Things I Wish I knew Before Buying a VW TDI

Are you thinking about buying a Volkswagen TDI? In this video, I cover all the things I wish I knew before purchasing my VW TDI. From maintenance tips to common issues, this video is packed with useful insights for potential buyers. Whether you’re considering a Jetta, Golf, or Sportwagen, these tips will help you make a more informed decision about owning a turbo diesel TDI.

Feel free to leave a comment if you have any questions or want more information!

Dyno video of TDI intake

Videos used -
My Mk6 TDI Buyers Guide - Myself

Oil change DIY MK6 TDI Oil Extractor Method - Myself

MK5 and MK6 Front Sway Bar End Link DIY - Myself

VW 01M Automatic Transmission Service on ALH TDI - IDParts

Can you fix an Audi 7 Speed DSG Transmission? - ShopDAP

Clutch Delay Valve Delete MK6 DIY - Myself

Brake Fluid Service for Mk5/MK6 VWs - Myself

VW Bentley and Factory Service Manuals

Chapters
00:00 - Intro
00:38 - Real world Fuel Economy
01:36 - Reliability
02:24 - Power add-ons
03:09 - Diesel Fuel Availability
03:35 - Diesel Fuel Additives
04:03 - Oil
04:22 - Common failures
04:55 - Automatic and DSG Transmissions
05:56 - Manual transmissions
07:17 TDI Stigma

[jukka]

Hi, this is a really great video and love to see that people use TDI's in the US. One advice that many people give here en Europe is that basically buy a Diesel car if you do long drives and buy gasoline for short drives. Short drives on diesel don't let the engine get to operational temps, and so you get carbon problem on the exhaust and emition systems. So here I have a few tips for diesel cars:
- If you do short drives, try to do a longer (20min on highway for example) on the weekends and/or don't be shy on the revs.
- For the turbo and engine care, use the specific oil that the manufacturer recommends (referring to viscosity and saps quantity) as a high ashes oil has a negative impact on the DPF (it gets clogged), also waiting for a minute after starting the car and before shutting it off is very good, especially after highway use, as it gives time for the engine to cool down a bit, and the oil flow helps the turbo to cool down, if you don't wait, the oil in the turbo basically gets toasted and carbon gets formed inside the turbo, degrading the engine oil and the turbo quicker than usual.
- Do change the diesel filter regularly, generally is done every other oil change, this is very important as injectors are very fragile and the filter cost is like 5 bucks.
Keep up the nice content !!!

[johndonohoe]

I use AMS oil in my 2003 Jetta TDI Wagon, 5-speed stick. I bought the car new in 2003, and it now has 407000 miles on it. It has been the best, most reliable car I have ever owned. I wish I could buy a new one now.

[moffatk]

Spot on TDI, I have first gen Tiguan 2.0 TDi. It has 330 000km now 11 years old manual transmission. Not a days problem. Still on original clutch, recently did the 3rd cambelt chsnge. no DPI issues yet. I am happy with the ROI.

[Chemist]

I find it completely insane how precisely VW scheduled maintenance can advise preventive maintenance. "84, 000: check rear windshield wiper sprayer" At exactly 84, 200, the rear windshield wiper sprayer hose breaks." Now if we could open source the service manuals....

[mmiracastro]

ALH for life ! Best car I have owned ! And I have owned Toyota, honda, Chevrolet, ford, Mitsubishi, Mercs, also it’s the lowest hp car I’ve owned and it’s got so much personality. I love it!

[SMoto]

I'm 2 days post pothole on my '12 JSW, and it's so much better, even at stage 0.5. I'm just under 116k, so next up is the timing belt, and CP3 conversion. I plan on driving this car until it turns to dust.

[Chumbucketsecret]

Bought my mk6 Jetta at 134, 000km, she’s currently sitting at 346, 000km. At around 202k she needed a replacement emissions system so I did a 3’ turbo back straight pipe with a stage 2 Malone tune. Over the course of 7 years of ownership, she’s costed about 20k in repairs due to my constantly driving like an asshole always rolling coal & stomping on the gas. Granted I always had my work done at the dealership so in reality I’d say it’s only really about 8ish k in repairs the rest being getting the job done. I was doing about 55, 000km a year for the first 4 years of ownership then moved closer to the city. Recently did the water pump kit…for the second time & had the mechanic do a full once over for health & he told me I can get another 10 years out of the car. Love it so much. She’s a dsg & the flywheel has rattled for about 3 years now but the mechanic told me It’s common & doesn’t mean bad health. It caused me to love vw so much I’ve added a 16 Touareg to the garage.

[mattalki]

I've had a mk1 diesel and 3 TDIs. Great cars. I currently have a mk7 with 110K on it. I purchased my mk4 new in 2001 and sold it with just shy of 400K miles on it. That thing was a tank!

[moffatk]

Good day bro
You make a lot of sense about the use and love for TDI👌🏻

[arthur]

Love it man! I own an audi a5 2.0 tdi 190 bhp manual and its realy economical. Especially for long trips I cant think of a better car to travel. Now got over 210.000 km on it and still no major repairs of worn parts

[BrodieBr]

Thanks for the great info in this video. Looking to pick up a TDI as my forever car soon. I'm accustomed to diesels in trucks and equipment being a farmer/mechanic but you gave me great insights for the rarity of having a passenger car diesel in the USA.

[jakethequadrunnersnake]

Definitely helped me. I’m going to look at purchasing my first vw, (2012 tdi golf 2 door hatch) I travel 70 miles one way for work and been a die hard ford man, currently in a 08 focus she’s at 233k been a heck of a car but I’ve always wanted a tdi and the 2.0 is getting a little weaker (and burning oil). This one’s an old friend from school that’s a vw fanatic it’s has the “preventive maintenance” items done stuff has fallen off resulting in better fuel economy. Almost a no brainer for what it’s worth.

[DuDieselDude]

great video brother. im on my 8th tdi rn. porsche cayenne diesel w a big turbo, so much fun while getting great mpg. i would also recommend the m57 in the 335D and x5D

[UYeedUrLastHaw]

3:13 Another good place to get diesel that is typically cheaper is MFA stations most are card only though but they are usually 5-15 cents cheaper per gallon than in town stations and 15-30 cents cheaper than Truck stops and other highway exit stations. The diesel is typically fresh because farmers go through a lot of diesel

[bugmeister]

Mk6 Jetta TDI here with a little over 392000kms. Had no real major issues (apart from alternator due to a bearing issue, and now air conditioning solenoid intermittently playing up). Has been an amazing reliable trooper of a car and look forward to it clocking over I think a good quality low Sulfur diesel (BP Ultimate here is Oz is the best), regular oil changes with a quality oil and filter, and regular freeway trips is all these vehicles need to keep on living without issue.

[Lemont]

Drive a 2001 Golf 4 1.9 TDI, 6 gears, no dpf. Bought it off a neat freak at 102000km / 60k miles. Feels and drives like new.

[Shepherdservices]

Your videos are great bro, Hella info. I've been watching videos on these cats for ever . This is just epic

[garagedreams]

12 passat w 0.5 Malone full delete and tune. 60+ mpg and mid-size interior. Great low-end torque and amazing highway cruiser.

[marcusporter]

I agree they are great cars, only expensive maintenance that you can expect is the turbo and intercooler to fail eventually on the older cars (2010>)

[JustADad]

I have a 15 Passat TDI m6 178k. I drive it like I stole it. Total blast to drive.
( Yellow koni shocks and struts paired with H&R lowering springs. Thickest h&r sway bars front and rear. Ultra racing strut bar front and rear.)