Availability of Diesel at Gas Stations?

[opendoor]

Originally Posted by jaydorn

What year was it? I was dealing with a 2000 so it was pushing 13/14 years old and 250,000+ on the odometer. I had asked my buddy who's a commercial mechanic if I could stretch them out past 5k at all and he said it wasn't wise to do so.

It's possible the newer model years are a little better... it's also possible I was simply a sucker for shelling out money every 3 months.

As far as I know, any of the VW TDIs made since the mid '90s have an oil change interval of 16,000 km or a year, whichever comes first.

[Sopure]

I work for VW and I do 15,000km or 365 days, whichever comes first-- with the exception of the first one. That one I do at 8,000km or so to get the break in oil out of the engine.

Also, I tell most people that one in three in the city will carry diesel and almost every station on the highway will as well. Depending on what you're buying, the previous posters are right, you get way more range out of a single diesel tank than gasoline. On a VW Passat TDI you can practically drive from Calgary to Medicine Hat once you're in the red zone of the gauge.

[Regular_John]

Ahh so here I was parting with my money voluntarily for fun. Good times.

Still loved owning/driving that car.

[Boblobla]

I have found that a lot of the gas stations hidden in communities do not have diesel. You will get to know which stations have it pretty quickly. There is one by my house that does and one that does not. I have never been driving around on fumes looking for diesel though.

[Madman]

Getting quality diesel is key too.

Nothing worse than getting crap diesel to gunk up your engine.

I pay the extra and get Shell V-Power as that is what multiple diesel mechanics have recommended to me.

[I-Hate-Hulse]

Here's the boogeyman in VW TDI maintenance costs... the Diesel Particulate Filter....

http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/c...lter-trap.html

TDI Maintenance Schedule says it needs replacement @ 120,000 miles

http://pics.tdiclub.com/data/516/2012_Golf.pdf

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by jaydorn

What year was it? I was dealing with a 2000 so it was pushing 13/14 years old and 250,000+ on the odometer. I had asked my buddy who's a commercial mechanic if I could stretch them out past 5k at all and he said it wasn't wise to do so.

It's possible the newer model years are a little better... it's also possible I was simply a sucker for shelling out money every 3 months.

Because of your post, I definitely asked about this a couple of time. I was also told 15,000 KM by a Mercedes Dealer.

[Josh]

I have a 2011 VW Jetta Sportwagen TDI and we've never had trouble finding Diesel. There are a few stations out here in the burbs that do gasoline only, but you learn to avoid them. For long trips, its rare to find a station on the highway that doesn't have a diesel pump.

[Regular_John]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

Because of your post, I definitely asked about this a couple of time. I was also told 15,000 KM by a Mercedes Dealer.

Yeah go with what the dealer says, it would appear I was quite the sucker over the years I owned that car. Aside from that I did really love the diesel fuel economy and low end torque.

[Tron_fdc]

I've been driving diesels for over 7 years now, never had a problem finding a station. The odd time I'll pull in and notice that the station doesn't have a pump, but there's usually one nearby.

Husky/Shell/Coop/independant stations USUALLY have diesel, but I've found Petro to be 50/50 (especially in Calgary).

I work close to the Flying J in the South which is probably the cheapest in the city.

As far as maintenance, I would do oil changes every 10k, but I get an annoying "service now" message on my dash ('12 Touareg TDI) after about 6k. It's like looking at an email icon on your phone showing you have an unread message that you can't get rid of....it drives me INSANE so I take it right in.

[shane_c]

Originally Posted by I-Hate-Hulse

Here's the boogeyman in VW TDI maintenance costs... the Diesel Particulate Filter....

http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/c...lter-trap.html

TDI Maintenance Schedule says it needs replacement @ 120,000 miles

http://pics.tdiclub.com/data/516/2012_Golf.pdf

I would have liked my next vehicle to be a VW TDI but with the issues surrounding the DPF and HPFP failures I've decided to look elsewhere.

[hedge]

I drive a diesel truck, the only place I've came across that's tough to get diesel is Jasper, only 1 station in town and the tour buses fill up there too.

I try to fill up at UFA using the cardlock.

[burn_this_city]

Originally Posted by Madman

Getting quality diesel is key too.

Nothing worse than getting crap diesel to gunk up your engine.

I pay the extra and get Shell V-Power as that is what multiple diesel mechanics have recommended to me.

Shell diesel is the best because of the process they use at the Scotford refinery.

[cammy13]

I have a diesel VW Jetta TDi for sale. It's an awesome car!