Tiguan and the Snow

[tiguan_hunting]

Hi everyone,
I'm planning to take the Tiguan TDI up to Lake Mountain for one day. Does anyone know whether I need to put anything "special" into my diesel tank? I've had friends who owns the previous X5 model and Prado diesel and they both put some additive in to avoid the diesel from freezing up.
Contacted my local Volkswagen service centre and they advised that I do not need to do anything. Will only be going for one day.
Thanks
Liam

[team_v]

I wouldn't bother adding anything to the fuel.

Have fun taking the Tig through the snow.
Be sure to get some pictures and give us a review of how it goes when you get back.
This is on my list of tasks to put the beast through.


Might be best to ask Derek (NZ TIGUAN) as he has a diesel and it gets put through cold/snow work.

[Arctra]

I took my Tig up to the Snowie's last year and had no problem with my Diesel freezing or anything. You'll be fine mate.

[borbor1313]

Hi I always leave space for half a tank of diesel and fill this up at the bottom of the mountain. All the local petrol stations all have alpine diesel with the additive already mixed in. I figure why take a risk when I don't need too

[NZTiguan]

You'll have no issues at all unless you're going to Antarctica !!! Most snow areas have comparatively warm temperatures, it's only when you're getting into the -20ºC range that I'd even be thinking about it !!

Cheers

[Transporter]

You'll have no issues at all unless you're going to Antarctica !!! Most snow areas have comparatively warm temperatures, it's only when you're getting into the -20ºC range that I'd even be thinking about it !!

Cheers

Not exactly. If you park your car overnight at -10deg. and start driving in the morning the cold wind will cause the temperature drop to much more than -20deg on the surface and inside the fuel tank, fuel lines and hoses. That will reduce or stop diesel fuel flow and the engine will stop working.

But as far as I know we have winter fuel in all states, don't we? That should solve that problem.

How ever I always use diesel fuel additives, summer or winter doesn't matter. If you going to use additive because you go to snow get the one that is for winter conditions.

[NZTiguan]

Ahh you're fussing too much Transporter tell your Tig to toughen up !! If they (the fuel companies) use something in the diesel in winter it's needed, if they don't it isn't. We often are -10 and more here in Winter and I've never seen a single diesel with an issue and we all just fill-em-up and drive.

Cheers

[Transporter]

Ahh you're fussing too much Transporter tell your Tig to toughen up !! If they (the fuel companies) use something in the diesel in winter it's needed, if they don't it isn't. We often are -10 and more here in Winter and I've never seen a single diesel with an issue and we all just fill-em-up and drive.

Cheers

Yeah, I know.
But, there is a lot of problems with the fuel injection components in late model diesel engines and they're all related to the lack of lubrication from the fuel itself. In most cases after 150,000km. Here is the article that came to me last month http://www.industrysearch.com.au/Fea...esel-fuel-4619
I'm not telling you go and buy that Bi tron product (I never used/tried it)! The good fuel additive will add a little bit to the running cost which will be compensated by improved fuel economy and longer life of the engine components.

[jcubed]

Hi Regulars,

Back in 1994 with the Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, a work associate and myself was on our way from Hamar to Lillehammer one evening after "work". Work was setting up and testing a stabilized camera on a track next to the speed skating arena in Hamar.

30 minutes short of our destination, the Discovery l just died and we were towed in. At the time we did not know what the problem was, but the cure was to lock the car in a garage with some air heaters overnight, and we were on the road again the next day. The temperature was probably not much lower than -10 C at the time of traveling.

So yes, 16 years ago diesel DID freeze in fuel lines, but I would hope that we have advanced somewhat with both the engines and the fuel.

[NZTiguan]

Hopefully in the areas it's needed (such as here in Central Otago) the fuel companies allow for this sort of thing. I guess they must cos as I say I haven't heard anything about problems. That said I guess if you're going from a warmer area into a cold one and not filling up along the way you could end up with an issue, so looking for an additive that "covers your nether region" could be a wise move. I'm just giving Transporter a stir up cos he lives over the ditch

Cheers

[cerb]

If you're driving up and back in the same day, you're unlikely to encounter issues as daytime temperatures rarely drop below zero.

If you're staying overnight, it is definitely a concern - One which i've experienced before! (Spending hours waiting for the temperature to rise and the diesel in the lines to warm up is a pain!)

Essentially, diesel fuel has wax in it which will crystallize at cold temperatures and block your fuel pump filter and sometimes even the fuel lines.

Petrol stations generally stock different diesel depending on their location and time of year - Standard Diesel, Highland Diesel and Alpine Diesel. Just ask what type they have at the servo.
- Alpine diesel is only available from a small number of petrol stations in Vic (all very close to the mountains) and is good for very low temps.
- Highland diesel is sold in areas which generally get cold, but do not dip far below zero (inland areas, but not necessarily in the mountains).
- Standard diesel is what you'll find in the major centres.

If filling up with Alpine diesel when very low temps are expected, you want to put in at least 3/4 of a tank!

Other methods if Alpine diesel not available:
- Adding Kerosene or Lamp Oil to the diesel is one way to reduce the temperature at which the wax crystals will form. These methods are rather impractical for many people as you end up having to add significant quantities of kero or lamp oil.
- Diesel additives do not change the temperature which the crystals form. Some additives can inhibit the crystal growth to smaller sizes and shapes so that they are less likely to block your filter.

Enjoy the snow!

[MikeeR]

Not exactly. If you park your car overnight at -10deg. and start driving in the morning the cold wind will cause the temperature drop to much more than -20deg on the surface and inside the fuel tank, fuel lines and hoses. That will reduce or stop diesel fuel flow and the engine will stop working.

Huh? How so? If the air temperature is -10, well driving will not make the air any colder. If it's wind chill you're talking about, that's really only an approximate feeling of air temperature on exposed skin with a given wind strength. Zero effect on metal - unless there's some liquid moisture around I suppose and therefore an evapoartive cooling effect.

[Transporter]

Huh? How so? If the air temperature is -10, well driving will not make the air any colder. If it's wind chill you're talking about, that's really only an approximate feeling of air temperature on exposed skin with a given wind strength. Zero effect on metal - unless there's some liquid moisture around I suppose and therefore an evapoartive cooling effect.

Unfortunately, real life experience proves your theory wrong.

[Captain Bungers]

I think it has to do with the decompressing air, which doesn't really make sense, but it gets colder. Like when you have a beer in the freezer which, before you open it is liquid, freezes once it is opened.

[Foxpuppet]

Well I can tell you right now regular/standard diesel does freeze and I'm parked on the road at -6 waiting for my engine to warm up in the sun! Funtimes....
So after reading this thread I wished i had of read it before going away.... 3 weeks into ownership and I have my hazards on... Balls! I figured antifreeze was a given after buying the van from orange. But never knew that the fuel could be an issue. Been through the handbook a few times while sittig here and saw no mention of below zero fuelwarnings.