Dieselgate Explained! 🚫What They Didn’t Tell Owners About The Fix

Описание: Dieselgate explained properly, without the fluff. Short version (it's really really BAD even after the fix!)

You’ve heard the term dieselgate scandal. You probably know it involves Volkswagen emissions cheating. But here’s the uncomfortable truth.

Many drivers still don’t understand how the emissions cheat worked, why dieselgate cars still suffer after the fix, or why owners across the UK, Europe, and beyond are still demanding compensation years later.

This video breaks down the diesel emissions scandal, the defeat device, the real-world impact on performance, fuel economy, and reliability, and why the so-called fix often made things worse rather than better.

🚗 What is dieselgate and how did it work

The dieselgate emissions scandal first came to light around 2015, although the cheating began much earlier, around 2008, when emissions regulations tightened sharply.

Manufacturers, most famously the Volkswagen Group, programmed the engine control unit (ECU) to detect when a car was undergoing an emissions test.

During test conditions, the car behaved perfectly. No steering input, steady engine speed, predictable load. The ECU recognised this pattern and switched into a low-emissions mode. Nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions dropped sharply, allowing the car to pass laboratory testing.

Out on the road, everything changed. Real-world testing revealed some dieselgate vehicles emitted up to 40 times the legal NOx limit. That pollution sits at ground level, right where people live, walk, and breathe.

🧪 Why nitrogen oxide emissions matter

Nitrogen oxides are not harmless gases. They are linked to respiratory illness, cardiovascular disease, and long-term health problems.

That’s why diesel emissions regulations exist in the first place. The dieselgate scandal wasn’t just about misleading buyers. It exposed millions of people to pollution levels far beyond what regulators approved.

Around 11 million vehicles worldwide were affected, and investigations later widened beyond Volkswagen to include other manufacturers using similar emissions strategies.

🔧 What the dieselgate fix actually changed

Once exposed, manufacturers introduced a dieselgate fix. In many cases this was a software update, sometimes combined with hardware changes.

Exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) ran more aggressively. AdBlue and selective catalytic reduction systems worked harder.

On paper, emissions dropped. On the road, drivers noticed problems almost immediately.

⚠️ Why dieselgate cars run worse after the fix

Owners consistently reported the same issues after the emissions fix
Lower engine performance
Slower throttle response
Increased fuel consumption
More frequent diesel particulate filter regeneration
DPF clogging and warning lights

Lower combustion temperatures reduce NOx, but they also reduce exhaust heat. That heat is essential for keeping the diesel particulate filter (DPF) clean. Without it, soot builds up faster. Regenerations fail. Reliability drops.

Many drivers felt their car no longer drove the way it did when they bought it. That’s a key reason behind ongoing dieselgate compensation claims.

💰 Why compensation and buybacks happened

In some countries, dieselgate buyback schemes removed affected cars from the road entirely. In others, drivers received cash settlements. Class actions followed, not only from car owners but also from members of the public citing health impacts caused by excess NOx emissions.

This wasn’t a minor issue. It became one of the largest automotive scandals in history.

🔮 Is the diesel engine at its limit

Modern diesel engines are far cleaner than those from 10, 20, or 30 years ago. But dieselgate raised an uncomfortable question. Are combustion engines already near peak efficiency? And does chasing ever tighter emissions targets risk harming reliability and ownership costs?

That debate isn’t going away.

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