Hey, all. Potentially stupid question here, but this didn't make any sense to me so I'm hoping one of you whizzes can 'splain it to me.

A friend of mine recently had her '02 Jetta towed to the dealer because her battery died. The service people asked what brand of gas she uses, and she said, "whatever's cheapest." She does use the octane-rated gas that the manual recommends, but she'll fill up at any gas station (Exxon, Shell, RaceTrac, etc).

The service guys then told her that she needs to fill up at a Chevron station once in a while, and that Techron stuff will prevent future problems with her battery.

Is that sound advice? Sounds a little off, to me. Maybe it's a Jetta thing.

It sounds like bullshit to me. I own a Jetta (TDI), and they are pretty quirky. The engines are built like a dream, but the electronics were designed and assembled by a team of monkeys, not even smart monkeys!

"Sounds like Bullshit?"

That's putting it politely, pure Bullshit!

I say it is BS!!

Did they recommend she have her muffler bearings changed too ?

Yup, BS. While Techron is one of the better additives for keeping the fuel system clean, it's not going to make a difference if you fill up with it once in a while. If you use Chevron gas consistently, it will make a difference.
If you want Techron and don't want to be tied to Chevron for fill-ups, you need to buy a bottle of Techron in the concentrate form (not Pro-Guard etc.) and use it every few thousand miles.

Brent

And don't forget the blinker fluid.

FWIW, the alternator doesn't care how it gets spun and has no idea of what fuel is in the engine.

See, we were calling "bullshit" right off the bat, but I started wondering if there was any connection whatsoever. Good to know I wasn't off-base with this one.

Thanks, guys!

You need smarter friends.

Or start asking me this stuff before you post.

:rolleyes:

Start answering your phone when I call.

It's got nothing to do with my friend, that's what she told me. Like I said, we both immediately thought it was bullshit, but when I started thinking about how little I know about the engine, I wondered if there was some remote connection between Techron and the performance or life of the battery.

I saw two people this morning that were out of their blinker fluid.

Complete BS.

Ask them if playing the radio too loudly effects MPG too.

Stone

Quantum Mechanics taken to a new level.

MMMMMMM, Blinker fluid

dooah! homer

well, that's the first time i've heard that line of BS from a dealer. that's like saying driving with your windows open will give you a flat tire...

That is so much BS I would report that crap to the regional VW rep. If it was just a mech I'd report it to the Service manager, Owner or Operations manager.

I really hate it when some SOB get's diarrhea of the mouth with nice unsuspecting people!

:rolleyes: wow :rolleyes: p.s. that was me

You guys are going the wrong path!!!! This is a clear problem, I can't believe you all don't know what it is!!! It is clearly the Flux Capacitor!!! DUUUUHHHHH!!! Lol

Ya, so did I!

Yeah that is total bull shit. I had a jetta once and put every kind of gas there is and it ran great.

Now, that is total bull shit!

Volkswagens never run "great."

I can't believe you never studied the effects of non-Chevron gasoline on battery performance.

It is in fact possible for non-Chevron gasoline use to have an affect on the battery under some circumstances.

One example...its night, and you are driving with your lights on as normal...the engine dies because you couldn't find a Chevron dealer, and ran out of gas...and then the battery dies several hours later because it was not charged by the alternator...which was not driven by the engine....which stopped because of the gas.

Another: You use dirty off brand gas, and you get car jacked at the sleazy station, crashing the car into a bridge, damaging the battery.

Another: The untrained non-Chevron gas station attendant put the gas into the wrong car...so yours runs dry, and causes a repeat of the first example.

The untrained non-Chevron attendant pumps the gas into your rear seat area while smoking crack, and incinerates your truck, damaging the battery in the process.

So - Obviously, the use of non-Chevron fuel is very risky, especially when combined with wonton Volkwagon use.

hahaha, how true! Mechanics wanted.

How about this one. GF gets an ABS light on in her Honda CRV. Takes it to the dealer and they tell her it is becuase she kept her cell phone on the passenger seat.