Diesel Fill Up Tips or Tricks?

[XXX555]

Originally Posted by edco

No..not much.. There is an interesting story I will share. When I bought the car, it was a base vehicle, no heating seats, cloth interior, etc etc.
There is a board called TDIClub.com that I became a member of, and subsquently read a story about a chap in Florida who unfortunately had a semi back up onto the hood of this car to the roofline. The car was totalled but he had photos of the damage and I noticed that the interior, including leather heated electric memory seats, matching door cards were untouched. I bought a wiring harness from Germany and a buddy who at the time lived close by and I spent a November Sunday tearing out the old interior and installing the new leather, power, etc parts so that it was a "FrankenTDI". I bought all the parts, including a steel belly pan - TDIs typically come with plastic below engine covers that dont last in cold climates where ice and snow accumulate and pull them down. The ripper was the guy sold me all the parts for $500 delivered to my door, I spent probably another $250 for an OEM CD player, wired in an XM radio kit, and a gaggle of small odds and ends, and for a while she was a stunner.. then parts that were unrelated to the work we had done (ie non electrical) started to fail, and being "naked" with an untrustworthy TDI was not looking good to me..I ended up selling it for about what it cost me 3 years and 30K miles later as diesel prices were about 25-40 cents cheaper in NJ than reg or premium.. but it was a bugger to keep running..special tools needed, ie VagCom..unique anti-freeze.. My favorite part since they take a while to warm up in the interior, was installing an electric heat pump that would circulate (via an A/C plug I installed in the bumper) and heat the coolant on a timer when I knew I was going to be driving the next day. It took about 2 hours and when you got inside and fired her up it was all warm and toasty. My neighbors thought I had an electric car !

Oh and the additive I used at EVERY fill is called Power Service.

Good Luck and Happy Thanksgiving all
Ed in NJ

Interesting. Which particular one do you use and what is your experience with it? Power Service Products, diesel fuel additives, prevent gelling, clean injectors, disperse water, boost cetane, reduce emissions, improve fuel economy

[bigx5er]

Originally Posted by moolis

I have not had any problem whatsoever with fueling my diesel. I do it just like I always have. I've not had spills or bad smells, nothing. I think your wife should maybe try it out. You'll be missing out on a great vehicle. This is coming from a wife

That was the final straw

Now that Ms. Moolis (?) jumped on the bandwagon, I changed my mind and am getting the X5 diesel. True, I may be shopping for a new wife, but those are easier to come by right? (I'm kidding!)

I uncanceled and the new X5 35d will be here later this month. In the meantime, off to buy some gloves just in case.

[Weasel]

Worst case, she waits and makes you fill it up for her... Not a bad price to pay!

[XXX555]

Originally Posted by bigx5er

That was the final straw

Now that Ms. Moolis (?) jumped on the bandwagon, I changed my mind and am getting the X5 diesel. True, I may be shopping for a new wife, but those are easier to come by right? (I'm kidding!)

I uncanceled and the new X5 35d will be here later this month. In the meantime, off to buy some gloves just in case.

Dude, if my/our whining about the smelly diesel was enough to change your mind then you need to rethink your decision. I'd say your on the fence at the very least. I realize there is nothing else better out there however.

By the way, anyone get tired of the so far enamoring diesel engine clatter sound yet?

[soldmystang]

Originally Posted by XXX555

Dude, if my/our whining about the smelly diesel was enough to change your mind then you need to rethink your decision. I'd say your on the fence at the very least. I realize there is nothing else better out there however.

By the way, anyone get tired of the so far enamoring diesel engine clatter sound yet?

clatter in the morning................. sounds like............. victory.

i love the sound of my F350's turbo whistling down the road. bigx5er, while i love my diesel pick-up i'm not ready to give up on my 4.8i E70 just yet. i kinda like the rumble of that one.

[blktoptrvl]

Originally Posted by Penguin

Find a station which has one of those waterless hand sanitizer dispensers mounted near the pump. I've found that a coupe of squirts of that rubbed in and wiped off with a windshield paper towel from the dispenser removes the smell (most of that stuff is mildly scented).

It's not common, but more and more stations are providing that feature/service.

Or just buy some and keep it in your car.

[Jbeene]

Originally Posted by soldmystang

clatter in the morning................. sounds like............. victory.

i love the sound of my F350's turbo whistling down the road. bigx5er, while i love my diesel pick-up i'm not ready to give up on my 4.8i E70 just yet. i kinda like the rumble of that one.

I am torn. We signed the papers on an X5d today that is identical to our current 4.8i right down to the color and options (slightly different 19 inch wheels notwithstanding). I am going to miss the V8 rumble of the 4.8i but I am not going to miss 450km per tank vs 850km in the city. 1000km on the highway will be a revelation.

I wish I could keep both but I'll have to sacrifice and drive the M3 to get the V8 rumble I guess.

Interestingly when we were in Norway last spring driving a delightful diesel Octavia (not) I thought I was a twit for getting diesel all over my hands. Good to know I was only partly to blame - discovered the foaming issue as well. Now I get why the gloves were there. BTW, Statoil's pumps are dirty as hell. I laughed at how a "green" pump handle could be so dirty. If I only knew...

Since the X5d is for the missus I think I'll be the one to fill it up as to avoid future discussion about diesel all over her hands, and handbags and children and the list goes on.

[FunfDreisig]

Originally Posted by XXX555

....By the way, anyone get tired of the so far enamoring diesel engine clatter sound yet?

Gasoline enignes are so 20th century. When I want to hear a gas engine, I crank up one that hasn't been neutered with 21st century 'technology' And OBTW I can diagnose, maintain, repair and even rebuild with tools that do not include ANY electronics

Funf Dreisig

[Jbeene]

Originally Posted by FunfDreisig

Gasoline enignes are so 20th century. When I want to hear a gas engine, I crank up one that hasn't been neutered with 21st century 'technology' And OBTW I can diagnose, maintain, repair and even rebuild with tools that do not include ANY electronics

Funf Dreisig

Ever driven the new M3 V8? It does the ancient gasoline engine proud, though hopeless when it comes to gas mileage it makes up for it in so many other ways.

I'll be making up for my environtmental heresy with an X5d!

[FunfDreisig]

Originally Posted by Jbeene

Ever driven the new M3 V8? It does the ancient gasoline engine proud...

Oh I fully understand the amazing capabilities of a modern gas engine in a modern BMW vis a vis the antique gas engines I love. But I give serious extra points to being able to do 100% of the maintenance, repairs, rebuilds in my own garage. If can't maintain it for at least 2-3 decades, its just another disposable high tech appliance

BTW anyone want to venture a guess about how many of today's hot BMWs (including the diesels) will still be on the road 3+ decades from now?

Funf Dreisig

p.s. here's a 2 word hint -- plastics and electronics.