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While diesel is not the answer to our oil crisis, it sure could help. (http://www.orlandosentinel.com/features/consumer/orl-ymsmith1008aug10,0,6432005.story)

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/2009_VW_Jetta_TDI_Test_drive_wrapped.jpgSteven Cole Smith - OrlandoSentinal - Aug. 10, 2008

Test drive wrapped 2009 VW TDI – EPA rated at 30/41 with the 6-speed manual.

To bad about the fuel cost differential given the fuel economy superiority of a turbo-diesel over any similar displacement gasoline powered automobile :( -- Ed.

A few years ago, it looked like diesel engines would undoubtedly play a substantial role in the looming fuel crisis -- which, of course, arrived with a vengeance that few of us anticipated. Almost weekly, I'd get a call or a letter or an e-mail from a reader who had just returned from Europe, drove some diesel-powered vehicle that performed well and got exceptional mileage, and wondered why that power plant wasn't available here.

The answer five years ago was pretty easy: Six states, including California and New York, had tougher anti-pollution laws than the federal government's, which essentially banned the sale of diesel engines in new cars.

It was tough to justify building diesel cars when you couldn't sell the engine in two of the largest states, so few automakers bothered. Plus, diesel engines traditionally cost more, anyway -- the compression pressures inside the engine are so great that the block and heads have to be pretty heavy-duty.

And, of course, there's that stigma -- that diesels are smoky and smelly, and that diesel fuel is harder to find than gasoline.

Diesel technology has improved to the point where many of those concerns no longer apply. By the end of 2006, we got diesel fuel that is cleaner than what we had before, thus reducing emissions.

And diesels themselves are no longer smoky, smelly, loud and rough-running. I spent much of this last week driving a 2008 Volkswagen Touareg 2 TDI sport-ute, powered by a twin-turbocharged 310-horsepower, 5.0-liter diesel engine, and performance was simply stellar … http://www.orlandosentinel.com/features/consumer/orl-ymsmith1008aug10,0,6432005.story

Yeah, the price difference would scare a lot of people away from diesel right now.

http://www.fuelgaugereport.com/sbsavg.asp

I used to own a 2001 VW Jetta TDI. That was the first new car I ever bought. It was the BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT of any automobile I have ever owned.

I CAUTION anyone looking to purchase a VW diesel for economy. Ask the following questions:

How much for timing belt changes? How frequently must they be changed? Currently this is a $1000 item on previous generation TDI's.

How much for intake manifold cleanings?

How much for EGR cleanings?

How much for Turbo Charger replacement?

These are all HIGH $$$$$ maintenance items and common to all TDI's. The 2004 and later used a standard waste gate in the turbo which didn't have the seizing problems of the earlier model's Variable Guide Vane turbo.
Now I see VW has gone back to the troublesome Variable Guide Vane turbo's again. Beware!!!!

Also I see the powertrain warranty has declined in coverage to a measly 5 yr/60,000 miles. Buyer beware, because this engine is all new!

You couldn't give me one (I'd immediately sell it and apply the proceeds toward a Honda Accord diesel.)

Good luck future VW diesel owners...you're going to need it!

BTW, my wife has a 2004 Jetta TDI that has been stellar! The PD engine is much more reliable than the AH engine. However, these new engines look to repeat some of the same mistakes VW made in the past. How sad...

Hi Andy, I am sorry to hear about your 2001 Jetta. I have a 2001 TDI and really like it. I do always recommend that TDI drivers find a good mechanic though unless they want to pay $1000 for timing belts and parts they don't need. Personally, getting my timing belt done cost under $600 CAD.

Are you sure the PD's use a wastegated turbo? I am almost certain the BEW engines use a Borg Warner KP39 turbo which uses a variable turbine and guide vanes, like the VNT15 from the ALH's. It would actually surprise me if it didn't. Turbos with variable geometry of some sort seem to be needed to get decent power out of newer diesels while still keeping good driveability. Most of the diesels coming over from BMW, VW, Mercedes, Nissan, Toyota, etc have variable geometry turbos. I have heard that the Honda i-DTEC may not, but it apparently does in Europe so we will see.

I think some of the soot problems we have seen on the ALH TDI's is due to the lower quality fuel that we had for so long. The new ULSD is closer to what is burnt in Europe and reduces soot output so I think that helps. There are tons of 1.9 TDI's in Europe using VNT turbos and I hear much less about intake and turbo soot problems from their engines.

I was told by my dealer it was a waste-gate, but I will check for myself. Those problems were just the tip of the ice...


First timing belt was due at 40,000 miles -yes, 40k for the automatics. Luckily I did EXTENSIVE research before I had it done by Deaf Bug, and ordered the parts myself that included a stronger tensioner spring. That bumped the change interval to 80k.

I had to have the turbo changed twice-the first after 20k miles due to seized guide vanes. I was told, "not to baby it".

So...at 60k the guide vanes seized again.

At 80k the M01 transmission went out. That was the final straw. I put it on Craigslist while it was still at the dealer getting a new transmission. My voice mail was full in two days with people wanting that POS.

Did I mention all the B.S. with multiple MAF sensors, multiple glow plug harnesses, multiple coolant temp sensors, brake light switches, leaking coolant reservoir, etc. This thing was a LEMON, in every sense of the word.

The confirmation came a month after I sold it to a diesel mechanic. He wanted to know how old the timing belt was, because it still looked good when he was changing the water pump that had sheered it's shaft. :eek:

Good luck with your 2001, and I hope you don't have an automatic. I'm ENJOYING my 2007 Toyota Camry, getting 40 mpg, and don't have ANY B.S. to deal with. VW will never get me to buy one of their diesels again.

Don't worry, I have a manual. I know the 01M has more than its share of problems.

You experience with your car highlights one of the points I try to make about finding a good mechanic: VW dealers often have no clue about the vehicles they are selling. I am willing to bet that they are wrong about the wastegate turbo and have to wonder that if your dealer did most of the work, how many of the parts that were replaced actually needed it. I am told the only time a turbo will need replacing is if it goes boom or if there is excessive shaft play. Seized vanes should not warrant a replacement. I could go on for a while about the incompetency of many VW dealers but will keep it for another thread as I feel we're going off topic.

You seem to be doing well with your Camry. My parents buy nothing but Toytas because the dealer takes extremely good care of them when a problem comes up. Most other places could learn something from that dealer.

My dad and I had 5 Diesel Rabbits, ranging from 1979 to 1984. Dad traded the last one in on an S-10 in 1994. Really wish I had it back. We changed the timing belts ourselves, and dad swapped engines several times.
Small, noisy, underpowered, but got 50MPG driving like a nut. Plus, I have a source for free, high-quality veg oil. I have well over 100 gallons saved, but haven't converted the tractor to run on it yet.