[Vwdiesel] TDI-Detuned European?

[Harmon Seaver]

On Sat, Jun 14, 2003 at 02:31:05PM -0600, TexasTDI wrote:
> "How would a TDI built for the European market be detuned to run on American
> high sulfur/low cetane fuel?"
>
> The same way TDI's have been running over here since 1996.  *ALL* TDI's were
> originally designed for high cetane, low-sulphur fuel.  Luckily they're so
> versatile they'll run on our crappy diesel as well.

   You really don't know that. Both VW and Mercedes gave the same reason, and
while yes, VW does import the 1.9TDI, that doesn't mean squat. It's entirely
possible that their other engines would grossly pollute or have their sensors or
some other part damaged by US fuel. Just because they send over their smallest
TDI, and a clearly detuned version at that, doesn't mean the rest will run well.
   The fact that someone is importing used engines means nothing either --
Japanese engines, including diesels that have never been sold here are easily
imported.
   I don't buy the idea that Mercedes, for instance, quit selling any diesels
over here just because of market reasons -- they sold plenty of diesels here for
many, many years. And they specifically announced that they were stopping
sending them here because their new technology wouldn't work well with the
crappy fuel. I really doubt that either they or VW has any reason to lie about
it, that doesn't make much sense.

--
Harmon Seaver
CyberShamanix
http://www.cybershamanix.com