Fuel for the TDi

robtheplod

Guest
Getting my 2.0 Diesel FR today - what's the recommended diesel for it? any benefit to the more expensive stuff or is this a waste??
 

StylancePaul

CUPRA Owner
May 31, 2006
308
2
Cambridge, UK
The manual states:

We recommend the use of Diesel fuel which complies to European standard EN 590. If diesel fuel which meets European standard EN 590 is not available, the Cetane number (CZ) must, at minimum, be 51. If the engine is equipped with a particulate filter, the sulphur content of the fuel must be below 50 parts per million.
 

ChrisMuskerFR

Active Member
Jun 23, 2013
45
0
Risca
So basically normal diesels fine lol, I found when I had a diesel it seemed to run better on the v-power or specail stuff, but I may have been imagining that lol
 

robtheplod

Guest
thanks. Car just arrived, looks nice in black. Passenger footwell light hanging down though so just need to find where it clips!
 

Bdringhill

Noob
Mar 29, 2013
222
0
So basically normal diesels fine lol, I found when I had a diesel it seemed to run better on the v-power or specail stuff, but I may have been imagining that lol

I get better economy from non supermarket fuels, and when the car has a full tank of ultimate (once a month usually) it *seems* happier.

Try it for yourself, but really can't see supermarket fuels having a detrimental effect
 
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Suicida1 Zombie

Active Member
Mar 19, 2013
446
2
I ran mine (2.0 TDI FR with DSG) on the first 1200 miles on Shell FuelSave Diesel and it seemed fine.

I have recently filled from empty with Shell V-Power Nitro+ with a double shot of Millers EcoMax Added.

First of all you can HEAR the difference, the can runs quieter and smoother on the V-Power and seems more eager to pull in the higher revs.

I haven't done enough miles to comment on the MPG difference but will do soon.

I have always used Tesco 99 in my old Fiesta ST and will always run the new FR on V-Power as at 45MPG+ the difference is tiny...... (Just over £5 difference for a full tank)

Even if the FR does NO BETTER on the V-Power the cost (For the milage I get currently) would be 13.5p per mile on the cheapest diesel in my area or 14p per mile on V-Power.
 

Ashworth

Active Member
Feb 2, 2010
152
0
Nottinghamshire
I've been running my current car tdi 170CR FR on ordinary diesel fuel for couple of years now and its fine. It's usually been BP or Shell rather than supermarket fuel. However, amazingly it does seem to run particularly well on Jet diesel from my local village filling station.
I tried Shell V power and BP Ultimate regularly during the first year of having the car but could not see any significant difference in performance, mpg or engine noise. Therefore I stopped using it and saved money.

I don't know whether this is true or not but I have been told by a number of people that there is no real point in using these higher quality diesel fuel as there is little benefit. It is just a money making thing by the fuel companies. However, I am told that it is a whole different situation with unleaded where there are significant advantages of using it. I will have to think seriously from tomorrow when I pick up my new 1.8 tsi FR Leon as to whether I should be using V Power or Ultimate rather than standard unleaded.
 
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Suicida1 Zombie

Active Member
Mar 19, 2013
446
2
If a petrol car is turbo-charged it will always have gains from higher octane fuel.

Although when reading everywhere I could before buying my first diesel the general consensus was that the gains are greater for premium diesel vs normal then they are premium petrol vs normal.

The petrols has a higher octane rating and the diesels have a higher cetane rating, both of which help give a longer more efficient complete and sustained burn to my understanding.
 
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Nath.

The Gentlemans Express
Jan 1, 2006
8,619
16
EASTLEIGH, HAMPSHIRE
If a petrol car is turbo-charged it will always have gains from higher octane fuel.

Although when reading everywhere I could before buying my first diesel the general consensus was that the gains are greater for premium diesel vs normal then they are premium petrol vs normal.

The petrols has a higher octane rating and the diesels have a higher cetane rating, both of which help give a longer more efficient complete and sustained burn to my understanding.

Vpower cetane level is only about 2 points higher than regular. The Vpower diesel is all about detergents not cetane. Oh and 2 cetane points is almost nothing when you look at how the scale works.
 

Marve

Active Member
Apr 20, 2013
191
9
When my girlfriend drives it, I am just grateful she picks up the black one rather than the green one. That is about her limit.
 

Bdringhill

Noob
Mar 29, 2013
222
0
When my girlfriend drives it, I am just grateful she picks up the black one rather than the green one. That is about her limit.

Hahaha, I still always have a mini panic attack and check what pump I've just picked up
 

GreyUm

Guest
Check the colour, then the cost, then check again. Not that it'd make a difference because I'm already filling the tank lol

At least if you do realise you have only filled a little bit... take it out and fill to the top with the right fuel ;)
 

Bdringhill

Noob
Mar 29, 2013
222
0
At least if you do realise you have only filled a little bit... take it out and fill to the top with the right fuel ;)

I've always wondered about that, I'm probably being daft asking the question, but would a little bit of petrol mixed in cause as bad an effect on the engine as trying to run it on full on unleaded?
 

Stegor

Active Member
Jul 17, 2011
332
0
I've always wondered about that, I'm probably being daft asking the question, but would a little bit of petrol mixed in cause as bad an effect on the engine as trying to run it on full on unleaded?

A small amount shouldn't harm. Just make sure it's then filled to the brim with diesel. More than 5-10% petrol and I'd probably get the tank drained.