Hi guys,

 

Joined this forum last week, the same week I bought a Mk2 face-lift Superb Estate Cr 2.0 TDi S-A DSG 170ps.

 

Its a 2013, with 45k on the clock, very clean and drives well.

 

Our previous car was a Subaru 4wd H6 Legacy 3.0 auto saloon 245bhp!

 

The car is used mainly for the school run, 4 miles through heavy used roads, takes about 30 mins each way.

 

Also, do the occasional drive to see family 10 miles away, along dual carriage ways so about 40-50mph driving takes around 30-40mins.

 

Looking through the old cars MOT papers, it looks like we clock around 5-6k miles per year, sometimes -7-8 if we go Europe or do more outings within the UK.

 

The mpg in the Subaru was around 13-16 mark when doing the school runs, now in the skoda its around 30-32 mark so Im well pleased with it. Even got it around 60-70+mpg when I did a 100 miles one way from where I bought it.

 

With the Skoda, it seems like our annual mileage may rise because: 

 

1.  We want to do more outdoor activities as a family-so have to travel further out

2. Avoid DPF issues-so a reason to go on an excursion monthly or bi-monthly. Weather and work permitting.

 

The increase miles per year is a welcome thing and not a moan.

 

This afternoon after work, I was browsing the web regards DPF, and came across a couple of sites stating Deise drivers wont benefit if driving less than 10k miles a year.

 

Is this necessarily always the case?

 

The main reason we changed cars was due to us flying over rescued dogs from another country and we needed an estate to accommodate family of four plus 2 dogs, secondly wanted an more efficient and economical engine to drive around in.

 

What this topic is asking I suppose is; should we have gotten a petrol instead?

 

**does any of the above makes sense? :think:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited 17 November, 20169 yr by m1ndoro

I have a 2011 CD170 manual and also cover about 5-6k PA. I specifically wanted a diesel as I love the huge torque, CR smoothness and, of course, the economy. I estimate the car regens about every 1000 miles, is much faster than our 2006 MKI (which we still have and I love, everything works and is immaculate, with 124k) and it's unnoticeable during driving - its amazing the way it continues when you park-up! I use a diesel fuel system cleaner each year which is fantastic - it's one dose in a full tank of fuel, cleans the fuel lines, injectors etc.. I'll also be getting the engine actively cleaned and flushed next year - I've seen the crap that system removes and its amazing.

So no, I don't think I've made a mistake in buying a diesel as a low mileage driver. What the government thinks in a couple of years of course...... well, that is a different matter.

Edited 17 November, 20169 yr by numskull

Thanks for your comment, Numskull

 

Is the regen noticable, does it come up on MDF? 

 

Wait, just re read your comment; regens still active when parked up??

 

If we exclusively use "higher grade" Diesel, do you recommend a fuel system cleaner still? 

 

lol MDF, I meant MFD

Edited 17 November, 20169 yr by m1ndoro

Thanks for your comment, Numskull

 

Is the regen noticable, does it come up on MDF? 

 

Wait, just re read your comment; regens still active when parked up??

 

If we exclusively use "higher grade" Diesel, do you recommend a fuel system cleaner still? 

 

lol MDF, I meant MFD

Nope, nothing on the dash and no, nothing noticeable.

Yes, the car continues to regen when you stop if it's hasn't completed - it's amazing. Doesn't go on for long - 5/10 mins maybe.

I've never used "higher grade" or "premium" fuel.

Well, it's £15 and works brilliantly and won't do any harm.

The only telltale for a DPF regen when you're driving is that the idle speed increases to 950 rpm. If you notice it doing a regen it is a good idea to keep driving until it finishes. If you shut down repeatedly during regens you can end up with fuel draining into the oil sump and damaging the engine. Driving on until it finishes also gives everything an opportunity to cool down a bit (regens generate a good deal of extra heat in the exhaust).

The only way to really tell if the car is regenerating the DPF is an increased RPM at idle, usually up at around 1,000rpm.

 

Be aware though that a high rpm isn't always an indication of a DPF regen, my car increases the rpm when it is particularly cold outside whilst the engine is getting up to temperature and I'm asking for heat via the Climatronic.

What this topic is asking I suppose is; should we have gotten a petrol instead?

 

You will have paid more for your car than an equivalent petrol model. You are paying more for the fuel each time you fill up too.

 

Diesel engines can be quite poor for fuel economy whilst getting up to temperature, they are also generally more thermally efficient than petrol engines too so take longer to get up to operating temperature meaning they are less efficient for longer when used on short journeys, or in slow or stop/start traffic.

 

All of this though is irrelevant if you like the car, it isn't always about the money. As long as you take the car out on longer runs as often as you can this will maximise the life of the DPF.

 

Personally if I was in your position I'd have bought a petrol, the 1.4 TSi is a great engine. I cover 30,000 miles a year so have little choice but to run a diesel but for anything less than 15K a year petrol makes more sense, especially with how the smaller petrol engines have come on in recent years.

 

Don't think about what could have been, enjoy the new car!

Edited 17 November, 20169 yr by silver1011

Nope, nothing on the dash and no, nothing noticeable.

Yes, the car continues to regen when you stop if it's hasn't completed - it's amazing. Doesn't go on for long - 5/10 mins maybe.

I've never used "higher grade" or "premium" fuel.

Well, it's £15 and works brilliantly and won't do any harm.

Not being rude but once you switch off the engine the car does not continue with the regen, that is merely the fans blowing trying to get rid of the huge amounts of heat generated by the regen process of hot gases burning off the dpf to clear it.

If you stop the engine whilst a regen is part way through it is not good. Classic sign of a regen is the increased idle/tick over up to nearly 1000rpm, you should allow the full regen to finish before switching off.

You will have paid more for your car than an equivalent petrol model. You are paying more for the fuel each time you fill up too.

 

Diesel engines can be quite poor for fuel economy whilst getting up to temperature, they are also generally more thermally efficient than petrol engines too so take longer to get up to operating temperature meaning they are less efficient for longer when used on short journeys, or in slow or stop/start traffic.

 

All of this though is irrelevant if you like the car, it isn't always about the money. As long as you take the car out on longer runs as often as you can this will maximise the life of the DPF.

 

Personally if I was in your position I'd have bought a petrol, the 1.4 TSi is a great engine. I cover 30,000 miles a year so have little choice but to run a diesel but for anything less than 15K a year petrol makes more sense, especially with how the smaller petrol engines have come on in recent years.

 

Don't think about what could have been, enjoy the new car!

The more I think of it the more Im pleased with the choice!

 

coming from a 3.0 petrol, this for me is a huge leap.

 

thanks for everyones input.

 

and yes,,, Im enjoying the new car!!

 

So is Superskoda, and all other Skoda shops...spent loads already.

Not being rude but once you switch off the engine the car does not continue with the regen, that is merely the fans blowing trying to get rid of the huge amounts of heat generated by the regen process of hot gases burning off the dpf to clear it.

If you stop the engine whilst a regen is part way through it is not good. Classic sign of a regen is the increased idle/tick over up to nearly 1000rpm, you should allow the full regen to finish before switching off.

Ah right. Well, I guess Skoda UK told me a load of balls then; I queried this with SUK the first time it occurred, and the said the cleaning process does continue after the engine has been switched off as the (then) latest generation of regen runs at much higher temperatures than say, the old system on the MKI, hence it being much faster and thorough. But in any event, it could be the regen has completed and, as you say, its just cooling down. Certainly the last time it did a regen, at the end of a 15 mile drive at 80mph, the rpm had settled back to normal idle speed and when I'd stopped, the fans continued to run for another 5/10 minutes, accompanied with that smell of course!

The only way to really tell if the car is regenerating the DPF is an increased RPM at idle, usually up at around 1,000rpm.

 

Be aware though that a high rpm isn't always an indication of a DPF regen, my car increases the rpm when it is particularly cold outside whilst the engine is getting up to temperature and I'm asking for heat via the Climatronic.

Yes, ours hikes the RPM when the temp gets down to around 7/8c. I think someone also said it's to ensure the alternator is delivering a good charge to the battery too, given the higher electrical demands when it's colder.

Interesting!

 

I have been doing the petrol vs diesel debate for years and finally took the plunge and bought our 2010 TDI. Our mileage is low-ish 9-11,000/year with mostly school runs, occasional squirt on the motorway and a long trip once every couple of months.

 

The positives for me are torque, economy/mileage between refills (my wife loves this), and cheaper fuel (diesel is cheaper than petrol in NZ).

 

The negatives are frequent servicing (every 9-10,000 miles), worrying about the DPF (I've never noticed it doing a regen), and that moment of hesitation when accelerating (as the turbo spools up).

 

Given the past issues with TSI (petrol) engines from the Skoda/VAG and the 7spd DSG issues (which are in all/most of the petrol engines) I'm going to replace ours with another diesel next time.

hi when you do your 10 mile trip keep it in 4th gear should be above 2000rpm at 50 mph ,this should keep dpf clear ,also keep egr valve happy.

If you stop the engine whilst a regen is part way through it is not good. Classic sign of a regen is the increased idle/tick over up to nearly 1000rpm, you should allow the full regen to finish before switching off.

 

From what I understood, the car does NOT regen whilst idling as the exhaust gases are not hot enough. There was a separate thread that concluded with "don't worry about regen at all unless the manual regen light comes on".

When i pack in doing 30,000 a year no way am i having an oil burner

 

Tesla (i wish)

 

Jag V8

 

Challenger 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2015-Dodge-Challenger-SRT-Hellcat-Coupe-2-Door-/401224501835?forcerrptr=true&hash=item5d6ad80a4b:g:DWoAAOSwKOJYJxcw&item=401224501835

One of these for sale locally

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1969-Dodge-Charger-R-T-Hardtop-2-Door-/112207615636?forcerrptr=true&hash=item1a20185694:g:XFwAAOSwCGVX~ojG&item=112207615636

One of these for sale locally

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1969-Dodge-Charger-R-T-Hardtop-2-Door-/112207615636?forcerrptr=true&hash=item1a20185694:g:XFwAAOSwCGVX~ojG&item=112207615636

 

Toys"r"us  :clap:  

Till I can afford a whole hemi Charger

 

They just sound so evil...

 

I think I've just discovered who the Transporter really is!!:-

 

Edited 24 November, 20169 yr by KenONeill

please Santa

 

Diesel vs. Petrol

Simply take a spreadsheet or a piece of paper and pencil and figure it out

This week petrol costs 110.9p - diesel costs 112.9p

Your car does 30 or 40 mpg depending on petrol or diesel.

You do 6,000 miles per year.

Your annual fuel cost is £769.87 for diesel.

If you had a petrol car fuel cost would be £1,008.30

Go blow that DPF out with a low gear high speed run occasionally :-)

ps - I'm so glad I don't have your daily run

I would personally go back to petrol, if Skoda made a decent reliable 2 ltr, or 1.8 petrol engine, without the excessive oil and chain problems 

Edited 4 December, 20169 yr by skippy41

Diesel vs. Petrol

Simply take a spreadsheet or a piece of paper and pencil and figure it out

This week petrol costs 110.9p - diesel costs 112.9p

Your car does 30 or 40 mpg depending on petrol or diesel.

You do 6,000 miles per year.

Your annual fuel cost is £769.87 for diesel.

If you had a petrol car fuel cost would be £1,008.30

Go blow that DPF out with a low gear high speed run occasionally :-)

ps - I'm so glad I don't have your daily run

 

Vector in...

 

Diesel cars cost more than an equivalent petrol

 

Diesels need mor servicing than petrols

 

Diesel services cost more than a petrol

 

When a diesel engine goes wrong you can bend down, tuck your head between your knees and kiss your arse goodbye

 

Ang garage can fix a petrol car