Exhaust Soot on Polo GTI

[ATYPIC]

I always use Caltex 98 and I've had soot from day dot...back of the car is always filthy.

For those who are interested...I'm led to believe that most, if not all BP Ultimate in Melbourne comes from the Caltex Refinery in Altona.

[Hail22]

I always use Caltex 98 and I've had soot from day dot...back of the car is always filthy.

For those who are interested...I'm led to believe that most, if not all BP Ultimate in Melbourne comes from the Caltex Refinery in Altona.

There is a helpful guide I have followed these steps since driving!

snopes.com: Tips on Pumping Gas

You would be amazed that regardless of how many times fuel is boiled to remove crude and impurities there is a good kilogram of silt, contamination sitting at the bottom of the storage tank.

[gavs]

prcurrie, mate I would really be asking for something to be looked into because I can assure you, If you want to come take a look at my car it is currently filthy and has not been washed since march when i had the service done on it. In 3000+kms, no soot whatsoever on the back of my car.

[Karly101]

Since new engine I have not had any soot *touch wood* only done a few hundred kms on it so its early days but this is using the same fuel, I'm fairly sure its not the fuel but somehow related to faulty oil burning engines!

[Candy GTI]

Yeah I wouldn't call it soot on the back of mine because when you look up close it is actually little spots of oil that must get spat out the exhaust.

[pologti18t]

Yeah I wouldn't call it soot on the back of mine because when you look up close it is actually little spots of oil that must get spat out the exhaust.

That could be just tar thrown up from the road.

[Karly101]

I thought mine was oil too but it washes off very easily, oil is usually much more tougher to remove?? But it definitely increased with oil consumption... its not from the road as mine was always contained to the side the exhaust was on! Shame I didn't get a picture of mine when it was really covered in it... dealership shrugged it off first time I mentioned it but it has been recorded on paperwork from them when I got the new engine along with description of 'problem car' lol.

[Acko1991]

There is going to be silt and other contaminants in the petrol station fuel tanks.....Its a certainty....like most fuel tanks....nothing is highly clean apart from most likely Aviation fuel......big reason no one ever pumps a tank from the bottom....All the tanks onboard the ships i work on have contaminants in them.......thus why we pump from about 1 foot above the bottom of the tank....plus we have stripping pumps to get rid of the bad stuff.....I wouldn't worry about your fuel tank being full of silt....the car will let you know because the fuel filter will be clogged up.......I don't see a problem having a dirty back end....my back end always gets sooty/dusty its just how it is....a lot of it comes from the road.

[prcurrie]

Ok. So I think the soot is getting worse. This pic is after 5 days of driving (about 250kms).

I'm having to wash it every week as it just looks so bad.......

[Dan86]

Ok. So I think the soot is getting worse. This pic is after 5 days of driving (about 250kms).

I'm having to wash it every week as it just looks so bad.......

Damn dude, please tell me you entered it in a rally or something?

I wash mine every week regardless but I don't get a fraction of that on the back of my white gti.

[Karly101]

Yup thats exactly what mine looked like, had to wash the car all the time but it always looked dirty! Mine is still good on new engine - this is despite me filling up at exactly the same servos with same fuel. I'd complain to dealership.. its not normal!

[evolb]

Yup thats exactly what mine looked like, had to wash the car all the time but it always looked dirty! Mine is still good on new engine - this is despite me filling up at exactly the same servos with same fuel. I'd complain to dealership.. its not normal!

Did you have this fixed on warranty? Has anyone else managed to get this dealt with by a dealer?

[Karly101]

Did you have this fixed on warranty? Has anyone else managed to get this dealt with by a dealer?

Yes it was as the car was burning so much oil it was undeniably coming from the exhaust not from road splatter...I had the piston rings replaced which didn't help so then I got the new engine. I'm sure this is a bit extreme to fix the issue- surely it would be a tuning problem with the previous engine running too rich? The dealer did keep brushing off my complaints about it until they couldn't ignore it cause the car was going through litres and litres of oil and I kept going back to them for top ups.

[polo]

Very sorry to hear about the stress some of you are going through!

I'm planning to pick up a new Polo GTI in 3-4 weeks time (silver with tint and reverse sensors), and instead of looking forward to it, my thoughts of excitement and sense of anticipation are replaced with trepidation. It's not only the vehicle itself that worries but the issues people are expressing at the dealership level.

Not sure what do to now - anyway, sorry for thinking out aloud & I hope anyone with issues has them sorted by the dealer ASAP!

Cheers,
Nick

[mr_bzr]

Just remember that, forums are generally places people come together to solve problems or to get opinions on problems. Not to get opinions on ideas and to heap praise. So generally are a bit more biased. There are lots of happy motorists out about also.

Very sorry to hear about the stress some of you are going through!

I'm planning to pick up a new Polo GTI in 3-4 weeks time (silver with tint and reverse sensors), and instead of looking forward to it, my thoughts of excitement and sense of anticipation are replaced with trepidation. It's not only the vehicle itself that worries but the issues people are expressing at the dealership level.

Not sure what do to now - anyway, sorry for thinking out aloud & I hope anyone with issues has them sorted by the dealer ASAP!

Cheers,
Nick