Biodiesel Passat V6 TDI: ESP Failure Fix

Hello everyone!
After spending several hours searching through forums and the internet, I have a question. First, some background: I've been driving a diesel car for 160,000 km, and recently I filled it with biodiesel (DIN 51606 - confirmed by the gas station). Immediately after driving 50 km, the ESP system failed. This problem is generally known – biodiesel can damage seals and dissolve deposits, leading to the consequences mentioned above. VW has withdrawn approval for this fuel in newer models (due to reasons including emission standards and the increasing number of complaints from customers like myself).
I'm interested in whether anyone with a similar problem with VW has successfully enforced their claim and, if so, how. I have a sample of the diesel that was used, as well as the fuel receipt and the defective ESP (can I achieve anything with this?). The repair cost a nice €2000... That was my Christmas...

Does anyone have any experience with this?

Hi, Stefan.

Here are a few more links on the topic:

http://home.arcor.de/sgrafen/salatoel/biodiesel/biodiesel.html
http://www.swr.de/ratgeber-auto/archiv/2003/11/29/index4.html
http://www.fatty-fuels.de/
http://www.ufop.de/Freigaben.pdf
http://www.agqm-biodiesel.de/

Hi,

My condolences. Unfortunately, I can't help you further. However, I'm curious to know exactly what went wrong with the pump. Who made the diagnosis? It's quite a distance (50 km) for something like that to happen. There must have been a large, dissolved piece of debris causing the problem!

Deleted upon request.

...first of all, thank you very much for your feedback!

The error manifested as follows:

Overtaking maneuver on a country road - sudden loss of engine power, engine stalled (automatic transmission) - message displayed: 'Engine malfunction, please visit a workshop.' Engine no longer starts.

The diagnosis was made by a friendly doctor.

- 01318 049: Control unit for fuel injection pump - J 399 - No communication.
- 01268 037 Quantity adjuster - N 146 defective.

@diesel.gustav

'Regular filter maintenance and branded fuel' - prescribed service intervals and refueling at stations that meet the DIN standard. That's all I can really do. Moreover, VW explicitly allows the use of biodiesel according to DIN 51606 (a preliminary DIN standard). As an 'uninformed' end customer, am I supposed to even worry about the content of a DIN preliminary standard? Surely, that can't be right...

Bosch, as a supplier of the ESP system, never approved its use with biodiesel, while VW did approve the vehicle for use with it. In my opinion, that's where the problem lies. But why should the customer be held responsible for this situation? As far as I know, ESP systems from other manufacturers are equipped with special seals and other components because biodiesel is very aggressive...

ADAC says: http://www.adac.de/auto_motorrad/kraftstoffe_umwelt/alternative_kraftstoffe/biodiesel/default.asp?id=0

Arbeitsgemeinschaft Qualitätsmanagement Biodiesel e. V. (AGQM) regarding this:

AGQM explicitly advises potential biodiesel users not to use any mixtures of biodiesel with pure vegetable oil under any circumstances. Although biodiesel is produced from vegetable oils, mixing it with pure vegetable oil can cause damage to fuel injection pumps and the engine. New customers who are filling their approved vehicles, which have previously been fueled with conventional diesel, with biodiesel for the first time should also note that a filter change may be necessary after three to four fill-ups. Biodiesel has the beneficial property of dissolving dirt deposits in the tank and fuel lines.

http://www.ufop.de/2864.htm

International Forum for Renewable Energies (IWR) says:

Automotive industry - are they withdrawing from biodiesel?
Original press release from June 27, 2003.
Münster (iwr-press release) - The news magazine 'Der Spiegel'.
reports in its online edition that car manufacturers are...
A spokesperson for Volkswagen has commented on the statements in...
However, a Spiegel report denied this information in response to an inquiry from IWR.

'If the biodiesel approval were to be withdrawn, then...'
This is a disastrous signal for environmental policy and certainly a serious...
'The damage to the image is not limited to Volkswagen,' said Dr. Norbert Allnoch, head of the...
International Forum for Renewable Energies (IWR) in Münster.

So far, the Volkswagen Group has been the one granting approvals for most things.
Diesel vehicles are approved. The following information is known to the IWR based on received correspondence.
Problems related to biodiesel only affect damaged [items/equipment].
Rubber seals in the fuel injection pump. Also: 'The automotive industry.'
consistently delivers technical innovations at the highest level, and then...
die Nutzung des Biodiesel an einfachen Gummidichtungen scheitern? That can.
'It's hard to believe.'

Regarding the report in Der Spiegel: http://www.iwr.de/re/iwr/03/06/2605.html
Information about biodiesel: http://www.iwr.de/biodiesel

Volkswagen approves biodiesel use: Millions in damages caused by leaky fuel injection pumps.
Original press release from July 21, 2003.
Münster (iwr-press release) - The Volkswagen Group from Wolfsburg has awarded a contract for...
Most diesel vehicle models from the brands Volkswagen, SEAT, Audi, and Škoda.
explicitly approves the use of biodiesel. Relying on this approval, customers can refuel their vehicles.
more and more drivers are choosing fuel that is, on average, about 10 cents per liter cheaper.
Biodiesel: This can be expensive for drivers right now, even if...
Biodiesel is being refueled according to the DIN standard.

According to experts, the main problem is the rubber seal inside the...
Fuel injection pumps, especially when switching from biodiesel to diesel, often...
'can lose its poetic quality.' 'Due to the obvious...'.
Material defects cause a total loss of [amount] for German drivers.
'up to 20 million euros annually,' said Dr. Norbert Allnoch, head of the...
International Forum for Renewable Energies (IWR) in Münster.
The current situation is challenging for drivers who rely on...
'Allowing vehicles that meet regulatory standards to refuel with biodiesel is completely unacceptable.'
Allnoch.

Sorry, I realize this has become quite a lengthy text, but I hope it sheds some light on the background. In my opinion, it's a very sensitive topic – especially since VW, as one of the few car manufacturers with previously unrestricted approval (only the new Golf and Touran models have not received such approvals), is naturally struggling to react generously, as doing so would likely trigger a wave of similar claims...

'Nevertheless, I would appreciate further tips and comments from the people here.'

Hi, Stefan.

Deleted upon request.

Hello d.g.,

Thank you for your reply. Are you sure that Bosch can separately check the unit to guarantee a 100% error diagnosis? If so, I would need to arrange for it to be sent – currently, it's located 500 km away at my local dealer. He will only hold onto the part for a maximum of 3 weeks because it's a replacement part, and I received a refurbished unit instead of a brand new one. Therefore, it must be returned within 3 weeks (back to Kassel?), otherwise, some kind of interest charge will apply. Hopefully, he will release the part. Locally, I have a Bosch service center that hopefully can check it for a reasonable price.

Do you have any experience with that?

Thanks in advance, and have a nice Sunday!

Hi, Stefan.

Deleted upon request.

...because some people might be interested in what became of it.

I have received approval for my goodwill request from Volkswagen (a letter addressed directly to the board of directors), which is a special form of goodwill. I only need to pay for the labor costs now.

That's perfectly fine; the written explanation will be sent to me within the next few days.

However, I now realized that the VP 44 doesn't have a volume adjuster at all... http://www.kfztech.de/kfztechnik/motor/diesel/edc.htm

This, in turn, raises questions. The measurement log from the 'Friendly' device explicitly states: '1 error detected, 01268 037, quantity setting N-146 defective.'

The pump has now been returned to the 'rehabilitation center' in Kassel - it's a shame, really, I would have been very interested to know what the real cause was.

But never mind, for me, the matter is closed for now.

My conclusion, at least, is that one should not allow oneself to be pressured into accepting something and should, with appropriate persistence (through thorough research), refuse to passively accept such 'cost shifting' being passed on to the customer.

However, the question remains: Was the reason for it the RME (possibly of poor quality), or something else entirely?

Thank you again for your 'sympathy'!

Hi, Stefan.