Volkswagen Cleared for Big European Diesel Fix; Company Claims No Power or Mileage Loss

by Steph Willems

Published: June 7th, 2016

volkswagen cleared for big european diesel fix company claims no power or mileage

Volkswagen can start hauling the first of 800,000 Passat, CC and Eos models off of European streets after a German regulator granted approval to the automaker’s diesel emissions fix.

The Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA) says there’s nothing wrong with the plan to bring 2.0-liter diesel versions of those models into compliance with pollution laws. No doubt Volkswagen execs are happy to cross off another thing off their “to do” list.

About 8.5 million vehicles were sidelined by the company’s diesel emissions scandal, but removing their emissions-cheating “defeat devices” has been a slow, painful and wildly expensive process. In the U.S., the automaker plans to finalize a buyback program for nearly 500,000 vehicles by mid-summer.

Unlike most recalled U.S. vehicles, this European crop won’t be spirited away to the automotive afterlife, leaving owners holding a pile of company cash. Volkswagen promises a “retrofit campaign” that allows owners to drive their diesel to a dealer or authorized partner for the fix. They’ll even get a free “mobility option” to get them around while the diesel docs work on their car. (This sounds like a loaner, but being Europe, there’s still a chance they’ll hand you a bike.)

After these 800,000 vehicles clear out, another 2.0-liter recall will begin.

In its official release, the automaker gave few details on its “technical solution,” instead assuring owners that, “Following the retrofit, the cars will meet all legal requirements.”

The U.S. recall taught us that older models were harder to retrofit, and risked becoming slower and thirstier once fixed. Volkswagen doesn’t hint any any of those issues for the European recall.

“The KBA has also confirmed unequivocally that the technical solutions for these models will not result in any changes to the fuel consumption, performance or noise emissions of the vehicles concerned,” the automaker said in a release. “The KBA had previously confirmed this for all of the other vehicles for which the recall has been approved to date.”

#Diesel #Europe #Recall #Volkswagen #VW #VwDieselScandal

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SCE to AUX on Jun 07, 2016

“The KBA has also confirmed unequivocally that the technical solutions for these models will not result in any changes to the fuel consumption, performance or noise emissions of the vehicles concerned...” That leaves durability, and/or cost, and/or DEF consumption. Obviously, VW is eating the cost of this repair, and durability is TBD. So my guess is that VW cheated solely due to cost containment, which hasn't worked out so well.

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- Felix Hoenikker on Jun 07, 2016
  
  Assume DEF consumption doubles. That's probably conservative. How much would that add to operating costs? I looked up the price of DEF solution and found a 2.5 gal container at Sam's Club for $11 or about $3 per gallon. If you use a gal. a month, doubling DEF consumption would only add another $3 a month running cost. Not exactly breaking the bank. Can anyone who owns a VW diesel comment on DEF consumption preferably on basis of volume DEF consumed per 1000 miles driven.
  
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- I_S on Jun 07, 2016
  
  I am deeply skeptical of 'solutions' with all positives, no negatives. In all likelihood, both fuel economy and power will suffer due to exhaust meddling, and this loss will be compensated by reprogramming the turbo and other powertrain components, leading, as you alluded to, to lower durability. I would also be concerned for follow up lawsuits alleging that VW lied about power/emissions change during normal driving after the fix is implemented. While legally they'll be in the right (EU testing cycle being akin to curing cancer in a petri dish), this is a PR bomb waiting to explode in their face.
  
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- Kyree on Jun 07, 2016
  
  @Felix Hoenikker I do not know how big the DEF tank on my Golf SportWagen is. The first fill-up would have been paid-for by Volkswagen as part of the free minatenance program, but I was at 9,900 miles and was about to embark on a 1000+ mile trip in the middle of the night. I didn't want to run out on the road. So I filled it up for about $8 at a truck stop. The second fill-up, at 20K miles, cost me $9 at my independent mechanic, and I had that done at the same time as the 20K-mile oil change. The DEF, as it stands, is a complete non-issue.
  
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- Scoutdude on Jun 07, 2016
  
  @Felix Hoenikker The proper dosing is between 2-3% of the fuel consumed, if it is dosing at a rate that gives full emissions compliance. So low end is going to be around .4 gallons per 1000 miles and high end ~.75 gallons per 1000 miles. I expect to see a significant increase in the number of TDIs going into their version of turtle mode when the real world average fuel economy (and not the one time high that TDI evangelists report) and the "I'll get to it next week" mentality catches up with drivers and they find them with an empty DEF tank the first time.
  
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DenverMike on Jun 07, 2016

Laughable. All TDI Amaroks in Australia have already been "fixed", perhaps since OZ has the loosest emissions standards this side of the Congo. All they're doing is removing the "cheat device", and away they go. Full dirty emissions, all the time.

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TheEndlessEnigma These cars were bought and hooned. This is a bomb waiting to go off in an owner's driveway.
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Theflyersfan If this saves (or delays) an expensive carbon brushing off of the valves down the road, I'll take a case. I understand that can be a very expensive bit of scheduled maintenance.
Zipper69 A Mini should have 2 doors and 4 cylinders and tires the size of dinner plates.All else is puffery.