Volkswagen Diesel Fix Hampers Performance: Report
There’s now proof that Volkswagen’s diesel fix does affect the performance of the vehicle.
Swedish website Teknikens Värld tested 10 cars before and after the diesel fix and found that in many cases, performance and fuel economy decreased on the vehicles, despite Volkswagen promising that the car would be exactly the same as before. Strangely enough, some cars actually gained power after the fix, but still have higher fuel consumption.
The loss of power and torque is as much as 10 percent on some cars, while others saw their torque curves shift, meaning it’s a higher rpm before more torque kicks in. This adds to the impression that the vehicle feels weaker.
SEE ALSO: European VW Owners Claim Diesel Fix is ‘Ruining’ Their Cars
One of the vehicles tested was a four-wheel-drive Volkswagen Passat Alltrack that measured 176 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque prior to the fix. After the fix, it registered 163 hp and 272 lb-ft of torque. It may not seem much, especially considering engine performance degrades over time, but it’s likely a noticeable difference in day-to-day driving.
Prior to the fix, maximum torque came between 1500 and 2300 rpm, but after the repair the torque curve slopes. At 1500 rpm, it only produces 162 lb-ft of torque and it isn’t until 1900 rpm that it reaches peak torque.
This isn’t the first time owners in Europe have reported the diesel fix affects performance. We reported earlier this week that complaints have been pouring in with some owners saying the fix ruined their cars.
[Source: Teknikens Varld]
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Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.
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