Hi, would a Superb my62 1.9 tdi have any pre heating system to prevent fuel waxing and help starting, on a UK model. I am heading for a cold place, and have run into problems before with diesel waxing on my previous derv car. Thanks

I doubt, that any of pre-heating systems prevents from diesel waxing in fuel tank on fuel system. Pre-heating systems helps either engine coolant to get warmer faster after starting it, or before (like webasto). 

 

In order diesel not to become not-fluid you have to use winter diesel or additional substances into diesel. So if you are heading to cold place - go to fuel stations there. (I wonder how cold that place is?)

I was nearly caught out in France 2 years ago; northern and central France was dropping to -14/16 C  and none of the petrol stations, mainstream or supermarket, had bothered to boost antiwaxing above -10. Dervs littered the hard shoulder, but we did`nt realise why until we hit the Haute Maurienne and it was -22C at valley level at midday; this meant night time temps at least 8C lower. Even the better Alpine dervs are only rated to -15 or -20C.

I understood that some European car manufacturers have inline fuel heaters, but maybe not? 

 

Probably not as cold as Lithuania though 

Edited 29 November, 201312 yr by Hedgecutter

Kinda sorta not really.

 

The diesel that comes from the fuel filter to the injection pump is more than the engine needs, so some of it returns, via the fuel filter and back to the tank.  So if the engine is warm, then the tank is kept warm by the constant cycle of fuel going tank -> lift pump ->  filter -> inj pump -> tank.

 

But if the car is stopped, then the fuel in the tank, lines and filter can certainly gel.  Hence you need alpine diesel.  Some people also carry some sort of liquid that can supposedly ungel a tank of diesel but I have no experience with this.

 

Believe it or not, the 'warm weather' variant of the system has a fuel 'cooler' in the fuel return line.  It's a little (about 6 in square) heat sink under the car that the return line travels through.

 

* There could be some sort of cold weather pack that has a improved fuel heater, I'm only familiar with the antipodes version of the car.  We don't, for example, get heated windscreens or washer nozzles down here.  Can't even option them.

Well, I never heard about fuel heaters as standard equipment. But maybe it is in some upmarket models? In our country winter diesel is up to -30C...however recent two winters was much warmer as normal, last one had only one morning when it was below -20 :( 

 

By the way - if it is more than -25 - it is not so rare to see the truck with camp fire under the fuel tank

Hi Hedgecutter. All i used to do when i lived in Germany, was add some Wurth winter diesel additive. I then never had any problems then with temps you describe. So may be an another option to look at.

Edited 30 November, 201312 yr by HoneyMonster65

Although I have not looked at my Superb, my last three diesels Fords & Vauxhalls all had a heated Filter housing to reduce waxing.

Did some googling, and indeed - some passenger cars have diesel filter heaters as for example:

 

http://www.autoblog.com/2013/08/19/bmw-recalls-diesel-x5-models-over-fuel-filter-heater/

 

But was not able to find anything about it in Skoda Superb.