Highest Mileage VW Diesel Found Right Here in Our Backyard
August 24, 2007 – 8:56 am by Dan Volkens
Filed under Cool Stuff, Volkswagen Jetta
Well, not specifically in our backyard, but in our home state of Ohio at least.
The 1986 Volkswagen Jetta Turbo Diesel, owned by a Mr. Schmid in Blue Rock, OH, has racked up 562,000 miles! A Columbus-based Volkswagen dealer, Byer Imports, verified his claims (pics below!) of the mileage as well as records showing Schmid’s Jetta averaged over 50mpg for the last twenty years.
“Mr. Schmid has a story that is like so many of our diesel owners; he loves the longevity of the engine and fuel economy that his diesel Volkswagen has delivered these last twenty years,” said Steve Keyes, Volkswagen Public Relations Director. “Throughout all of entries that we received for our Diesel Heritage Search, we found many VW owners who were passionate about their cars and the economic benefits of the diesel engine.”
Mr. Schmid originally leased the Jetta for three years, and at the end of the lease decided to keep his baby so he bought it from his dealer. Volkswagen will be awarding Schmid with the fabled torquemonster, a Touareg V10 TDI, to drive around for six months, just as the owner with the oldest Volkswagen diesel in the U.S. scored a couple weeks ago.
All of this diesel soul-searching started back in March with Volkswagen’s Diesel Heritage Search. VW received more than 200 entires for the highest mileage and oldest operating U.S. diesel Volkswagens.
Highest Mileage VW Diesel Found Right Here in Our Backyard
August 24, 2007 – 8:56 am by Dan Volkens
Wow. That rocks! You da man Schmid!
I have a 1998 TDI jetta and im starting to have some problems with it, it has 190,000 miles and it is starting to lose power when im driving up hill, it is making a lot of black smoke and the check engine is turn on
Hope you can help me out Thanks
Hey Jorge, congrats on getting so many miles out of your TDI. :D They’re pretty bulletproof, but at that many miles something is bound to go wrong. I’d get that checked out at a reputable local mechanic in your area, preferable if you have a Volkswagen or Euro car mechanic.
I have a question about tires – I have a 2003 Jetta TDI and I am approaching 58,000 miles. I am needing to replace the tires, but I am unsure on which ones I should go with. Any suggestions? the local VW Dealership (Orlando, FL) is suggesting Continental tires.
it seems like every tire has its pros and cons.
Thank you,
Scotty
Hey Scotty, you’re right. Every tire does have its pros and cons, big time. I would suggest heading over to http://www.TireRack.com and checking out some of the tires available for your car, and associated reviews. That should give you a feel for the best overall tire to get.
Thanks for your suggestion Dan. Another question about the 2003 TDI Diesel.
I had a yellow light appear on my dashboard – I got the code and it’s PO 673: glow plug, cly #3.
Does that mean anything to you? The car is running fine and I’m in FL, so no major weather (we just were on the outside of tropical storm Fay). I’m concerned with unnecessary fixing as we’re on a tight budget.
Thoughts? Thansk man!
Scotty
Sounds like there’s an ignition problem in the third cylinder. I wouldn’t let that go too long. Best to get it in to a mechanic or dealer to have it checked out.
I have a 1990 jetta with 343,000 miles. Run geat drive everyday.
That’s great David!
Hey I have a 1990 VW Jetta, it’s a 1.6 L turbo diesel. I currently have 570,000 Kilometres or so on it. That’s all I really wanted to say. Thanks, and Also Volkswagen is awesome!!!!!!!!
Problem: I drove my jetta to a friend’s house. it drove fine. When I went to drive home, it would not start, turn over or even light up? The CD automatically ejected and I can’t figure it out? I even tried jumper cables and still nothing? Could it be the starter? Alternater? Electrical?
Help?
Thank you so much!
Nice Brad! Hey Scotty, Your battery could be completely hosed, or there more likely could be a problem with the alternator.
Slobodan Pavlovic, Keswick, ON. Canada
I would like to inform you about my VW Jetta 1994, 1.9 L turbo diesel.
My wife calls her “Fraulein” in German means Miss.
I have made 541 000 Kilometers so far and It steel going strong with ORIGINAL Clutch plate!!!
I am regularly changing oil every 6-7000 km and every time add 250ml of oil additive like “Roslon” to keep engine clean.
My winter fuel consumption city/highway (40/60%) is just over 1000 km per tank.
In summer, only on highway it is 1150-1180 km.
I believe these results have something to do with keeping engine clean (piston rings), the way I am driving, and I am doing Timing adjustment myself!
I own a 1986 Turbo Diesel Jetta, the odometer stopped working at 262,785 about 4 years ago. The engine was rebuilt at 152,000 and I have kept it running with frequent oil changes and maintainence. I have installed a new clutch for the first time last year.
I recently replaced the alternator and shortly after that, the oil light and buzzer would come on when I deccelerate from 5th to 4th and the tachometer drops to 2.8. However if a throw it in neutral and acccelerate quickly past 3.0 the buzzer stops and idols just fine. I check the oil and there is plenty in there.
Is this a pressure issue or perhaps just a short as a result of the alternator replacement.
Also on a side note, I need to locate a new turbo any ideas?
I just bought a used 2003 VW Jetta w/ 51K miles about a week and a half ago. The Car Fax states that the alternator and battery were replaced in 03′. It’s at the dealership as I type for a new alternator. Luckily, for me, the car is still under it’s 60 days Warranty, but would have cost me $775. Questions…
1- how long does an alternator last on this vehicle?
2- does it really cost that much to replace? I doubt it costs $775, since I’ve seen the part for less and the labor isn’t that long, no?!
Hey Stephanie, that’s a strange problem. Maybe check out the oil pump?
Meliisa, alternators usually last a pretty long time in VWs, so it’s odd to have to be replaced. As far as the price, that seems very high to me, however, there is a lot of labor involved in changing it. I’d try another place for a better price. Good luck!
I am strongly considering buying a 1990 Jetta Diesel with 314k miles on it. I know very little about these cars and am looking for advice.
Hey Andres, I don’t have much experience with the older models, so I can’t recommend any particular things to look out for, other than general things related to buying an older car. I do continually hear that the TDIs are pretty bulletproof engines, so it should be in good shape. Just look out for rust, suspension problems, leaks, etc. Good luck!
i own a 2001 vw new beetle gls tdi auto trans with 97K. The car recently got a new motor because the oil pan cracked and the engine seized up. now i have a proublem with the trasmition every time i put the car in drive the gear wont shift i have to press on the pedal slightly for it to jump into gear even when im at a full stop it losses gear this proublem does not last very long only about a mile or so before its fine when the proublem first occured i changed the transmittion fluid and filter but the proublem still consist i dont see any loss in power and have been driveing like this for several months now any idea what can be the proublem?
Not sure what’s happening there pfc cancel. When the shop replaced the engine, could they have not put something back together right between the engine and transmission? That would suck, but something is definitely not right with it.
I have 1989 1.6 L Diesel Jetta with over 300k on it and it still runs good and gets 40-50mpg! I also found the original sales receipt and owner’s manual in the VAG box under the steering wheel.
olá,
também tenho um jetta de 91. o actual motor tem 595000 km mas já teve outro antes. na totalidade a carroçaria tem à volta de 1200000km.
só quero mostrar o meu espanto pela durabilidade destes modelos… cumprimentos
hi
i drive a 1997 jetta 2.0
problem is it wont go riverse
it has standard gearbox on it
is it gearbox ?
2nd when i pass over a small amont of water engin turns off and it wont go on for at least 10 or 15 minutes i wonder whats the problem?
thanks
I have a diesel , 5 speed, 1991 Volkswagen Jetta. The diesel light that usually comes on has stopped lighting up when I turn the key on. It has power, but it won’t start without the diesel light. Any ideas? Suggestions?
Thanks, Melissa
I have a 1986 jetta Diesel (non turbo) and my water pump went. I know a few people that know what they are doing when it comes to fixing cars but my problem is my brother and I went out trying to look for a Haynes manual and they do not have on for that year in the diesel only one for gas powered. I then went to a import parts dealer and they had something like the Haynes but I think it was for all vw cars and it was like $80.00 come on I drive a jetta because they are super cheep and I cannot afford that. so first question do you know if i can get something like a Haynes for my car? and second does who ever is going to fix my car need to take off the timing belt to get to the water pump? and third I know in some years you need a special tool, do I need one?