30,000km service - fuel filter question

[VWjettaboy]

Hi all

I recently had a 30,000km service completed at a local VW 'specialist' mechanic for my 125TDI Jetta (Oct 2010 DSG model). Although their quote of $400 was above the dealer, I thought I'd give them a go instead.

When I picked up the car, I noticed the fuel filter had not been replaced (the only thing listed was oil, oil filter, air/cabin filter). No written report either.

I queried the mechanic who advised me Jettas only have the fuel filter replaced at 60,000km, but this is in direct conflict with what the service manual states quite clearly as 30,000km for Diesel engine vehicles....the 60,000km seems to be for petrol engines...). They were adamant it didnt need replacing until 60,000km and pointed out VW vans get theirs done at 90,000km...I got the impression they didn't read the service book as we didnt get a written report stating what they'd done and when I asked about brake pad depth etc, got told they'd be surprised if anything needing fixing til 80,000km+

I am a bit confused as everything I've read points to 30,000km being the service interval for fuel filter replacement...even in the US, their service schedule is 20,000miles which is roughly equal....The mechanic said they can replace it if i want for another $70 or so which brings the service up to $500 and well over a $100 more than the actual dealer....

Can someone please advise if I should be getting the fuel filter replaced at 30,000km...I didn't want to stuff my warranty by having one part not replaced per the service schedule (in the hopefully unlikely event that something went wrong down the track). Is the specialist wrong?

[TomC]

According to the VW service breakdown I had the dealer scan in and email to me, fuel filter is not replaced until 60k service and it doesn't differentiate between petrol or diesel, so I reckon the mechanic's got it right.

However, not giving you a step-by-step report of the service isn't great. Personally, I won't leave after a service unless I have that report in my hands. If that is important to you, or you're generally not happy with their work, go somewhere else (or back to the dealer).

[Transporter]

I would say get it done, here is the one that I did before 30,000km. http://www.vwwatercooled.org.au/foru...tml#post559371

[Diesel_vert]

According to the tech manual, the diesel fuel filter change interval depends on whether the diesel fuel in a particular region or country conforms to European Norm (European Standard) 590, or simply EN590.

Diesel conforming to EN 590 : every 90,000 km

Diesel not conforming to EN 590 : every 30,000 km

Diesel with a sulphur content exceeding 2000 ppm : every 7,500 km

Comparing the specs of the Australian diesel fuel standard with EN590 would seem to indicate that they are almost identical, but for the time being, you should follow whatever interval is stated in the Australian service book.

Though there seems to some confusion as to what that actual interval is - 30k, 60k, or 90k?


Do note that passenger and commercial vehicles have different change intervals and should not be confused otherwise, even if they run the same hardware.

I am a bit confused as everything I've read points to 30,000km being the service interval for fuel filter replacement...even in the US, their service schedule is 20,000miles which is roughly equal...

Unlike Europe or Australia, the quality of diesel fuel in North America is highly variable, and generally not compliant with EN590, hence the increased change frequency as per the tech manual.

[Umai Naa!!]

The service book that comes with the car is not generally vehicle nor country-specific.

As stated already, the correct service interval for the fuel filter is 60,000klms. If you've requested it prior, when booking the car in, or dropping it off, and they've not done it, yeah get mad.