Leaving tank more than 1/4 full

[ainsy]

FYI VW left this in my glove box. Looks like VW are now confirming the tank must be 1/4 full.

 

[Meoncoast]

I am sure someone ( may have @VW Guru ) that dealers were going to be issuing this to owners.

 

[Borris]

And this is progress!

 

[blondebier]

It must be costing them a serious amount in breakdowns/recoveries.

Bonkers system.

 

[5i1ver8ack]

Someone tell me if I'm wrong, but surely there's some flexibility available here depending on the circumstances.

If I keep the fuel level at less than a quarter full for days or weeks at a time, the DPF system will be affected. I understand that and that's clearly a practice to be avoided.

But if I'm driving from e.g. the UK to the south of France, there's no need to keep refuelling before the quarter full mark is reached because on a journey of that length, the system will have adequate opportunities to regenerate.

So in real world driving situations, the effective capacity of the fuel tank is not restricted to less than 50 litres.

 

[Loz]

Someone tell me if I'm wrong, but surely there's some flexibility available here depending on the circumstances.

If I keep the fuel level at less than a quarter full for days or weeks at a time, the DPF system will be affected. I understand that and that's clearly a practice to be avoided.

But if I'm driving from e.g. the UK to the south of France, there's no need to keep refuelling before the quarter full mark is reached because on a journey of that length, the system will have adequate opportunities to regenerate.

So in real world driving situations, the effective capacity of the fuel tank is not restricted to less than 50 litres.

Yes, you will be fine in that scenario.

 

[Lightning]

Yes, you will be fine in that scenario.

Until it comes to a warranty claim...

 

[WelshGas]

Until it comes to a warranty claim...

Rubbish.

 

[Loz]

Until it comes to a warranty claim...

I was advocating sensible use where it can get below a 1/4 as part of journey as you would be filling it up full again.
The advice is not to keep it below a 1/4, as I have mentioned before,

 

[Nolan]

My van doesn't seem to be struggling to regain, does it all the time! Frustrating when I stop after driving for an hour and it decides to regain, surely an hour of pretty much steady state motorway driving would have been a better time to do it?

I'm not going to start refuelling after 300 miles, that negates one of the main advantages of driving a diesel but then I don't routinely drive it until the fuel light is on either. I also don't see how this will affect the warranty.

It does make one worry about the longevity of modern diesels although I can't see my DSG van ever failing the current MOT smoke test as it prevents you from revving the engine when it's in neutral (can't remember when it will rev to but it's really low).

 

[GrannyJen]

Mine frequently drops below 1/4 full and I am sure if it was going to harm anything then there would be enough lights, bells whistles and klaxons going off to rival the inside of a Las Vegas casino.

I tend to fill up when the systems put in by the vehicle manufacturer advises me to, i.e. when the warning bell dings. I then fill right up. I think the advice is not to fill up regularly to a level less than a quarter full.

Either way Alfie seems happy enough.

 

[Lightning]

I was advocating sensible use where it can get below a 1/4 as part of journey as you would be filling it up full again.
The advice is not to keep it below a 1/4, as I have mentioned before,

I understand, and I don’t disagree. VW however may use it as an excuse to deny a warranty claim if a problem with the DPF occurs while the tank is less than a 1/4 full. It’s like insurance they try and look for and use any available loop holes.

 

[2into1]

There seems to be more misunderstanding of how a T6 regenerates which is different to all previous models. Rather than regenerate during long, higher revving trips like the older models, the T6 uses a forced regeneration whenever it seems fit, irrespective of your plans at the time. My T6 generally chose about 0.5 miles from home to start. It appears you are unlikely to do more than 2 hours of driving between regens.

VW have realised that the fuel in the system (which constantly recirculates) will overheat during regen if the tank is less than 1/4 full, so have programmed the system to NOT regen below that level.

Even if you've just blasted down the autoroute for 12 hours, there is nothing to say your van wasn't just about to start a regen when you (a) stopped or (b) fell below 1/4 tank.

As there is still plenty of fuel left at 1/4 tank (say 17.5 L), you have 135miles of range at 35mpg, and at Ave 30mph, could drive for over 4 hours. That could be 2 additional regens missed as well as the one that perhaps just likely to be needed. I don't know at what level of failed regens you get a warning light, or the engine cuts out.

This is a vw cock up. Don't assume that because you have no warning lights or alarms, then all is fine. Vw didn't realise this implications of low fuel, so didn't program any warnings. It's taken them a year after we worked it out (with vw guru's help) to start leaving leaflets in your glove box.

 

[Lightning]

There seems to be more misunderstanding of how a T6 regenerates which is different to all previous models. Rather than regenerate during long, higher revving trips like the older models, the T6 uses a forced regeneration whenever it seems fit, irrespective of your plans at the time. My T6 generally chose about 0.5 miles from home to start. It appears you are unlikely to do more than 2 hours of driving between regens.

VW have realised that the fuel in the system (which constantly recirculates) will overheat during regen if the tank is less than 1/4 full, so have programmed the system to NOT regen below that level.

Even if you've just blasted down the autoroute for 12 hours, there is nothing to say your van wasn't just about to start a regen when you (a) stopped or (b) fell below 1/4 tank.

As there is still plenty of fuel left at 1/4 tank (say 17.5 L), you have 135miles of range at 35mpg, and at Ave 30mph, could drive for over 4 hours. That could be 2 additional regens missed as well as the one that perhaps just likely to be needed. I don't know at what level of failed regens you get a warning light, or the engine cuts out.

This is a vw cock up. Don't assume that because you have no warning lights or alarms, then all is fine. Vw didn't realise this implications of low fuel, so didn't program any warnings. It's taken them a year after we worked it out (with vw guru's help) to start leaving leaflets in your glove box.

It’s interesting that although the manufacturer, who designed the vehicle, and has the in depth knowledge of their systems, provides specific operating instructions. The end users, who have little knowledge of these systems, assume they know better, only because the revised operating instructions don’t suit them.

These same end users will no doubt be moaning about rejected warranty claims in due course.

 

[willwander]

...My T6 generally chose about 0.5 miles from home to start.

Haha that’s true

 

[Calimili]

Don't overfill AdBlue, don't underfuel the diesel tank. Don't discharge the battery to too low, don't overfill the grey water, don't run the clear water tank dry.
You have to constantly measure stuff with the t6. It makes for a relaxing holiday

 

[Lightning]

Don't overfill AdBlue, don't underfuel the diesel tank. Don't discharge the battery to too low, don't overfill the grey water, don't run the clear water tank dry.
You have to constantly measure stuff with the t6. It makes for a relaxing holiday

Don’t open the boot with the roof up and a bike on the rack...

 

[Borris]

It’s interesting that although the manufacturer, who designed the vehicle, and has the in depth knowledge of their systems, provides specific operating instructions. The end users, who have little knowledge of these systems, assume they know better, only because the revised operating instructions don’t suit them.

These same end users will no doubt be moaning about rejected warranty claims in due course.

No the operating instructions do not suit basically because this whole thing is a lash up, a poor design, an after thought and a damned nuisance. We are obliged to follow their instructions because expensive problems may occure if we do not. I am one of those people who doesn't have an indepth knowlege of how the system works nor do I want to have. But I do recognise a complete dogs breakfast when I see one. Show me another vehicle manufacturer who has employed this same system?

 

[Eber123]

The van's keep us busy

 

[Lightning]

No the operating instructions do not suit basically because this whole thing is a lash up, a poor design, an after thought and a damned nuisance. We are obliged to follow their instructions because expensive problems may occure if we do not. I am one of those people who doesn't have an indepth knowlege of how the system works nor do I want to have. But I do recognise a complete dogs breakfast when I see one. Show me another vehicle manufacturer who has employed this same system?

I agree it appears to be a badly flawed design in this particular respect. The complexity and reliability of these modern emissions control systems is worrying when considering long term out of warranty ownership.

Without gloating, I’m glad mine is petrol.

 

[Nolan]

I agree it appears to be a badly flawed design in this particular respect. The complexity and reliability of these modern emissions control systems is worrying when considering long term out of warranty ownership.

Without gloating, I’m glad mine is petrol.

I'm glad mine has an extended warranty

 

[WelshGas]

My van doesn't seem to be struggling to regain, does it all the time! Frustrating when I stop after driving for an hour and it decides to regain, surely an hour of pretty much steady state motorway driving would have been a better time to do it?

I'm not going to start refuelling after 300 miles, that negates one of the main advantages of driving a diesel but then I don't routinely drive it until the fuel light is on either. I also don't see how this will affect the warranty.

It does make one worry about the longevity of modern diesels although I can't see my DSG van ever failing the current MOT smoke test as it prevents you from revving the engine when it's in neutral (can't remember when it will rev to but it's really low).

It won't rev above 2500 revvs when stationary, but on a rolling road ?

 

[ainsy]

I agree it appears to be a badly flawed design in this particular respect. The complexity and reliability of these modern emissions control systems is worrying when considering long term out of warranty ownership.

Without gloating, I’m glad mine is petrol.

How does the heater system work on a T6 Ocean petrol?

 

[WelshGas]

How does the heater system work on a T6 Ocean petrol?

There are petrol versions available.

 

[Lightning]

How does the heater system work on a T6 Ocean petrol?

It doesn’t need/ have the Webasto engine coolant pre heater but it does have a petrol Eberspacher for cabin heating, which is superb.