Audi A3 2.0 TDI – Service 69K miles
The customer with this vehicle requested a Major service on his car as it had not been running smooth on his trip from Nottingham to Sheffield of late.
Our technician carried out the service replacing all the necessary filters. But on removal of the fuel filter element found containments of sludge partially blocking the filter element. On further inspection the fuel in the container was black! Removal of the fuel housing was implemented, a quick clean out to remove the debris prior to fitting the new filter, a final road test and problem sorted.

When we are presented with this type of problem we will always advise customers to use Shell V Power Nitro fuel, at least a couple of tank re-fills to clean the remaining internal components, fuel lines, injectors etc.

In severe cases we have professional fuel cleaning treatments to help cleanse the internal components, which have presented us with some great results for minimum cost.

To conclude, our technician thinks either the car did not have the fuel filter replaced at the 40k service interval or the vehicle has had poor diesel used for quite some time.

It’s also important to remember not to let your fuel get below the quarter (¼) level as this may drag all the debris found in the tank up to the filter housing. Some cheaper diesel fuels have been known to remove the internal black plastic fuel tank liner, maybe that’s what it was in this vehicle?