This Is How Volkswagen Is Fixing Europe’s Dieselgate Cars
Here’s the moment VW diesel owners have been waiting for. The under-fire manufacturer has just revealed how it intends to fix the Europe-based diesel engines that were found to feature a ‘defeat device’, which would trick testing equipment into reading low nitrogen oxide (NOx) levels. The company has been working on 1.2-, 1.6- and 2.0-litre versions of the EA 189 engines to find ways to bring NOx levels below the regulatory limit, while targeting no “adverse effects on the engine output, fuel consumption and performance.”
The first outcome of those efforts has now arrived in the form of a technical measure to be applied to the 1.6-litre engine. Here’s Volkswagen’s official explanation for the modification:
A “flow transformer” will be fitted directly in front of the air mass sensor on the 1.6-litre EA 189 engine. This is a mesh that calms the swirled air flow in front of the air mass sensor and will thus decisively improve the measuring accuracy of the air mass sensor. The air mass sensor determines the current air mass throughput, which is a very important parameter for the engine management for an optimum combustion process. In addition, a software update will be performed on this engine. The time needed for the implementation of the technical measures is expected to be less than one hour.
The upgrade has been accepted by the Federal Motor Transport Authority, and Volkswagen is currently in the process of figuring out the recall process for each European country. The first batch of recalls are expected to start in January 2016, while the rest of the engines are expected to be sorted by the end of the year. VW has also promised to provide a courtesy car to anyone who requires one while the work is being carried out, however it shouldn’t take more than an hour to fit the part.
As for the 2.0-litre engine, customers will be able to pop into their dealer once the recall has been issued to receive a free software update. The same is expected for 1.2-litre variants, but VW is waiting for confirmation of this. If you’re the owner of one of the VW Group’s other affected brands - Audi, Seat and Skoda - you can expect similar information soon.
Although Volkswagen is targeting no adverse effects on the car’s economy or performance, it says that the different applications of the engines across its range mean that it can’t confirm whether it has achieved this yet. It’ll be interesting to see exactly what effect these measures will have in the real world, and more importantly for the bean counters, whether owners start ditching the brand when it’s time to get a new car.
Comments
What about fuel consumption?
Here I am wondering if this mesh thing would work in any car, and if so, will it become the next big mod?
Yo I installed a cone air filter, air straightener, and now my engine makes 10 more hp.
As Chavdarov Remaps mentioned above, the flow straightener will create a pressure drop therefore decreasing the flow of air to your engine. Unless your car is equipped with a turbo that can be mapped to overcome that pressure drop, there is no point in adding this to your engine. And even if the car was boosted, now your turbo is ‘’wasting energy’’ into overcoming a pressure drop due to a flow restrictor that is placed for the purpose of idealizing the fuel-air mixture composition in order for the combustion to produce more energy. You will have to determine whether the energy output from a better combustion is greater than the energy used by your turbo to overcome that pressure drop for this to be worth it. In any case, on a N/A engine, this has ‘’no benefit’ from a power gain perspective.
that trust face… is priceless
Same guy?
What happens regarding modified vehicles for example cars that have been remapped, DPF removed and EGR Blanked, will it not just through it into Limp mode
I think some of you guys don’t get the point. The mesh straightens the air flow like described, VW’s biggest problem was a mean variation of air mass detection up to 50%. You won’t have a loss of pressure or air nonetheless the diesel works with air excess, nor you’ll get an increase of power if you take the mesh out, because it is necessary for a stable air flow thus a correct air mass detection so the application can do it’s work…if you take it out you will loose power. Rather a increase of power should be expected because the ECU can work more accurate now. Just my two cents.. english is not my mother-language so excuse me for mistakes
Will this fit on my Corvette? It may reduce emissions without losing power.
The Germans are very keen to take money from us on Brexit. They are less keen to pay for gassing our population. Come to think of it they didn’t want to pay up last time they went about gassing the innocent. They seem to be using their transport ministry to tell people it is their imagination that their “fixed” cars don’t perform as well.
Perhaps we should be demanding they buy back their fradulently sold cars at the price paid plus 100 billion euros to the NHS for dealing with the problem. Yes I made up that number on the basis they operate like that themselves, but it’s as good a number as any. Finally, any death that could possibly be linked to their gassing our population should qualify for 10 million euros compensation to the surviving family or where the injured party was without family the money should be used to fund elder care.
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