Hi guys

I would like some tips on how to take proper care of your TDI engine. I know the manufacture manual says one thing but people who own these cars tend to have a different opinion.

(1) - What fuel is best for a TDI between 50PP and 10PP. Can I put diesel from cheap independent or chain filling stations like Sasol, BP etc ?
(2) - What oil is best for a TDI, 5W40 (VW 505.01) or the thinner 5W30 (VW 507.00). Which brand is best between Shell, Castrol, Motul or Liqui Moly ?
(3) - Is it necessary to have the engine idle for 5 minutes before and after a drive ?
(4) - What to do to avoid DPF blockages on a TDI ?
(5) - What to do to avoid Turbo failures on a TDI ?
(6) - Is it advisable to do a service at 10000KMs or 15000KMs on a TDI ?
(7) - Is it advisable to put in a diesel injector cleaner with every service ?
(8) - Which parts to use for major service which include the cam belt, tension pulleys and water pump. Genuine parts from VW or parts from
Goldwagen, Midas, Autozone etc?
(9) - Is it advisable to do a major service at 90000KMs or 120000KMs on a TDI
(10) - is it advisable to do an engine flush with every major service?

looking forward to responses

Keep the recommended oil service interval is probably the most critical. Lowest Sulphur diesel use also probably a good option in general.

Hi Dazza

I know that keeping to the recommended intervals is best but my problem is VW recommends services at 15000KMs whilst a couple of people who i have met who own these cars say it is best to do a service at 10000KMs. It is the same with the oil, the VW spec is now 5W30 but a couple of independent mechanics, a VW mechanic and a Goldwagen sales person who I have spoken to say the 5W40 is best suitable since the 5W30 is thinner and it might not be suitable for our very hot weather conditions.

This is why I had to take these questions to a forum like this so i can get some clarity once and for all.

I don't own a 1.6tdi but IL give u my opinion

(1) - What fuel is best for a TDI between 50PP and 10PP. Can I put diesel from cheap independent or chain filling stations like Sasol, BP etc ?
Use a few tanks of 10ppm and a few of 50ppm and see which one works better for u performance and consumption wise - it's not critical because certain places in SA don't have 10ppm.
Dont use cheap fuel, fine a garage like shell engen etc and stick with it.

(2) - What oil is best for a TDI, 5W40 (VW 505.01) or the thinner 5W30 (VW 507.00). Which brand is best between Shell, Castrol, Motul or Liqui Moly ?
Looks at ur owners manual, if I'm not mistaken - dpf equipped cars must use 507.00. 5w40 is OK.
Liqui moly is a high end oil and an overall good product.

(3) - Is it necessary to have the engine idle for 5 minutes before and after a drive ?
5min is over kill, idle for 1 minute after starting to allow oil to circulate throughout the engine then drive decently until engine is at operating temp.
Idle for a minute before switching off (taking it easy for 1km before u reach ur destination is also wise)

(4) - What to do to avoid DPF blockages on a TDI ?
Drive it hard often, use proper fuel (not cheap stuff)

(5) - What to do to avoid Turbo failures on a TDI ?
Turbo manners, idle before u switch off. Fix any boost leaks asap. Avoid spiking the turbo into boost.

(6) - Is it advisable to do a service at 10000KMs or 15000KMs on a TDI ?
Depends on the oil that u use, with liqui moly u can do 15k kms intervals since is a long life oil. U can even do it at 10k - if funds allow 10k kms is a good deal for an oil change.

(7) - Is it advisable to put in a diesel injector cleaner with every service ?
U get injector and fuel treatments, liqui moly, wynns, NF. They can be used with every 5 tanks of fuel. Not necessary but optional. Again, ur choice.

(8) - Which parts to use for major service which include the cam belt, tension pulleys and water pump. Genuine parts from VW or parts from
Goldwagen, Midas, Autozone etc?
Goldwagen parts are of good quality at a reasonable price.

(9) - Is it advisable to do a major service at 90000KMs or 120000KMs on a TDI
I rather do it earlier than later, every 90k kms does it for me.

(10) - is it advisable to do an engine flush with every major service?
Again, optional. If u can afford it then do it. Use branded products only.


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I wouldn’t do an engine flush, a radiator flush yes but not engine. The way I see it is your adding something to breakdown the oil so that it becomes more viscous and thus more can be removed. By breaking down the oil your taking away its lubrcating abilities. It can’t cling to walls and other components.

If your genuinely worried about longevity then you can do an oil and oil filter change every 7500 km along with a proper spec oil. Don’t cheap out on this. Fit an oem oil filter and fill with L moly ( you book will specify the correct spec)

Thank you guys for your input. I must say that these turbo diesel cars are a pleasure to drive but they do costs an arm and a leg to fix and that is why one needs to make sure that they take very good care of them.

Using quality oil and low suplhur diesel you are wasting money to do services at 7500 and or 10k km. I have driven diesles for 100's of thousands of km and have never serviced them at anything other than the 15k recommended intervals.

This is something that has been at the back of my mind.
Almost everybody you speak to says you idle the car before and after. That is a give.
Wife's Touran has this auto stop/start nonsense that switches the car off the moment you get off the freeway after any amount of driving.
Surely this would then be considered a "turbo killer" ?

I tend to switch that off whenever I drive, unless I am stuck in traffic.

V6 Capri wrote: ↑Thu Jan 17, 2019 8:16 am This is something that has been at the back of my mind.
Almost everybody you speak to says you idle the car before and after. That is a give.
Wife's Touran has this auto stop/start nonsense that switches the car off the moment you get off the freeway after any amount of driving.
Surely this would then be considered a "turbo killer" ?

I tend to switch that off whenever I drive, unless I am stuck in traffic.

You will probably find that the car has (electric) secondary pumps for coolant and oil to assist when the engine stops.

I have never idled my car when I start, waste of fuel and time! Drive off slowly so that the whole car can warm u at the same time.

I have also never idled it before I shut down. At your destination just slow down for your last few hundred meters.

Unless you race up and down the street like a retarded gas monkey there is no need to let the thing idle for 5 minutes. Maybe if you travel long distance and stop suddenly at the Ultra City, even than you have at least a kilometer to calm things down.

I have always idled after... even if it was just for a short while.
I did notice however that the fans on this one (1.6 tdi bluemotion) are on after the car has been shut down as opposed to the previous one (2L tdi).
There is normally enough idle, for me, from the time I start, get it out the garage, and out the gate, waiting for the gate to close and then drive off slowly.

One thing I have learned with my Escort that is turbocharged, is how the way you drive affects the temperatures of the water and oil. It is amazing to see how the coolant temps drop if you are at idle, free wheeling, with the hot air being able to escape the engine compartment as opposed to idling with the bonnet closed and the radiator fan on. So, yes, taking it slow before your destination goes a long way as opposed to just letting it idle when you get there.

As for idling at start up and shutdown - waste of fuel! In the old days, when cars were extremely difficult to drive when it was very cold, it made sense to let the car idle until it was warm. Nowadays, with modern technology, all you're doing is warming up the engine before the rest of the drivetrain, which makes no sense. And wasting serious amounts of fuel. And with the fuel price, just doesn't make sense. Just take it easy for the first couple of km's and you should be fine.

As for idling after driving - like VGTI said, there are now other measures in place to take care of the turbo when shutting down the engine, whether stop-start is fitted or not. Just take it easy for the last few km's or so.

So PeterTech, you come across as someone that's not going to drive your car like you stole it, so just driving sensibly, and making sure you service it regularly, it should be fine. Don't sweat it!

I agree on the warm-up being a waste of fuel. But I disagree on the cool-down being an unnecessary waste.

At destinations away from home, I do make a point of letting the TDI idle for a minute before switching off. At home, that automatically happens while I open the gate and garage door and pull in.

BTW, idle consumption is 0.5-0.6 l/h. That's 8 to 10 ml/min, which costs about 10 to 15c. At 2 to 3 trips per day, that's maybe R10 per month - a minute price to pay for giving the turbo its best chance at longevity.

My personal opinion...

panic-mechanic wrote: ↑Thu Jan 17, 2019 8:04 am Using quality oil and low suplhur diesel you are wasting money to do services at 7500 and or 10k km. I have driven diesles for 100's of thousands of km and have never serviced them at anything other than the 15k recommended intervals.

this i service mine every 15k, use havoline ultra S 5w40 only its 50501 approved.

also keep in mind which alot of people dont think about, sulphur that contaminates oil is directly linked to fuel consumption.

e.g my average consumption in any given month is 4.2-4.4, that's less sulphur in oil pollution than than someone averaging 6l over 15k

so if high consumption diesel cars can change every 15k (which is standard 15k now) 15k is a breeze for lower consumption vehicles as long as you use a good oil.

Jueshen wrote: ↑Tue Jan 22, 2019 9:55 am

panic-mechanic wrote: ↑Thu Jan 17, 2019 8:04 am Using quality oil and low suplhur diesel you are wasting money to do services at 7500 and or 10k km. I have driven diesles for 100's of thousands of km and have never serviced them at anything other than the 15k recommended intervals.

e.g my average consumption in any given month is 4.2-4.4....

Realy!! So you get how many km on a tank? If you fill that thing to the brim you can get 1900km on a tank!

it might be a bit of a paint, but yeah idling for a minute while i get my stuff into the boot and jump in and open gates etc is enought time, drive it decently as said already for the first couple klm once its warm. on shut down also, as i pull into my street a couple hundred meters away from the house, i drive slowly and relaxed, but the time i get to the house and open gates etc the cars been idling a minute or 2 anyway.

I have a jetta 1.9tdi with 218k klm and also get 4.5l/100k or so and i use decent quality oil(nosubstitution) and 50ppm only. certain types of diesel motors need higher sulphur than others, VE type vs PD typer for instance.

VGTI wrote: ↑Tue Jan 22, 2019 9:59 am

Jueshen wrote: ↑Tue Jan 22, 2019 9:55 am

panic-mechanic wrote: ↑Thu Jan 17, 2019 8:04 am Using quality oil and low suplhur diesel you are wasting money to do services at 7500 and or 10k km. I have driven diesles for 100's of thousands of km and have never serviced them at anything other than the 15k recommended intervals.

e.g my average consumption in any given month is 4.2-4.4....

Realy!! So you get how many km on a tank? If you fill that thing to the brim you can get 1900km on a tank!

I never run her completely empty, on average I fill 72-76l and I do 1640-1700km. Usually there is 7l to 10l in reserve when I check on vcds at fill up time. So yes i can get 1900 or more.

DieterMK5 wrote: ↑Tue Jan 22, 2019 10:17 am it might be a bit of a paint, but yeah idling for a minute while i get my stuff into the boot and jump in and open gates etc is enought time, drive it decently as said already for the first couple klm once its warm. on shut down also, as i pull into my street a couple hundred meters away from the house, i drive slowly and relaxed, but the time i get to the house and open gates etc the cars been idling a minute or 2 anyway.

I have a jetta 1.9tdi with 218k klm and also get 4.5l/100k or so and i use decent quality oil(nosubstitution) and 50ppm only. certain types of diesel motors need higher sulphur than others, VE type vs PD typer for instance.

Are you saying that VE motors actually need 500 ppm? That's the first I've heard of this.

Jueshen wrote: ↑Tue Jan 22, 2019 10:29 am

VGTI wrote: ↑Tue Jan 22, 2019 9:59 am

Jueshen wrote: ↑Tue Jan 22, 2019 9:55 am

panic-mechanic wrote: ↑Thu Jan 17, 2019 8:04 am Using quality oil and low suplhur diesel you are wasting money to do services at 7500 and or 10k km. I have driven diesles for 100's of thousands of km and have never serviced them at anything other than the 15k recommended intervals.

e.g my average consumption in any given month is 4.2-4.4....

Realy!! So you get how many km on a tank? If you fill that thing to the brim you can get 1900km on a tank!

I never run her completely empty, on average I fill 72-76l and I do 1640-1700km. Usually there is 7l to 10l in reserve when I check on vcds at fill up time. So yes i can get 1900 or more.

if i do work and back only i can maintain 3.8l its the weekend short trips that bring it up to 4.2-4.4

VAG Fan wrote: ↑Tue Jan 22, 2019 10:31 am

DieterMK5 wrote: ↑Tue Jan 22, 2019 10:17 am it might be a bit of a paint, but yeah idling for a minute while i get my stuff into the boot and jump in and open gates etc is enought time, drive it decently as said already for the first couple klm once its warm. on shut down also, as i pull into my street a couple hundred meters away from the house, i drive slowly and relaxed, but the time i get to the house and open gates etc the cars been idling a minute or 2 anyway.

I have a jetta 1.9tdi with 218k klm and also get 4.5l/100k or so and i use decent quality oil(nosubstitution) and 50ppm only. certain types of diesel motors need higher sulphur than others, VE type vs PD typer for instance.

Are you saying that VE motors actually need 500 ppm? That's the first I've heard of this.

i had a mk4 tdi ve motor, and i put on about 200klm, at the end it was on 360k klm and i generally would do 1 tank 500ppm next tank 50ppm. the 500ppm performed better and had more smoke than the 50ppm in my opinion, and as far as i can understand it, the added sulphur in the fuel is needed to lubricate the mechanical type fuel pump. i would'nt say its a need, but that's what i found. note i also try use shell fuels over any other brand. perhaps personal preference, but i found it to give me better economy and performance.

All diesel fuels have to conform to certain lubricity standards and that include 10 and 50 ppm. So any old school pump like the VE will do just fine even on 10 ppm. Come lets say this honestly after all the years of hearing those stories - who has had a pump seize yet?.
Soon (within this year) 500 ppm diesel will disappear. I ran a VE golf for 160 k km and the next owner to over 320km km on 50ppm and the pump never died. That is one of those same old wives tales as diconnecting the battery to sort out stored faults on modern managements.

Hie guys
So i recently bought a jetta 4 1.9tdi alh (should be a 2000-2002 model) but i found the serpentine belt missing, may someone please inform me on the belt size ?
Thanx

I have been using 10ppm from sasol and 50ppm from shell. Oil I use 5w-40 Helix. I have about 230000km on my Kombi.

Alot of the guys contradict themselves ...the reason I say that is coz when ur turbo blows they will be the 1st to say it's because u never warm up or u never cool down or when u run a bearing or damage the motor it's becoz u never service the car...the manufacturer reccomend service intervals , oil grades, fuel types and even the tyre pressure in our cars coz they spend hours and millions on research and testing but do we ? Answer is NO ...yes on the new cars it makes no sense to cool down coz when u at the robot it switch of by itself but a warm up of 1minute or so would definitely be advisable ...on the older cars I would say warm up and cool down cautiously what I do is like all the other guys do in the morning while making sure i have all my stuff i warm up for a minute drive easy for 1-2km same in the afternoon u know u coming to stop take it easy for a km or 2 and while unpacking and grabing ur cellphone which only takes 30secs and 1c of fuel just idle it manufacturer reccomend 15k service I do it at 12 or 13k just being cautious...remember prevention is better than cure just my 2c the end of the day it's your car do what u feel is right coz when **** happens u will pay not me or any1 else

Engrish is dericious.

I have been driving turbocharged cars since 1993 and wondered about the idling thing. At the time of owning my first Uno Turbo, I raised this very point with Rudi Balzer of RSB Auto Design.

Channeling engine oil through a super hot turbo will coke up the internals / oil supply lines of the turbo over time if the heat is not removed in some way. Idling the car after a drive is fine, but then you are still stuck with a stationary car without free ambient air moving through the oil cooler, radiator or engine bay, resulting in heat soak, which might be just as bad. If, however, you drive the car totally off boost for the last kilometer or two to your destination, ambient air moves through the cooler, radiator and the engine bay to assist the cooling off process, which allows you to switch off much earlier, perhaps after a 5 to 15 second idle. I have been practicing this for over 500 000kms and have not had any issues. I even apply this principle with my Audi S4 too, sometimes even opening the bonnet to assist hot air to leave the engine bay.

However, I think each person needs to apply what he thinks is best for his/her particular circumstances or beliefs. I used to do an oil and filter change on my Uno every 7 500km using AGIP SINT 2000, which was rated as one of the best oils around at the time. That was par for the course then, but nowadays, oil technology has improved to such an extent that a 15 000km interval is quite sufficient.