise control at 60 MPH, but I never do that because the mileage at other speeds is still so good that I'm happy to pay a tiny bit extra to get there faster.

We got an average of 44 MPG driving from Vale, CO to Reno, NV at a speed ranging from 75 to 85, mostly in the 85 MPH range. Highway 50 is EMPTY so you can really fly. That's roughly 900 miles, did it in one long-ish day.

I typically drive 70 to 75 on the highway and average 45 to 46 MPG. In town I'm getting 38. Could be better in town (like 40-42ish), but the street lights aren't timed in Reno, so by the time you get up to cruising speed, the next light turns red and you have to stop. It's the most inefficient stop light city I've EVER driven in. Royally pisses me off. I talk to folks who've lived here all their lives and they didn't even know that most cities time the street lights so that drivers don't have to stop.

I have a 2002 Jetta TDI with the manual transmission. Tire pressure at about 40 PSI. This car has what's known as an ALH motor, as compared to the slightly less desirable 2004-2006 cars that had the PD motors. I can't remember now why that's a slightly less desirable engine, now. I researched it like crazy before I bought because I wanted a 2004 for the cool tail lights. Figure I'll swap them onto mine sometime in the distant future. The 2004 has the same body style as mine, but 05-06 cars had another body style which I REALLY don't care for. The newest body style that's out is sweet, though! However, I know nothing about the other engines than mine.

 

[Got Smoke?]

To anybody who owns a TDI already...whenever you change you oil check the 27mm nut that holes the oil cooler flush to the oil filter mount. My car had been leaking oil for quite sometime and I finally tracked it down to the oil cooler seal. A common leak...very cheap to fix. $2 gasket from IDparts.com

When I went to repair the gasket I found the retaining nut to be finger loose! Appearently like a lot of other things on my TDI the PO did half@$$ed he did this repair as well.

This is the retaining nut in the picture. The torque spec is 18 Ft/Lbs

This is the gasket I'm referring too on the top side of the oil cooler. Luckily for me it has all those little tabs you can attach the two ears to to hold it in place.

Now no more oil leak and I can quit loosing the high dollar synthetic oil that these motor's require.

 

[diesel4me]

A friend I know lost the TDI in his VW Beetle ,when a oil line going to the turbo blew and leaked all the oil out in a matter of 3 minutes,before he could safely pull over...after replacing the line,it still ran,but sounded like all the main or rod bearings were wiped out..so its wise to check the condition of those lines...they weren't cheap either,I think he said it was almost 100 bucks for just one of them!...he ended up selling the car at a huge loss,rather than try to find another diesel to swap into it...

 

[thfonz98]

To clear this up a bit: I got 60 MPG drafting behind my friend has he drove a U-Haul a bit over 300 miles when I helped him move.

I get about 55 MPG if I set the cruise control at 60 MPH, but I never do that because the mileage at other speeds is still so good that I'm happy to pay a tiny bit extra to get there faster.

We got an average of 44 MPG driving from Vale, CO to Reno, NV at a speed ranging from 75 to 85, mostly in the 85 MPH range. Highway 50 is EMPTY so you can really fly. That's roughly 900 miles, did it in one long-ish day.

I typically drive 70 to 75 on the highway and average 45 to 46 MPG. In town I'm getting 38. Could be better in town (like 40-42ish), but the street lights aren't timed in Reno, so by the time you get up to cruising speed, the next light turns red and you have to stop. It's the most inefficient stop light city I've EVER driven in. Royally pisses me off. I talk to folks who've lived here all their lives and they didn't even know that most cities time the street lights so that drivers don't have to stop.

I have a 2002 Jetta TDI with the manual transmission. Tire pressure at about 40 PSI. This car has what's known as an ALH motor, as compared to the slightly less desirable 2004-2006 cars that had the PD motors. I can't remember now why that's a slightly less desirable engine, now. I researched it like crazy before I bought because I wanted a 2004 for the cool tail lights. Figure I'll swap them onto mine sometime in the distant future. The 2004 has the same body style as mine, but 05-06 cars had another body style which I REALLY don't care for. The newest body style that's out is sweet, though! However, I know nothing about the other engines than mine.

Yes, a bit of a necro-ing of a thread,

I also recently bought a 2003 Jetta TDI 5-speed(115k miles) that netted 46mpg mixed driving on its first tank. K5 is still at the house but just now up a spot in the driveway.

One major reason the PD isnt as desirable is due to it flattening out cams from what I've read, also has added emission items in the exhaust, to go along with less gas mileage.

 

[Kocher93]

My girlfriend had a TDI jetta and we drove that thing everywhere. She got it with 99k for 6k from a dealer and we drove the hell out of it. One day someone backs into her and she went to get it repaired. One night when we were camping it spontaneously combusted (the techs put a straight wire in place of fuses that kept burning out). That car was the best car I ever drove; great MPGS. If it hadn't of burned down, I'm sure it would still be driving around till dinosaurs repopulate the earth.

 

[Jessie James]

I had a 1978 VW Rabbit diesel that my dad bought. On a trip from CA to UT I averaged 72 mpg as a one time best. Usually I got around 62 mpg driving at a steady 65 mph.

The new ones are nice, you can barely smell the smoke. My old Rabbit could lay out a smoke screen that could choke an entire freeway.

I remember a long time ago when some jerkoff in a convertible Suzuki Samarai was tailgating me and being a retard flashing his lights and whatnot (in San Francisco rush hour traffic, not like I could go anywhere) and I finally got tired of it - I shifted down to 3rd gear at about 55 mph and floored it. Although he was 3' behind me I could only see his headlights. I kept it floored for as long as I could, redlined at about 72 mph, which of course took about 15 seconds because the car had NO power. Then I put it back in 5th. Not only was he a proper distance of about 5 car lengths, but he decided to be polite for the next 30 minutes that he was stuck in traffic. I am sure he has lung cancer now.

 

[diesel4me]

I was dumb to sell my '86 Diesel Jetta,I regret selling it now...probably the best car I bought for 100 bucks..it had come from PA and just had a new altenator and clutch installed weeks before I bought it from a friend who wanted only to "flip" it and make a little spare cash,I think he got it for 50 or less from a guy he knew...it had stickers on the back window from Abaline University ,and several other colleges on the side windows,and I found a roll of Deleware river bridge tokens in its glove box--car had ZERO rot,evidently it was not in new england for long!..only bummer was it was slightly side-swiped on the drivers side rear door and 1/4 panel,but that didn't bother me any....................................................................................................First thing I found "wrong" with it was someone "forgot" to install the long bolt holding the altenator on to the engine--either it fell of somewhere between here and PA after it was installed,or never was put on!..I installed one,and I soon fell in love with its ability to get 50+ mpg on diesel,back when it was "only" 1.55 a gallon...(1997 think?)...I would go joyriding just for something to do,instead of having to sit home all day,in winter I found it cost less to ride around in it to keep warm,than running my torpedo heater would in my quonset for the day!...it was nice being able to go sightseeing,after being "grounded",when my other vehicles were lucky to get 12-15 mpg,I drove them only when I had too after I got the Jetta...........................................................................................................I had it for about 5 years,it had 252K on it by then...needed all 4 struts,and an exhaust system by then,and it had snapped the timing belt while idling one cold winter day when I was in the garage letting it warm up...I replaced the belt,but the engine was never quite as smooth or powerful as it was before,and I was told by VW techs to "sell it now,before those slightly bent valves either break off and fall in the cylinder,or burn,and you'll need a head or valve job at the least"...it also developed a slight tick from the valve train,so I suspected the valves did get "tweaked"...................................................................................................................................................................................................I stupidly sold it for what I paid for it to a local junkyard I dealt with often,because I didn't want to deal with strokers coming to look at it and want it for free..I stuffed the trunk full of spare parts I had bought over the years and never needed,like an injector pump,starter,etc,and the next day,I heard a guy who worked at the junkyard I sold it too,delivered it to some guy in a nearby town who had relatives in Haiti,and he paid 500 bucks for it............I would love to find a diesel rabbit pickup truck,but the few I've seen around here in fair to poor shape sell for crazy money--like 3+ grand!...I have seen a few mint ones here sell for over 5K...much as I'd like to own one,I will never have that kind of money to spend for one...I thought my prayers were answered one day when I saw one on CL listed for 150 bucks only 12 miles away,but when I got there to look at it-it was a farm truck",rotted to death,probably would have broken in two trying to put it on a trailer or ramp truck,and it had only a drivers seat for an interior!..the rest of it looked and smelled like dead animals,and probably had chickens living in it..I passed!....it did run pretty good though,so I guess if someone needed a cheap motor,it was worth it...

 

[sandypants]

ok, so just wondering about my TDI. i am now leaving Germany going to Alaska. two things.
over here they do not have low sulfur diesel, will i notice a difference in millage when i get back to the states in my TDI? or besides emissions is there really no difference? (sorry a two parter)
ok second question is, do they make a remote start for my 09 TDI auto jetta?

Thanx Sandypants

 

[runamok151]

I had a 1978 VW Rabbit diesel that my dad bought. On a trip from CA to UT I averaged 72 mpg as a one time best. Usually I got around 62 mpg driving at a steady 65 mph.

My parents had one of those too ('78-80? can't remember the year). It averaged well over 55 mpg daily driving. I drove it to Atlanta and back once. I made each direction on 11 gal. of fuel. That's about 64 mpg.

I'm looking at getting an '04-'07, 4 door Golf TDI for a new DD. The stricter emissions kicked in in '08 and mileage dropped.

ok, so just wondering about my TDI. i am now leaving Germany going to Alaska. two things.
over here they do not have low sulfur diesel, will i notice a difference in millage when i get back to the states in my TDI? or besides emissions is there really no difference? (sorry a two parter)
ok second question is, do they make a remote start for my 09 TDI auto jetta?

Thanx Sandypants

If I'm not mistaken, all the diesel in europe is ultra-low sulfur. We finally switched to what they've been using. You're not going to see a loss of fuel economy w/ the ULS diesel. In fact, Gale Banks reported that they saw a power increase when they started testing w/ the ULS fuel. I think what we're going to have to watch for is how gaskets, seals and valves hold up. The sulfur helped lubricate things in the engine and stuff may not last as long.

It's kind of like when they went to unleaded gas. Valve trains took a beating and after a while the valves wouldn't seal as tight.

 

[sandypants]

interesting, and yea i can see that about stuff holding up, one of the reasons i was wanting to find out. i am on Spangdahlem AFB, and according to AAFES, they use "old regular diesel" yes that is the exact quote i got. I am not saying i doubt this highly skilled technition behind the counter at the gas station... but maybe he told me the truth.. maybe not... but either way they diesel isnt labeled ultra low Sulfur...

 

[DEMON44]

I have 55 gal drums for settling the junk and I am instaling a couple of fuel filters, the only thing I didn't think of is the magnets to hold the metal particles before they reach the filter.
SO you run that high of a percentage of oil?
Now is there any reason why you cut it with gas instead of diesel?
I am trying to learn a cheaper way to run my 6.2 and God knows I have plenty of oil coming out of my big rig and soon my brother in laws big rig along with all the cars I change the oil for in my big family.

To get it closer to the consistency of #2. With less volume. You can safely burn up to 15-20% gas in an idi.