Get Fuel Guide for Volkswagen Passat SUV Sixth Generation (2005-2010)

Fuel

ꢀIntroduction

In this section you’ll find information about:

Fuel types

Gasoline

Gasoline additives

Diesel fuel

Fuel consumption information

The correct fuel grade for your engine is shown on a sticker located on the inside of the fuel filler flap

⇒ꢀfig. 174.

Bad or poor quality fuel reduces operating performance, efficiency and service life of the engine. If you

notice any symptoms like rough engine idle or performance or “bucking”, immediately reduce the

vehicle speed, accelerate slowly and keep the engine speed in the middle of the rpm range. Avoid

high rpm and rapid acceleration. If these symptoms should appear right after refueling, switch off the

engine. In both cases contact an authorized Volkswagen dealer or an authorized Volkswagen Service

Facility to have the engine checked.

More information:

ꢀ

⇒ꢀbooklet Warranty and Maintenance

Refueling

Engine control and exhaust system

WARNING

Improper refueling or handling of fuel can cause fire, explosion, and severe burns.

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Fuel is highly explosive and flammable and can cause severe burns and other injuries.

Heed applicable safety warnings and obey local fuel handling regulations.

Always make sure the fuel cap is screwed on all the way. This keeps fuel from spilling out

and from evaporating.

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Failure to shut the engine off while refueling and/or to insert the pump nozzle fully into the

vehicle's filler neck could cause fuel overflow and fuel spray. Fuel spray and overflowing fuel

are dangerous because they can cause fire or serious injury.

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For safety reasons, the engine must be turned off when refueling.

Never get back into your vehicle while refueling. If in exceptional circumstances you must

get back in your vehicle while refueling, make certain that you close the door and touch metal

to discharge static electricity before touching the filler nozzle again. Static electricity can

cause sparks that can ignite fuel vapors released during refueling.

Gasoline

ꢀPlease first read and note the introductory information and heed the WARNINGS

Octane rating

Octane rating indicates a gasoline's ability to resist engine-damaging “knock” caused by pre-ignition.

Using the correct grade of gasoline is very important to help prevent engine damage and loss of

engine performance.

The recommended gasoline octane rating for your engine is listed on a label inside of the fuel filler

flap. This rating may be specified according to AKI (CLC) or RON (ROZ) standards.

If unleaded Premium grade gasoline is specified for your vehicle, then Volkswagen recommends using

TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline with a minimum octane rating of 91 AKI (95 RON). For more

information on TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline, please go to the official Web site

http://www.toptiergas.com.

The gasoline grades most commonly sold in the United States and Canada have the following octane

ratings, which can usually be found on the filler pump:

ꢀ

Premium grade: 91 to 96 AKI

Regular grade: 87 to 90 AKI

Unleaded gasoline

Unleaded gasoline is available throughout the USA and Canada. Volkswagen recommends that you

do not take your vehicle to places where unleaded gasoline may not be available.

Gasoline containing alcohol or MTBE

You may use unleaded gasoline blended with alcohol or MTBE (methyl tertiary butyl ether), commonly

referred to as oxygenated fuels, if the blended mixture meets the following criteria:

Blends of gasoline and methanol (wood alcohol or methyl alcohol):

ꢀ

Anti-Knock Index (AKI) must be 87 or higher.

Blend must contain no more than 3% methanol.

Blend must contain more than 2% co-solvents.

Blends of gasoline and ethanol (grain alcohol or ethyl alcohol):

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Anti-Knock Index (AKI) must be 87 or higher.

Blend must contain no more than 10% ethanol.

Blends of gasoline and MTBE:

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Anti-Knock Index (AKI) must be 87 or higher.

Blend must contain no more than 15% MTBE.

Seasonally adjusted gasoline

Many fuels are blended especially for winter or summer conditions. When seasons change,

Volkswagen suggests that you buy fuel at busy stations where the seasonal adjustment is more likely

to be made earlier.

WARNING

Starting fluids can explode and cause a run-away vehicle condition.

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Never use starting assist fluids.

NOTICE

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Never use fuel with an octane rating lower than 87 AKI / 91 RON. Using lower octane fuel

may cause expensive engine damage.

Never use leaded gasoline! Leaded gasoline will severely damage your vehicle's catalytic

converter.

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Methanol-blended fuels that do not meet the criteria listed above may cause corrosion and

may damage plastic and rubber parts in the fuel system.

Never use fuels that contain lead or other metals (check listing on the fuel pump). Even lead

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replacement gasoline (LRP fuels) contain metallic additives in high concentrations. They can

damage the engine.

ꢀ Do not use fuels that fail to meet the criteria above, or with contents that cannot be

identified.

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If you cannot tell whether a particular fuel blend meets the criteria above, ask your service

station or its fuel supplier. If you notice a loss of fuel economy or drivability and performance

problems using one of these fuel blends, we recommend that you switch to unblended fuel.

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Using fuels that are different from those specified above can damage your vehicle's engine

and fuel system and cause performance problems.

Damage to the engine and fuel system and performance problems caused by using fuels

ꢀ

that are different from those specified above or by using “starting assist fluids” are not the

responsibility of Volkswagen and are not covered under the Emission warranties or any other

Volkswagen Limited Warranty.

Even a single tank full of leaded fuel can do major damage to the catalytic converter and degrade

its effectiveness in reducing polluting emissions.

If you notice a loss of fuel economy or drivability and performance problems using one of these

fuel blends, we recommend that you switch to unblended fuel. Never use fuel line antifreeze offered

for gasoline engines.

Applicable only in the United States and Canada

Gasoline additives

ꢀPlease first read and note the introductory information and heed the WARNINGS

Additives are used to improve the quality of the gasoline.

Fuel quality impacts the operating performance, efficiency and service life of the engine. Therefore,

use quality gasoline that is already blended by the fuel supplier with suitable gasoline additives that do

not contain metal. The additives provide corrosion protection, clean the fuel system, and prevent

deposits on the engine.

Volkswagen recommends TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline. For more information on TOP TIER

Detergent Gasoline, please go to the official Web site http://www.toptiergas.com.

If quality gasoline with additives that do not contain metal is not available or engine malfunctions

occur, you should add the required additives while refueling ⇒ꢀ

.

Not all gasoline additives are effective. Using the wrong additives can cause significant and expensive

damage to the engine and the catalytic converter. Never use additives that contain metal. Please note

that metal can be included in some aftermarket gasoline additives that are available to be added to

gasoline during or after refueling to help improve knock resistance or increase the octane rating.

Volkswagen recommends using only additives approved by Volkswagen. Appropriate additives as well

as instructions on how to use them are available from your authorized Volkswagen dealer or

authorized Volkswagen Service Facility. Do not add any other gasoline additives.

NOTICE

You can damage the engine by using incorrect additives.

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Using incorrect gasoline additives can cause extensive engine damage as well as damage

to the catalytic converter.

If you must fuel your vehicle with gasoline whose octane rating is too low, only drive with

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the engine speed in the middle of the rpm range and with low engine load. Avoid high rpm and

heavy engine load. Otherwise, the engine could be damaged. Refuel your vehicle with gasoline

with the required octane rating as soon as possible.

ꢀ

Do not use fuel that is labeled at the pump as containing metal. Lead replacement fuel

contains high concentrations of metallic additives. Engine damage could result.

Fueling your vehicle just one time with leaded fuel or fuel that contains other metallic

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additives can affect the performance of the catalytic converter and cause extensive damage to

it.

Diesel fuel

ꢀPlease first read and note the introductory information and heed the WARNINGS

Always use only Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel (ULSD) fuel No. 2 ⇒ꢀ

The ULSD must always meet ASTM D-975 specification ⇒ꢀ

.

“ULSD” should be clearly marked on the pump. Before filling your vehicle, please always make sure

you are using ULSD. According to Federal regulations ULSD is the only diesel fuel type allowed for

use in your vehicle.

Using diesel fuel with concentrations of methyl ester biodiesel higher than 5% (B5), such as B11, B20,

or B100 when B5 biodiesel is available, is contrary to the terms of your New Vehicle Limited Warranty

and is strictly prohibited.

ULSD diesel fuel may not be available outside the USA and Canada. Be sure to check availability

before traveling to other countries.

Winter diesel

At temperatures below 20 °F (-7 °C), wax separation in ULSD occurs. Wax may clog the fuel filter or

tank filter and keep the engine from running.

To help prevent the filter from being clogged with wax, the fuel filter in your vehicle is heated with

warm fuel when the engine is running (filter preheating system). Heating the fuel filter makes it

possible to use your vehicle with ULSD down to about -10 °F (-24 °C).

If you expect temperatures below +5 °F (-15 °C) ask your fuel dealer if their ULSD is sufficiently

winterized.

If non-winterized or insufficiently winterized diesel fuel has already thickened to the point that the

engine will not start, move the vehicle to a heated garage or workshop until it has warmed up.

Cold diesel engines normally produce louder noises during winter conditions than during warmer

periods. In addition, the exhaust gases may be light blue in color until the engine has warmed up. The

exhaust gas volume varies depending on the outside temperature.

Do not let your diesel engine idle unnecessarily after a cold start. Driving off slowly will shorten the

warm-up period.

Illinois registered vehicles

Biodiesel is a domestically produced, clean-burning and renewable partial substitute for conventional

(petroleum) diesel fuel.

Your vehicle was originally designed to run on “ULSD” – Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel fuel [ASTM D-975

standard Grade No. 2-D (S15)] that complies with ASTM D-975 specifications and permits up to a

maximum blend of 5 % biodiesel (B5).

Due to Illinois state tax incentives or regulations for biofuels, biodiesel blends of B5 or less may not be

available in Illinois. However, we want to assure you that Volkswagen will continue to honor the terms

and conditions of the Volkswagen Limited Warranties that came with your vehicle. Use only Biodiesel

from high quality sources, certified by the BQ-9000 label at the fuel station and complying to ASTM D

7467 S15, B6 to B20.

Using diesel fuel with concentrations of methyl ester biodiesel higher than 20 % (B20), such as B100

is still contrary to the terms of your Emission warranties or any other Volkswagen Limited Warranty

and remains strictly prohibited.

Biodiesel blends (up to B20) may be used in your Illinois registered TDI^®Clean Diesel vehicle;

however, please be aware that biodiesel has characteristics that are different from other kinds of fuel,

especially petroleum-based fuels.

Biodiesel can attract water and also deteriorate with age. Small amounts of biodiesel can get into the

engine oil, but unlike petroleum diesel, it does not evaporate over time. This can cause the oil level in

the engine to rise and can affect the quality of the oil.

ꢀ

Routinely check the engine oil level. A good time to do this is when you refuel, especially if you

regularly do a lot of short distance or stop-and-go driving. This will help you see if the engine oil level

is getting higher. (A rising oil level beyond the maximum indicator means an oil change is needed due

to the dilution of the oil in the system; a potential characteristic of biodiesel use) ⇒ꢀpage 285, Engine

oil.

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If you ever notice that the engine oil level has risen or is above the maximum indicator, contact

your authorized Volkswagen dealer, authorized Volkswagen Service Facility or Volkswagen Customer

CARE to schedule an oil change – regardless of the time or mileage that has elapsed since you last

had an oil change performed.

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Continue to follow the oil change intervals found in the Warranty and Maintenance booklet that

came with your vehicle, and use only engine oil that expressly complies with Volkswagen quality

standard VW 507 00.

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Refuel only at trusted, commercial fueling stations that are located near main highways. These

stations are more likely to have “fresh” biodiesel fuels that have not aged significantly.

If your vehicle will be in storage (or not driven) for several weeks or months, please completely fill

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the fuel tank. If possible, fill the tank with Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel fuel [ASTM D-975 standard Grade

No. 2-D (S15)].

If you have additional questions about your Illinois registered TDI^®Clean Diesel vehicle, please call or

write to us at:

Volkswagen of America, Inc.

Attn: Customer CARE

3800 Hamlin Road, Auburn Hills, MI 48326

Tel.: 1-800-444-8982

WARNING

Starting fluids can explode and cause a run-away vehicle condition.

ꢀ

Never use starting assist fluids.

NOTICE

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The vehicle's diesel engine was designed solely for use with ULSD fuel. For this reason,

never use gasoline, heating oil, or other fuels that have not been expressly approved for use

with the diesel engine. These fuels contain substances that will severely damage the fuel

system and the engine. Such damage will not be covered by any Volkswagen Limited Warranty.

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If you put any amount of the incorrect fuel in the fuel tank, do not start the engine under any

circumstances. Immediately contact the nearest authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized

Volkswagen Service Facility for assistance.

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If diesel fuel should get on any rubber hose, it must be wiped off immediately. The same

applies if diesel fuel gets onto other parts of the vehicle, especially paint, tires, or a plastic

part. Wash the contaminated vehicle parts right away with soap and warm water to help

prevent leaks and serious damage.

ꢀ

Damage to the engine and fuel system and performance problems caused by using fuels

that are different from those specified above or by using “starting assist fluids” are not the

responsibility of Volkswagen and are not covered under the Emission warranties or any other

Volkswagen Limited Warranty.

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The vehicle is warranted to run on diesel fuel containing methyl ester biodiesel in

concentrations of 5 % or less. Never use methyl ester biodiesel in blend levels higher than 5 %

(5 % methyl ester blends are sometimes designated or labeled as B5) unless your vehicle is

registered in Illinois. The properties of methyl ester biodiesel blends in levels greater than 5%

will void coverage for related engine damage under the Emission warranties or any other

Volkswagen Limited Warranty, unless your vehicle is registered in Illinois.

ꢀ

Biodiesel especially in concentrations higher than B5, can attract water and also deteriorate

with age. Small amounts of biodiesel can get into the engine oil, but unlike petroleum diesel, it

does not evaporate over time. This can cause the oil level in the engine to rise and can affect

the quality of the oil and if not detected and remedied promptly, will ultimately result in engine

damage.

Fuel for Your Volkswagen Passat SUV Sixth Generation (2005-2010)

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