Dieselgate Scandal

[Carsten]

I'd hold your horses wrt selling your VW:

Official tester claims four more diesel car giants break toxic emissions limit | Daily Mail Online

It’s not just VW: Official tester claims four more diesel car giants break toxic emissions limit
- Researchers found BMW, Ford, Mazda and Mercedes cars emitted levels of nitrogen oxides up to seven times the legal limit
- Volkswagen engines polluted 35 per cent less than comparable cars
- Findings suggest other manufacturers have found ways to pass the tests

The VIN number check is accurate. The model and year list necessarily less accurate for several reasons, including that the actual build date is substantially different from registration or delivery.

Ultimately, diesel engines are not that complicated - they suck in air and fuel, compress it, get combustion - engine goes. As much as we'd like to think otherwise, for any manufacturer to meet emissions standards they are going to have to do pretty much the same thing and there is not going to be an enormous difference in performance or emissions between them. When you are dealing with tiny numbers (e.g. permissible NOx concentrations), it doesn't take make to have '35 times the limit' and ultimately doesn't mean that much either. 35 times almost nothing is still not much......

[Ryeman]

I'd be wanting to know who DOES meet real world limits?

[Idle]

Ive entered my vin and its saying its not a valid number.....?

I had the same problem — finally succeeded by using IE and agreeing to all its stupid questions (apparently it doesn't like Firefox.)

After all that, it said my 2013 Mk7 Golf TDI Highline isn't affected.

[arcadelt]

It’s not just VW: Official tester claims four more diesel car giants break toxic emissions limit

I'm very dubious about that article. The corporate world, like politics and government, is very much driven by media image, and it would not surprise me if VW is running both an open positive campaign and a back-door negative one. That said, this entire policy area is very arbitrary, so I'm also dubious about subjecting my car to corrective action when other pollution emissions go unchecked. Furthermore, there are other vehicle policy breaches which are not arrested that, in my opinion, are worse in terms of safety than emissions...especially in our lowly populated country. This one is an issue because VW got caught.

[The_Hawk]

What's the difference between the 2L TDI in the Golf, Tiguan etc and the one in the Transporter/Multivan/Caravelle Range?

[Carsten]

I'm very dubious about that article. The corporate world, like politics and government, is very much driven by media image, and it would not surprise me if VW is running both an open positive campaign and a back-door negative one.

I'm not taking it as gospel either - but wouldn't be surprised if others were also not meeting standards. As I posted above, diesel engines are not complicated and there are a limited number of approaches to reduce emissions - so basically everyone implements the same solution/s and it works, or it doesn't. The Ad-blue/urea tank used in some Mercedes (and VW's?) and refilled at services seems to work - maybe they can be retro-fitted? Or, if no-one can practically achieve the standard, perhaps the regulators should just think again what they're trying to achieve - particularly in our sparsely populated country?

[ian]

Just rang the VW. Hotline. About the emissions debarkle and was informed my 130 kW. Tiguan is affected You can ring them direct on 1800 607 822.

[Idle]

What's the difference between the 2L TDI in the Golf, Tiguan etc and the one in the Transporter/Multivan/Caravelle Range?

Probably orientation — RWD allows more room around the motor for add-ons.

[arcadelt]

What's the difference between the 2L TDI in the Golf, Tiguan etc and the one in the Transporter/Multivan/Caravelle Range?

Why do you ask?

[The_Hawk]

I didn't think it was an EA189, just wondering how it's different in terms of construction (and emissions).

[The_Hawk]

Probably orientation — RWD allows more room around the motor for add-ons.

They aren't RWD, FWD or 4Motion if you spec it.

[DaSkwurl]

So, I'm lucky, my Passat isn't affected however both of my parents cars are (2k11 GTD + 2k13 Tiguan) after speaking to them about this neither is willing to have their car recalled if it's going to affect the performance, this being the reason they brought them. (That and we're a vdub fanfam )
Does anyone actually know how much the performance will be affected by the new software?
Additionally should my parents put their cars in for service, do vdub have to inform them should they decide to upg the software or can they do it surreptitiously?
Last thought, if it is done, can it be reversed to the original software?

[arcadelt]

Does anyone actually know how much the performance will be affected by the new software?

Since the fix hasn't even been developed by VW yet I doubt anyone could answer that question right now. I'd suggest waiting until the first guinea pigs have gone through the process and the press report the results. No doubt some smart cookie will put the car on a dyno before and after to tell the world what they have discovered.

Additionally should my parents put their cars in for service, do vdub have to inform them should they decide to upg the software or can they do it surreptitiously?

I'd guess that since this will be a Government directed/approved solution there will be no choice if you get the car serviced by a dealer. Once the car is found to have not been rectified in the VW database the fix will be applied without question.

Last thought, if it is done, can it be reversed to the original software?

I doubt it will be easily reversible, although there are reports of owners previously having emission measures removed from cars to improve performance, so you never know what the aftermarket industry will come up with. There are no end of 'upgrade' workshops illegally installing HID/Xenon headlights and they seem to be getting away with it...so why not emission software and hardware too.

[Carsten]

Does anyone actually know how much the performance will be affected by the new software?
Additionally should my parents put their cars in for service, do vdub have to inform them should they decide to upg the software or can they do it surreptitiously?
Last thought, if it is done, can it be reversed to the original software?

I think VW are still working out the solution they will roll out, so it cannot be said, yet, what the performance implications are. If they decide to retrofit the AdBlue system, ala MB and if they can find the space, my understanding is the performance impact is negligible.

AdBlue® Diesel Exhaust Fluid

Much like the many performance chips available, I am sure you will be able to rechip it even if VW did something you didn't like.

VW Jetta Diesel Tuning Chips | CHIP Expressâ„¢

[dinot81]

So far what I have heard or read, possible solutions would be for cars without AdBlue, would be a software update only (installing AdBlue is impossible as aftermarket add-on) which would increase the amount of fuel added for higher combustion temperature which in return would reduce NOx.

For cars with AdBlue, it would increase the amount of AdBlue to be injected to reduce NOx and those engines would have reduced power output so it would meet the emissions regulations.

But so for is only a speculation until VW has a official solution to the problem.