Most manufacturers do warn against using fuel additives. After having some engine cut out issues, post injector recall replacement, I decided to try the Redex 0-60 cetane booster for diesel.

Initially, it was fantastic, performance was noticeable, it was like a remap! Acceleration was responsive and instant. Even when driving normally, the instant response was appreciated. However, problems soon surfaced when the DPF light started to come on. When the car was driven at higher revs, the car started to splutter and coil light came on and power was cut - no response from accelerator. Had to turn the ignition off and had to leave off for a few minutes, before it was able to fire up again. It then happened again when trying to take off at traffic lights some days later, causing a traffic diversion whilst trying to get the car restarted.

At this stage the tank was half full and had to fill up with ordinary diesel to 'dilute' the additive and has behaved itself ever since. Once this tank is empty, I'll not be using additive again, but will definitely go for a remap at some stage.

That being said, has anyone with an MkII Octavia VRS PD used performance fuel from Shell or BP? (not talking about fuel additives that are manually added to fuel).

Thanks.

Hi

Have tried Shell V Power and got less mpg. Ordinary Shell seems ok and car runs smooth on it. Asda seems to be best for mpg with BP Ultimate a close second.

We fill up with BP Ultimate every few tankfuls and it runs well on it. No probs with it.

Dave

That's interesting, must just be the PD engine.

My CR engine has had Millers Eco from pretty much day 1 and runs smooth as silk.

That's interesting, must just be the PD engine.

I would suggest it's not the PD engine, but the DPF filter combined with the PD engine that's more of an issue when using additives.

Edited 2 April, 201313 yr by booke23

Hi,

I've got an 08 VRS Pd. I ve been using Millers Eco on every other fill up. Buy most fuel from local Morrisons coz its the cheapest around for me.

Did fill up with BP ultimate on one occasion, but to be honest didn't really notice any difference.

After these comments will keep a closer eye on any irregularities .

Lets hope it was the additive but it should be noted that there are plenty of examples on here of owners suffering from the same issues you have described after the injector recall.

Those issues include the DPF light and the engine randomly cutting out. I should know I've been through the pain.

How long ago were the injectors replaced?

Had you seen the DPF light prior to their replacement?

Have you checked the oil recently? Make sure the level isn't increasing.

I've used Millers on every diesel car (including a 2.0 170PD) for over 10 years without any issue and without even seeing the DPF light in about 200k miles. It didn't prevent injector failure in that engine, but I'm sure it didn't contribute to it either. My nearest Shell garage is over 20 miles away and I'm going to continue using Millers since I get it virtually free and sometimes use bunkered diesel saving several ppl.

Another Millers Ecomax user here with no problems at all.

Also use Millers and no problems

I've the 2008 Octavia VRS 2.0 PD. Injector recall done last June. Since then it's been cutting out (battery light on) about once a month. Had put it down initially to the injectors bedding in, but about last month, the engine started cutting out in one week, 3 times. Normally happens when changing out of gear, but once back in gear (like a jump start) it continues to run. Wasn't able to do that one time, as the car was slowing down, had to coast in to kerb, but as engine was cut out, no power steering and ended up kerbing the alloy! Happened before DPF light light comes on and had happened once after the DPF regen. Dealer had the car a few days and had it on the computer, but cannot find any faults or replicate the problem. It's been that infrequent, that I knew it wouldn't happen on their watch.

Decided to use the fuel additive to see if it would clear the injectors and a boost of power wouldn't go amiss. Okay initially for a few days - great boost of power and engine would cut out temporarily, usually during high revs >3,000rpm. The engine had spluttered and cut out, with no power when trying to drive high revs >3,000rpm to regen the DPF. Had to leave engine off for a few minutes.

At the end, the problems experienced outweighed the benefits. It definitely boosted performance and made acceleration more responsive at the lower rev range, pretty much eliminating the turbo lag, but at the cost of reliability. It's been diluted down from 1/2 tank remaining with the additive and ultimately won't be using it again.

It may be the fact that it's the PD engine, but unsure if anyone has used this redex brand on a CR engine...

2 stroke oil in Diesel at a ration of 200:1 seems to have a lot of people singing its praises, smoother running & better mpg. I tried it in the old 1.9 Mk 1 Octi tdi & it was definately quieter, not sure about mpg improvements as I never really worried to much on that as it was always 50+

just google " 2 stroke oil in diesel " And judge for yourself, not sure if mineral or synthetic is better,

from one site

Effects of 2t oil added to diesel cars.

Due to the pollution control measures of the EC diesel-oil is nearly sulphur free and contains up to 5% of bio-diesel. Sulphur has the property to grease the high pressure injection pump and the injectors. Without sulphur, the reduced greasing property of the new diesel has already shown negative impacts on the long-term stability of the injectors and the high pressure pump. The pump manufacturers have tried to react by lining the moving parts of the pumps with Teflon or other suitable material. However, the long term stability is still not achieved as with the old (sulphur contained) diesel.

The engine-research centre of a well-known German car manufacturer has conducted some long term tests of diesel additives to find out whether any one of them will have an impact on the long term reliability of the diesel engine components. This introduction to explain were my information comes from.

The results of this research: any diesel additive of any manufacturer presently on the market is not worth the money!

BUT: 2-stroke oil, which we use in our motor saws, lawn mower or in 2-stroke motor engines has shown to have an extreme positive impact on diesel engines, if such 2-stroke oil is added to the diesel in a homeopathic doses of 1:200. In practical terms: 0,300 litre of 2-stroke oil into the 70l diesel tank. The 2-stroke oil will be absorbed by the diesel (emulsion) and grease every moving part of the high pressure pump and the injectors.

Besides this, the 2-stroke oil will keep the diesel engine clean, as it burns cleaner as the diesel itself.

In other words, the 2-stroke oil has a much lower ash-content as diesel, when burned. This proven fact delays the DPF (diesel particulate (soot) filter) to clog, and the "burn free" process of the DPF will be much less.

More information: in Germany we have to present our cars every 2 years to the TUV -Technical Supervision Organisation - who will check, amongst others, the pollution of petrol and diesel engines.

The measured cloud-factor of a diesel engine without use of 2-stroke oil has been 0,95.

The same factor with the use of 2-stroke oil has been 0,47 - reduction of nearly half of the soot particles.

Besides this, the use of 2-stroke oil in the diesel will increase the mileage by 3-5%.

and more :-

You may all know that Mercedes Benz have conducted in 2007 a long distance reliability test with a number of Mercedes E-Class 320 cdi from Paris to Beijing. Due to the fact that the diesel quality in East European Countries, Russia and China does not meet the DIN requirements, and Mercedes did not want to take the risk of their engines to flopp due to lousy fuel, the total tour has been accompanied by diesel tanks to re-fuel the E-Class cdi's. Selected members of the Mercedes clientele could apply to participate in selected parts of this test-tour, and advocats and notaries had to certify the correctness of this long term reliability test.

Although Mercedes does not like it published or made public, it is a fact that the diesel-fuel used for this test did contain 2-stroke oil to grease the high pressure pump components and to keep the engines clean during this marathon.

Why our car manufacturers do not officially allow the homoeophatic addition of 2-stroke oil to the diesel fuel has many reasons, mostly of legal nature. Besides this, which car manufacturer has any interest in excessive reliability of their engines? Their repair shops will have great problems.

Meanwhile the "2-stroke-oil to diesel" issue has attracted the interest of a number of Universities in Germany, as this 2-stroke oil has shown to have amazing poperties if added in a small dosis to diesel fuel (1:200), especially the positive impact on air pollution, reduced fuel consumption and improved long term reliability of the diesel engine. The pro and con discussions will go on for a while. But as soon as an accademic report has been published by one of our Universities, this will change very fast.

By the way: all car manufacturers reject the addition of any fuel "additive" in their cars, and warn that guarantee MAY be affected. Nobody says, that guarantee WILL be rejected. 2-stroke oil in its properties is not an additive, as you add oil to oil if you "dope" you fuel with a dosis of 2-stroke oil. The dosis of 2-stroke oil in your diesel-fuel is very difficult to analyse, as every (chemical) analysis has the main function to identify substances which are harmful. But 2-stroke oil has proven not to be harmful at all, on the contrary!

Personally, I use 2-stroke oil now for many years in all of my diesel cars (my present business car is a Mercedes 320 cdi DPF Automatic). And I never had any problems whatsoever.

Edited 3 April, 201313 yr by Stuart_J

Been discused here before

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/126680-early-results-mixing-2-stroke-oil-into-derv/

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/248488-running-2-stroke-oil-in-your-vrs-mk1/

Long-time Millers user here too and no problems in nearly 10 years of use on VAG PD engines, including my current PD140 BKD.

As has been said, with the PD170 your issue may be elsewhere

I have been using Millers for about 400,000kms in my BKD engined Octy and it hasn't caused me any problems.

I've the 2008 Octavia VRS 2.0 PD. Injector recall done last June. Since then it's been cutting out (battery light on) about once a month. Had put it down initially to the injectors bedding in, but about last month, the engine started cutting out in one week, 3 times. Normally happens when changing out of gear, but once back in gear (like a jump start) it continues to run. Wasn't able to do that one time, as the car was slowing down, had to coast in to kerb, but as engine was cut out, no power steering and ended up kerbing the alloy! Happened before DPF light light comes on and had happened once after the DPF regen. Dealer had the car a few days and had it on the computer, but cannot find any faults or replicate the problem. It's been that infrequent, that I knew it wouldn't happen on their watch.

This is injector related. The use of the additive is masking the real issue. I was where you are but 12 months ago.

My PD170 showed the exact same faults you described.

The dealer reseated the injectors and all has been OK since.

Have you checked your oil? Diesel will be diluting your engine oil.

The problems seem to have settled down after diluting the tank with normal diesel. Been driving it normally the past few days without hiccups, coughs or splutters.

I will certainly be letting the tank run to near empty and fill up with normal diesel and will be rid of the problematic fuel additive. I'll certainly be in contact with Redex.

Thanks for reading and replying, folks!

I would suggest it's not the PD engine, but the DPF filter combined with the PD engine that's more of an issue when using additives.

PD engine + DPF (with or without Millers)= crap

PD engine + no DPF with Millers = well oiled sewing machine

I've been putting millers in both SWMBO PD Seat (no dpf) and my blackline and both seem to run better for it. I hope they continue to as I've just bought 5L of it off ebay as it works out 1/2 the cost of buying the 500ml bottles.

Put 50ml of Millers in every time I fill up and never yet seen the DPF light come on. Had this car since May 2012 and only done 13,500 in that time. Lots of short journeys too so I should be the absolute anti christ to a PD engine with DPF. I'm of the opinion though it's how you drive them. Pootle about trying to eke out every last bit of MPG and your asking for trouble. Drive it like you stole it (within reason ). Oh and bog standard Morrisons diesel goes in the tank too.

Just to tempt fate, I have a pd engine with a dpf, I use almost exclusively supermarket diesel, never use additives and have taken the car from 30k to 130k miles with nothing more than seeing the dpf light maybe 10 or 12 times, all of which were quickly and easily cleared as instructed in the manual. Maybe I'm just really lucky (Or maybe this will bite me next week).

I personally don't use/recommend any additives (other than premium fuel), but gun to the head, I would (and used to) opt for the BG range of products over any of the Redex/Millers/etc. stuff.

Most manufacturers do warn against using fuel additives. After having some engine cut out issues, post injector recall replacement, I decided to try the Redex 0-60 cetane booster for diesel.

Initially, it was fantastic, performance was noticeable, it was like a remap! Acceleration was responsive and instant. Even when driving normally, the instant response was appreciated. However, problems soon surfaced when the DPF light started to come on. When the car was driven at higher revs, the car started to splutter and coil light came on and power was cut - no response from accelerator. Had to turn the ignition off and had to leave off for a few minutes, before it was able to fire up again. It then happened again when trying to take off at traffic lights some days later, causing a traffic diversion whilst trying to get the car restarted.

At this stage the tank was half full and had to fill up with ordinary diesel to 'dilute' the additive and has behaved itself ever since. Once this tank is empty, I'll not be using additive again, but will definitely go for a remap at some stage.

 

Probably what happened was it was cleaning the existing rubbish out of the system and causing some issues or possibly burning a bit hot/quick?.

 

Try running it a few tanks at half the previous concentration.  Better than leaving it on the shelf in the gargae.