Fuel -> Gasoline for Your Volkswagen Passat SUV Seventh Generation (2010-2014)

WARNING  
Improper refueling or handling of fuel can cause fire, explosion,  
and severe burns.  
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.  
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.  
For safety reasons, the engine must be turned off when refu-  
eling.  
Never get back into your vehicle while refueling. If in excep-  
tional 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 ac-  
cording 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,  
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 (me-  
thyl 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 alco-  
hol):  
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):  
Anti-Knock Index (AKI) must be 87 or higher.  
Blend must contain no more than 15% ethanol.  
Blends of gasoline and MTBE:  
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 condi-  
tion.  
Never use starting assist fluids.  
NOTICE  
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.  
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 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.  
If you cannot tell whether a particular fuel blend meets the cri-  
teria 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.  
Using fuels that are different from those specified above can  
damage your vehicle's engine and fuel system and cause per-  
formance problems.  
Damage to the engine and fuel system and performance prob-  
lems caused by using fuels that are different from those speci-  
fied above or by using “starting assist fluids” are not the re-  
sponsibility of Volkswagen and are not covered under the Emis-  
sion 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.  
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 ser-  
vice life of the engine. Therefore, use high quality gasoline that is al-  
ready blended by the fuel supplier with suitable gasoline additives  
that do not contain metal. The additives provide corrosion protection,  
clean the fuel system, and help prevent deposits on the engine.  
Volkswagen recommends TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline. For more  
information on TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline, please go to the official  
If quality gasoline with additives that do not contain metal is not avail-  
able or engine malfunctions occur, you should add the required addi-  
tives while refueling .  
Not all gasoline additives are effective. Using the wrong additives can  
cause significant and expensive damage to the engine and the cata-  
lytic 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 gaso-  
line additives.  
NOTICE  
You can damage the engine by using incorrect additives.  
Using incorrect gasoline additives can cause extensive engine  
damage as well as damage to the catalytic converter.