Warranty claims related to fuel type useage

[sixfootchoc]

Hey all,

I was at a VWJH in WA, recently - A friend was buying a MKVI GTI - I went along to hold his hand - The dealer asked how I was going with mine (08 GTI). I said great - He then asked what fuel I was putting in - I told him, only 98 (have never put anything lower in the car) - Aparrently, they have around 9 claims in from customers who have engine damage related to using 91 octane fuel. Customers are insisting that VW pay up on the warranty claim - It will cost around 9k to fix each car (which sounds astronomical) my feeling is that nobody should help the stupid, but who should be responsible in this case? If you bought the car second hand and weren't given a handover, is the sticker on the tank flap enough - Should VW educate customers on fuel type and why its important?

Just putting it out there - I want to follow up to see if they end up covering it - In which case, I will push for every small thing that isn't right with my car that hasn't resulted from sheer ignorrance.

What does everyone think?

Cheers

[noone]

It's a pretty basic spec for a vehicle. Finding fuel type is easy, finding a cars weight can take a bit of effort.

[Tim]

Morons need to start taking responsibility for their own stupidity.

[Diesel_vert]

I feel a bit sorry for them because their frustration and anger is due to a lack of knowledge on the owner's part. See it from their point of view - all they did was put petrol in the car like everybody else, and for some reason they're now up for a 9k repair bill. Not what they envisaged of European motoring, I'm sure.

But at the same time, ignorance is no excuse for not ensuring the proper running of your vehicle - it would have taken only a few minutes to read the label on the fuel filler lid and save them thousands of dollars in repair bills.

I'd say it's a harsh (and expensive) lesson learnt and move on.

[manol]

I feel no sympathy. Most of the time the people that do this sort of thing are stupid, arrogant ****wits who pay no attention to what's happening around them, and the minute something bad happens plays the victim. Typical bogan ACA/TodayTonight mentality.

I saw a woman filling up her MKV GTI the other day at 7/11 with 91 octane. This is why I would never buy a second hand car from someone who isn't an enthusiast.

[Treza360]

Doesn't it have a big sticker inside the fuel flap that says 95/98 ROZ/RON only? All the older ones do as do pretty much all cars that have a quality fuel requirement.

Cheers,
Trent

[DionM]

People don't understand. They only see unleaded or diesel, that's it. They don't understand why they would want to pay for more expensive fuel, especially if they don't need the "power" that the more expensive fuel gives them. Add in the various name changes and different names used for high octane fuel at various distibutors and they get confused, so they just buy the cheapest.

I see heaps of nice cars getting 91 RON put into them. Ironicially its the expensive brands that need it, but the owners are too penny pinching to put decent fuel in.

I do wonder though, if there's more to the story. With knock sensored engine management I'm sure the engine could cope with low octane fuel, it sounds a bit extreme to get a $9k bill for that? Misfuelling (petrol into diesel) I can understand big $$$ but other than that? (and on that topic, I remember the sales guy telling me if I ever put petrol into my diesel Pajero, it would be okay so long as it wasn't a whole tank ... say what!).

[adamk]

yeah my 08 has the sticker its like making a warranty claim for putting 98 in your tdi or the same for putting diesel in an fsi.

out of interest what kind of damage is the 91 doing thats running up a 9k bill

[sixfootchoc]

People don't understand. They only see unleaded or diesel.

I agree with this - If you're not an enthsiast, all you see is petrol - and the cheapest will do.

It was their dealer principal who spoke to me - I'm heading down there to get a price on an extended warranty, so will myself be keen to see where they're at with these claims - for interest's sake.

My first thought was that the claims may have been coming from 1.6 Golf owners, as they tend to be value buyers.

I'm not sure what the specifics are, but again, I'll ask the question - I did question the amount as being over the top, but he insisted that's what it would cost them in parts and labour to repair the problem.

I know that the cars will take 95 octane and the knock sensor will adjust, but 91? Not sure - perhaps there is little tolerance below 95 octane?

Certainly adds another question to the long list when buying second hand.

[Highlander]

yeah my 08 has the sticker its like making a warranty claim for putting 98 in your tdi or the same for putting diesel in an fsi.

out of interest what kind of damage is the 91 doing thats running up a 9k bill

You mean I can't put 91 in my TDI CC. I have to use 98?