Posted on 10/05/2015 12:23:46 AM PDT by Brad from Tennessee
WOLFSBURG, Germany—Two top Volkswagen engineers who found they couldn’t deliver as promised a clean diesel engine for the U.S. market are at the center of a company probe into the installation of engine software designed to fool regulators, according to people familiar with the matter.
The two men, Ulrich Hackenberg, Audi ’s chief engineer, and Wolfgang Hatz, developer of Porsche’s winning Formula One engines, were among the engineers suspended in the investigation of the emissions cheating scandal that sank the company’s market value by 43% since Sept. 18 and triggered a world-wide recall to refit the engines to meet clear-air standards, these people said.
Messrs. Hackenberg and Hatz, who didn’t respond to requests for comment, are viewed as two of the best and brightest engineers in German industry. They were put in charge of research and development at the Volkswagen group shortly after Martin Winterkorn became chief executive in January 2007. Mr. Winterkorn, who resigned over the scandal, couldn’t be reached for comment. . .
(Excerpt) Read more at wsj.com ...
Good point.
I drove diesel straight delivery trucks for a few years. It took me a month or so to comprehend that it was normal for the engines (Mercedes) to suck motor oil right into the combustion process. Mornings I kept looking under the truck for the oil I was sure it was leaking out because I had to keep adding it. Finally another driver explained the mechanics to me.
I can imagine what a challenge emissions control has to be. Sort of like “clean coal.”
Volkswagen is the biggest auto\truck manufacturer in the world. They must have some clout.
Interesting thought.
Interesting defense!
There is no debate that VW sold all the questionable cars with programing set up to act one way on the testing dyne and then a different way disregarding emissions afterwards in the real world. They have admitted that — there is no sorting out to do.
The US standards were so stupidly cut that the engineers got arrogant and did a work-around to the test. VW will be hit with fines and the cars here must be fitted with new programing to run with the emissions required, mileage, drivability, and durability be damned.
The only thing I want everyone to understand is the NOx levels were cut in recent years by drastic amounts.
There are other aftermarket tuners besides APR.
I expect the feds already know about them, and will require fixes which attempt to lock out these types of workarounds.
I just got a VW certified previous owned TDI on Sept. 7th, just 11 days before the STHF.
My plan at this time is to simply keep the vehicle, enjoy great mileage, stay away from the VW dealer unless absolutely necessary.
And probably remove the TDI insignia, since I don’t need to announce to the world, that I am a gross polluter in some eyes.
Distraction is all this is with requisite accompanying waste of my money. One old heavy use vehicle smoker puts more soot out than all the tingly leg feel good in this here nonsense.
Yes, there are quite a few.
I expect the feds already know about them, and will require fixes which attempt to lock out these types of workarounds.
VW has tried that before, and the tuners have found ways to bypass the security, in some cases that has required cracking open the ECU housing to get to the circuitry inside.
It's like a cat and mouse game between VW and the tuners.
Altering the ECU programming has always been illegal for road use.
Such a shame. I love my TDI and I’m going to hate having it fixed or selling it back to them..
JUST KIDDING, no emissions testing here, I’ll get it fixed for the $ and get it tuned. I spew out way, way, way less than any of those modded diesel pickup trucks.
What does the tool actually reset? A “change trans oil” light or message?
My son used the dieselgate rebate from VW to pay for the fluid change.
They give you $1000 but you can only spend it at VW.
They charged over $700 for the 40,000 service!!!
I believe it does the reset and is used for checking the oil temperature.IRC also shows trans oil level on some models?
There appear to be a few OBD readers for the car, but not all work with the TDI VW. A dieselhead friend recommends this one.
http://www.ross-tech.com/index.html
We drove a Suburban over 125k; a starter, brakes,heater core, most of the exhaust system,fluids...
Doubt if I spent $700 on ALL the parts.
Here is the D I Y info.
http://www.myturbodiesel.com/wiki/dsg-fluid-drain-and-replacement-service-vw-and-audi-stronic-oil-flush/
Looked up the DSG service kit, even on Amazon 6 quarts of fluid and the small filter are 125 bucks. Assuming the filter is worth 5 bucks, that means 20/qt for the oil...so awesome profit margin there even before labor charge.
But German stuff has always been pricey, even back to the 70s when I was young.
Animal House?
Yep.
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