Edition 30 - Large Carbon deposits on Injectors

[Top Cat]

I thought the clue in my answer was the Heinz 57 varieties bit. 

My joke went straight over your head. 

[Teutonic_Tamer]

I thought the clue in my answer was the Heinz 57 varieties bit. 

My joke went straight over your head. 

Doh . . . where's the 'sense of humour failure' smilie? 

[AnSGTI]

Stopped off at VW on my way into work this morning, I gave them my registration number and they came back with fuel filter part number 1K0 201 051K.

Does this mean it's just a later revision than the part number you supplied? A garage around the corner said they'd fit it for a £10 so I'm just going to get them to do it on a ramp

Maybe the K version is a later revision.  I bought my C version about 2-3 months ago - so possibly.  My ETKA is seriously out of date though - so I can't even check your new number!

Anyway, have you purchased it?  If so, it should be cylindrical, made from aluminium alloy, about the size of heinz soup for one can (with a slighly stepped diameter at one end).  One end will have one connection in the centre, the other end has two connections - one in the centre and one offset.  It should also have '6.4 bar' stamped on it.  Oh, it might have some black lettering on it - 'UFI 31 840 00'.

HTH

Hi yes it does indeed.

I've found a VW specialist in Hereford (volkshop) and he's going to fit my new fuel filter on Thursday morning. He asked me to explain the issue to him, he seemed pretty clued up but suggested it was down to poor fuel and the TFSI engine, he mentioned he knew someone at the Audi garage and they'd had lots of issues with this type of engine and poor fuel being used. Anyway I'm not going to add anymore fuel to my fire and just get him to replace the fuel filter and go from there - it certainly makes sense to me as the car doesn't judder when I'm parked on a slope facing downwards. I had no idea there was a pressure regulator inside, if I'd know this I'd of had it doen ages ago!

[RedRobin]

he seemed pretty clued up but suggested it was down to poor fuel and the TFSI engine, he mentioned he knew someone at the Audi garage and they'd had lots of issues with this type of engine and poor fuel being used.

....It's probably mostly us enthusiasts who are exclusive users of higher grade petrols such as V-Power. There are loads of Mr & Mrs Jo Average-Driver owners of GTI's who merely view them as the most upmarket Golf they can buy for neighbourhood status and then buy their petrol as cheap as they can get it and do so in ignorance of VW's recommendations - What's a Handbook? 

Of course the VW dealers have to deal with such people. You should hear some of the stories my VW dealer tells me about some of their other customers - No wonder I get so royally treated!

[Teutonic_Tamer]

Stopped off at VW on my way into work this morning, I gave them my registration number and they came back with fuel filter part number 1K0 201 051K.

Does this mean it's just a later revision than the part number you supplied? A garage around the corner said they'd fit it for a £10 so I'm just going to get them to do it on a ramp

Maybe the K version is a later revision.  I bought my C version about 2-3 months ago - so possibly.  My ETKA is seriously out of date though - so I can't even check your new number!

Anyway, have you purchased it?  If so, it should be cylindrical, made from aluminium alloy, about the size of heinz soup for one can (with a slighly stepped diameter at one end).  One end will have one connection in the centre, the other end has two connections - one in the centre and one offset.  It should also have '6.4 bar' stamped on it.  Oh, it might have some black lettering on it - 'UFI 31 840 00'.

HTH

Hi yes it does indeed.

I've found a VW specialist in Hereford (volkshop) and he's going to fit my new fuel filter on Thursday morning. He asked me to explain the issue to him, he seemed pretty clued up but suggested it was down to poor fuel and the TFSI engine, he mentioned he knew someone at the Audi garage and they'd had lots of issues with this type of engine and poor fuel being used. Anyway I'm not going to add anymore fuel to my fire and just get him to replace the fuel filter and go from there - it certainly makes sense to me as the car doesn't judder when I'm parked on a slope facing downwards. I had no idea there was a pressure regulator inside, if I'd know this I'd of had it doen ages ago!

I'd echo the comments on poor fuel.

I don't know if you are aware, but the Mk5 GTI engine was specifically 'set up' to use 98RON unleaded (look inside your fuel flap) - which is European 'Super Unleaded'.  If you don't run it on 98RON juice, then the engine ECU will constantly be retarding the ignition timing from its optimal setting - and probably more importantly, it won't be able to use 'lean burn' mode (basically using more fuel).  In the UK, most Super Unleadeds are only 97RON (BP, Esso, Total, Jet, Sainsburys) - there are only two fuels in the UK which comply with the European norm for Super Unleaded - namely Tesco Momentum 99, and Shell V-Power - both of which are 99RON.

Also on fuel, most 'standard' unleadeds, generally have less additives and detergents compared to the more expensive Super Unleadeds - and the standard unleadeds from the supermarkets are even worse. 

[john_o]

is it right or wrong that lean burn stratified mode was disabled on later cars?

[Teutonic_Tamer]

is it right or wrong that lean burn stratified mode was disabled on later cars?

Lean burn stratified mode never was, and never has been disabled on European cars.

But it was never enabled at all on North American cars.

The inclusion or not of lean burn mode is soley down to the fuel quality available in the relevent country.  Lean burn needs an ultra-clean 'Ultra Low Sulfur [unleaded] Petrol' (ULSP), and this has been available in the EU since the early 1990s (ish).  But North America, whilst being an early adopter of lead-free 'gasoline', still has high quantities of sulfur in their gas.

It was the sh!t fuel in the US which basically killed imports of the Mitsubishi GDI engine in the mid to late 1980s

[RedRobin]

I'd echo the comments on poor fuel.

I don't know if you are aware, but the Mk5 GTI engine was specifically 'set up' to use 98RON unleaded (look inside your fuel flap) - which is European 'Super Unleaded'.  If you don't run it on 98RON juice, then the engine ECU will constantly be retarding the ignition timing from its optimal setting - and probably more importantly, it won't be able to use 'lean burn' mode (basically using more fuel).  In the UK, most Super Unleadeds are only 97RON (BP, Esso, Total, Jet, Sainsburys) - there are only two fuels in the UK which comply with the European norm for Super Unleaded - namely Tesco Momentum 99, and Shell V-Power - both of which are 99RON.

Also on fuel, most 'standard' unleadeds, generally have less additives and detergents compared to the more expensive Super Unleadeds - and the standard unleadeds from the supermarkets are even worse. 

[AnSGTI]

Uh oh spagettio....

I may have been running mine on Sainsbury's Super since I had it - I am aware that it's only 97 RON but thought it was basically BP super. I can't comment what the last owner has run the car on but she was an 'older' lady shall we say and I can't see her as having been filling up with super unleaded to be honest.

I can get Shell V-Power or Tesco Super where I live - I'm guess Tesco ain't much cop either as it's supermarket fuel so I'll start filling up with V-Power from now on.

Could that point to my problem then - and will the damage be lasting?  

I ran the car when I had it back from the garage on V-Power with Forte in it and the cold start never changed from what it is now, nor has it changed since I've put a few tanks of Sainsbury's super in it.

[Mako V12V]

I've been running mine on shell V Power for the last year since I've owned it and I have the same problem on cold starts albeit not quite as bad as yours appears.
Lookin forward to hearing about your fuel filter replacement results!
Cheers Phil.

[Teutonic_Tamer]

Uh oh spagettio....

I may have been running mine on Sainsbury's Super since I had it - I am aware that it's only 97 RON but thought it was basically BP super.

Yikes!!! 

Oh, and BP havn't supplied Sainsburys for around 6ish years now - they just fill their fourcourts with any 'unbranded' and additive-free crap.  So whilst their Super may be 97RON - it has bugger all additives to keep your fuel system and engine clean. 

I can't comment what the last owner has run the car on but she was an 'older' lady shall we say and I can't see her as having been filling up with super unleaded to be honest.

OK, now some 'truths' about fuel useage are emerging - get yourself two tins of VWs latest petrol fuel additive - G 001 770 A2 - bung one whole 90ml can in a fresh tankful.  Maybe best to do this after the new fuel filter.

I can get Shell V-Power or Tesco Super where I live - I'm guess Tesco ain't much cop either as it's supermarket fuel so I'll start filling up with V-Power from now on.

Tesco Momentum 99 is just as good as Shell V-Power.  It has been proven in independent tests to be slightly better than V-Power, and spanks BP Ultimate.  Tescos Super Unleaded isn't like other supermarket fuels - it is made by www.GreenErgy.co.uk - the UKs fourth largest road fuels company, and the pioneer of B2.5 and B5 bio fuels.    And it is the official fuel of the British Rally Championship.

Could that point to my problem then - and will the damage be lasting? 

I'd strongly point to cr@p fuel being a major contributory factor with your issues.

And lasting damage?  Its hard to say.  Probably more damage was caused by the old dear who owned it before.  If she was on LongLife servicing, did lots of short journeys (cold starts, overfueling, oil dilution, etc), never spanked it to burn off contaminents in the engine oil - then that is likely to be more damaging.  Do you have the service book?  Was it on LongLife servicing?  How old is the car and how many miles has it done?

I ran the car when I had it back from the garage on V-Power with Forte in it and the cold start never changed from what it is now, not has it changed since I've put a few tanks of Sainsbury's super in it.

To be honest, your engine will need three or four starts from cold to allow the ECU to re-adjust to the higher octane fuel - and I doubt you'd fully run your tank dry - so the V-Power is still gonna be diluted with the crap fuel left in the tank.

And what specifically was the Forte you used?  Got a linky?  Based on the cars' history, I doubt one tin of fuel treatment will have any chance of majorly cleaning your fuel system.

Just like it probably got 'progressively crap running', it will probably take maybe four full tanks of decent juice, and a couple of cans of fuel cleaner additive to get it back to normal.

HTH

[Teutonic_Tamer]

I've been running mine on shell V Power for the last year since I've owned it and I have the same problem on cold starts albeit not quite as bad as yours appears.

Give Tesco Momentum a try.  Whilst Tesco and V-Power both have advanced high tech additives, they do differ.  And maybe you can try some of the VW fuel additive.

Lookin forward to hearing about your fuel filter replacement results!

What's the history of yours?  How old?  How many miles?  What servicing regime?  What brand & spec of oil?

[AnSGTI]

Uh oh spagettio....

I may have been running mine on Sainsbury's Super since I had it - I am aware that it's only 97 RON but thought it was basically BP super.

Yikes!!!  

Oh, and BP havn't supplied Sainsburys for around 6ish years now - they just fill their fourcourts with any 'unbranded' and additive-free crap.  So whilst their Super may be 97RON - it has bugger all additives to keep your fuel system and engine clean.  

I can't comment what the last owner has run the car on but she was an 'older' lady shall we say and I can't see her as having been filling up with super unleaded to be honest.

OK, now some 'truths' about fuel useage are emerging - get yourself two tins of VWs latest petrol fuel additive - G 001 770 A2 - bung one whole 90ml can in a fresh tankful.  Maybe best to do this after the new fuel filter.

I can get Shell V-Power or Tesco Super where I live - I'm guess Tesco ain't much cop either as it's supermarket fuel so I'll start filling up with V-Power from now on.

Tesco Momentum 99 is just as good as Shell V-Power.  It has been proven in independent tests to be slightly better than V-Power, and spanks BP Ultimate.  Tescos Super Unleaded isn't like other supermarket fuels - it is made by www.GreenErgy.co.uk - the UKs fourth largest road fuels company, and the pioneer of B2.5 and B5 bio fuels.    And it is the official fuel of the British Rally Championship.

Could that point to my problem then - and will the damage be lasting?  

I'd strongly point to cr@p fuel being a major contributory factor with your issues.

And lasting damage?  Its hard to say.  Probably more damage was caused by the old dear who owned it before.  If she was on LongLife servicing, did lots of short journeys (cold starts, overfueling, oil dilution, etc), never spanked it to burn off contaminents in the engine oil - then that is likely to be more damaging.  Do you have the service book?  Was it on LongLife servicing?  How old is the car and how many miles has it done?

I ran the car when I had it back from the garage on V-Power with Forte in it and the cold start never changed from what it is now, not has it changed since I've put a few tanks of Sainsbury's super in it.

To be honest, your engine will need three or four starts from cold to allow the ECU to re-adjust to the higher octane fuel - and I doubt you'd fully run your tank dry - so the V-Power is still gonna be diluted with the crap fuel left in the tank.

And what specifically was the Forte you used?  Got a linky?  Based on the cars' history, I doubt one tin of fuel treatment will have any chance of majorly cleaning your fuel system.

Just like it probably got 'progressively crap running', it will probably take maybe four full tanks of decent juice, and a couple of cans of fuel cleaner additive to get it back to normal.

HTH

The head tech at VW recommended I run Forte Specialist Injector Cleaner - he got me some, it looked like this:

http://www.aaautospares.com/forte.html

The car was never on long life, although it's a long life service book it's been crossed out in biro and the cars been on time/distance. It's been serviced every 12 months since new, car was registered in March 2007 and has three stamps at Halifax VW. The mileage on the car whn I bought it was just over 20K and I have managed to get it up to almost 22.5K.

I thought I'd read somewhere that I wasn't supposed to put too many fuel additives in as it can dilute the oil?

[Mako V12V]

Lookin forward to hearing about your fuel filter replacement results!

What's the history of yours?  How old?  How many miles?  What servicing regime?  What brand & spec of oil?

Reg May 08, purchased Oct 09 with nearly 12k miles, one owner, Oct 10 now on 20300 miles.
Serviced by VW May 09 with Helix, May 10 with ? - VW approved oil, think 5W 30. Time/distance.

[Teutonic_Tamer]

The head tech at VW recommended I run Forte Specialist Injector Cleaner - he got me some, it looked like this:

http://www.aaautospares.com/forte.html

I'm not a fan of Forte stuff.  Basically American stuff - designed for their high sulfur fuels rather than our ULSP.  And they have fairly high pressure marketing techniques at garages too.  I know a couple of garage owners who have been - well quite pi$$ed off by their heavy pressure - yet failing to offer any technical backup.  Pile 'em high, sell 'em cheap (but they aint cheap to the end user).  The more descerning and technically sympathetic garages and teccys use Wurth stuff - Wurth is prolly THE best non-genuine consumables ranges.  Wurth also supply OEMs too.  But I guess your head tech at the VW stealer was chasing commissions targets!

The car was never on long life, although it's a long life service book it's been crossed out in biro and the cars been on time/distance. It's been serviced every 12 months since new, car was registered in March 2007 and has three stamps at Halifax VW. The mileage on the car whn I bought it was just over 20K and I have managed to get it up to almost 22.5K.

Oh, OK, sounds better than first thought.  What about the oil though?  Because many stealers used poorer quality (ie, non-LongLife3 and non-FSI specific) oils when the car was on T&D servicing!  The service book individual services should state if LL oil was used.  And do you know which oil company the workshop has its contract with?

I thought I'd read somewhere that I wasn't supposed to put too many fuel additives in as it can dilute the oil?

Correct.  But constantly running on non- Super Unleaded can also cause oil dilution!  Rock and a hard place and all that.  But at least you can change the oil.