Petrol Quality Issues

[Pufferfish94]

My 2 year old VW T-Cross started stuttering on the highway followed by engine warning lights coming on, car got towed. After investigating they came to the conclusion that it was the sparkplugs that had worn out prematurely due to bad fuel quality.

Apparently VW have been having huge issues with this as both the tow company and VW told me that they were earlier this year getting 6 cars in per day with issues similar to this. That number has now been reduced to about 2 per week according to them.

While everything was covered by warranty, they told me there is no real way to prevent it happening again and my best bet is to change where I put in petrol.

So the question is, where are you guys getting your petrol from and is it causing issues? I have always used Engen due to being with FNB, not sure who to change to though or if it would even help.

 

[epah]

Very common problem, The only way to try mitigate this is by using a much busier station that gets fresh petrol more frequently, Brand doesn't really matter. So you can still use engen but a busier one. This is just my personal thinking.

 

[rh1]

Very common problem, The only way to try mitigate this is by using a much busier station that gets fresh petrol more frequently, Brand doesn't really matter. So you can still use engen but a busier one. This is just my personal thinking.

See epah, this is why I drive on fumes. No issues for years.

 

[NR7]

Very common problem, The only way to try mitigate this is by using a much busier station that gets fresh petrol more frequently, Brand doesn't really matter. So you can still use engen but a busier one. This is just my personal thinking.

Eish, these turbo engines that stop working if the petrol is a few days too old

 

[Pufferfish94]

Eish, these turbo engines that stop working if the petrol is a few days too old

In all seriousness does this issue affect turbo cars more?

 

[Former member 61586]

In all seriousness does this issue affect turbo cars more?

Fuel becomes stale after about 4 months. Don't think it's anything to worry about.

 

[rh1]

In all seriousness does this issue affect turbo cars more?

Yes because turbo's uses your exhaust to spin the turbo, forcing more air into the engine.

 

[epah]

In all seriousness does this issue affect turbo cars more?

Turbo engines do require cleaner fuel than NA cars. SA fuel isnt clean that is why some manufacturers dont offer certain engines here.

 

[epah]

Yes because turbo's uses your exhaust to spin the turbo, forcing more air into the engine.

Thus producing more POWAAA Man you gotta love turbo engines.

 

[Lupus]

Fuel becomes stale after about 4 months. Don't think it's anything to worry about.

Not in SA, we have additives that extend it. Have used petrol that's a year old

 

[TheChamp]

Just sell it while it's still moving and save yourself the trouble, it's a ticking timebomb.

Buy yourself a good Chinese car.

 

[TheChamp]

Turbo engines do require cleaner fuel than NA cars. SA fuel isnt clean that is why some manufacturers dont offer certain engines here.

Could those certain engines happen to be the always troublesome 1.0l turbos?

 

[nazmo]

Where you based. we have a combined 18 yrs of TFSI VAG vehicles without a single issue. 2 of which hit 100 000kms +. granted i only use busy garages. could be like the roads. cape town just built better

 

[Neuk_]

Something is not adding up here, I have never heard of spark plugs 'wearing out' prematurely due to dirty fuel, it sounds more like they were becoming fouled up which I have seen a few times.

 

[upup]

bad batch spark plug perhaps?

 

[epah]

Could those certain engines happen to be the always troublesome 1.0l turbos?

Nope, if anything the 1L turbos have been pretty reliable. Ford excluded.

A few cars I can think of at the top of my head that didn’t come to SA due to fuel issues are Ford fiesta ST with the 1.5L, Audi S3 and Golf were also detuned in SA due to fuel issues, international ones made more power. VW also delayed their 1.5L and continued using the old 1.4tsi in SA

I am sure there are many more but can’t remember.

 

[TheChamp]

Nope, if anything the 1L turbos have been pretty reliable. Ford excluded.

A few cars I can think of at the top of my head that didn’t come to SA due to fuel issues are Ford fiesta ST with the 1.5L, Audi S3 and Golf were also detuned in SA due to fuel issues, international ones made more power. VW also delayed their 1.5L and continued using the old 1.4tsi in SA

I am sure there are many more but can’t remember.

So it makes all the sense to buy a car with an engine that is built for the harsh African conditions, like the tried and tested Chinese 1.5l Turbo, you can even put diesel in that thing, It won't break.

The only chore you will have is deciding whether to go for the 1.5l turbo from the GWM, Chery, BAIC or GAC. Having to worry about where you put fuel instead of worrying about enjoying your car is exceptionally foolish.

 

[epah]

So it makes all the sense to buy a car with an engine that is built for the harsh African conditions, like the tried and tested Chinese 1.5l Turbo, you can even put diesel in that thing, It won't break.

The only chore you will have is deciding whether to go for the 1.5l turbo from the GWM, Chery, BAIC or GAC. Having to worry about where you put fuel instead of worrying about enjoying your car is exceptionally foolish.

Anything with a turbo is better than NA, so yes safe choice going with a Chinese turbo over Japanese NA.

 

[TheChamp]

Anything with a turbo is better than NA, so yes safe choice going with a Chinese turbo over Japanese NA.

Let's find a nice middle ground before the mob lynches me, OP can sell the VW and buy a Mahindra XUV 300, yes, I refuse to call it that stupid name they have given it.

Similar sized, similar power figures and easy on the eye, probably good fuel economy.

 

[epah]

Let's find a nice middle ground before the mob lynches me, OP can sell the VW and buy a Mahindra XUV 300, yes, I refuse to call it that stupid name they have given it.

Similar sized, similar power figures and easy on the eye, probably good fuel economy.

But in the other thread you said Mahindra is horrible, unreliable and costs an arm and a leg to repair.

Oh and you said you would never recommend them ever again.