DPF _ Diesel Particulate Filter - Ford

MatBin

MatBin

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Had a nasty surprise last night, filled the car up with diesel (ouch) and as I drove away "Engine Management Problem" popped up in the speedo, although the car was driving fine.
Turns out its the DPF additive fluid is low (whatever that is - I know now of course). Doesnt get checked at regular service intervals, so you have to wait for the warning light to come on then get to the dealers service dept pronto.
Apparently these new fangled things need some additive squirted into them periodically, the car ecu decided when, based on driving style, conditions etc.
A top up is a dealer only job and runs out at about £150 in addition to a normal service (of say £250/300 every 12,500), will find out and report back after Friday.

It's also rumoured the DPF (a sort of second stage catalytic converter in the exhasust system) might need replacing at 70,000 miles at about £700 a go. Something (else) they dont tell you about when you buy a diesel as you do high mileage.

All in all I'd say a diesel's supposed cheaper running costs are looking very suspect as far as my car is concerned. 12,500 service intervals (wife's petrol car is 20,000 or two years), fuel economy (about 45mpg on a good run, whereas my 1.8 Astra did around 37 and had the same sort of performace I'd say) and replacement parts including tyres which it eats (my Astra didnt) are all making me wonder what to get next time.

Matt
 
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neil_g said:
im pretty sure my old 52 plate 406 had a similar named fault, but it was actually the EGR valve that needed unclogging.
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I dobut a 52 plate 406 would have a DPF......DPFs were only intorduced in mid 2000's to meet EU regulations on emmissions....DPF are pants
 
niv2 said:
I dobut a 52 plate 406 would have a DPF......DPFs were only intorduced in mid 2000's to meet EU regulations on emmissions....DPF are pants
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ah! explains why I never had such problems with several VW 1.9TDi's I had/owned between 2000-2004.

I haven't had a diesel since then and decided to downsize the car I drive and have a petrol version which delivers almost the same economy (though this one is manual v the last ones were autos) without the huge running costs mentioned - shorter service intervals and horrific tyre life!

Gary
 
DPF's are great but only if you run regular motorway speed trips, if you tend to do more tootling around town the DPF can clog up quickly and (not sure about ford) but nissan will only replace so many as it's sort of a you've been warned...

We now have to make sure that anyone considering a diesel is well informed aboutt he DPF before we even sell them a car :D
 
The one on my 2.0l Passat deisel needs blowing out regularly.

According to VW you need to do about 10 miles at over 3,000 rpm to blow it clean.

I've had the sensor go and also a turbo boost pressure sensor in my Passat and it's only 2 years old.

Both done under warrenty, good job as the car has now clocked up 65,000 miles in 2 years.

What baffles me is why put a filter in an exhaust that you gun the engine and blow clean, what comes out some kind of carbon brick ?
 
DPFs are a pain. The light has come on because it needs purging, the car will do this but you need to drive it under specific conditions - it could take 20 minutes, could take 3 hours. It needs to get hot to burn off the deposits.
On some cars if you don't successfully complete the purge it tries again, after three times it gives up and to the dealer it goes, they plug in their equipment and to a force purge, this is not as good as a the routine it originally tried to do, but will get the light off, hopefully normal driving will then complete the job.

If it dies completely they are not cheap to replace, £700 was mentioned, that'd be cheap!

On some cars it is/was optional.. in short don't do it!
 
Earlier this year at the age of 70 - I purchased a '59 Jetta 1.9TDI DPF (I had previously had a '06 model same engine - but no DPF ) and althou' the saleman knew I was retired didn't mention the DPF and of course I didn't know what it meant - however I soon found out because I only do short runs and the light comes on quite regularly - have to take it down the motorway - sometimes 10 miles clears it , sometimes 40 miles!!!

Can't help feeling I was slightly mis-sold!!!
 
John,

I would be having words with the garage as the sales person has a duty of care to ensure the vehicle suits what your going to be using it for, a bit like one of my sales team selling a micra to someone who wants to pull a horsebox!!

Will probably come to nothing but if it's logged as the dealer you maybe able to sort something out to help with the costs associated of going back into the dealer for the DPF regeneration, probably didn't tell you the low ash oil which you need on dpf cars is more expensive as well!
 
Hi Ryan
Thanks for the advice - may be a little too late now after 12 months but next time I pass will call in and mention it - may even get a better deal on my next car!!!
 
Am I missing something here.

1. Fit DPF to new car so - I assume - it does not pollute us all with it's particles.

2. When it gets clogged up take it out for a blast and burn all the particles off? What kind of nastiness does that cause.

:thinking:

David
 
Mine does 55 miles each way to work every day on clear motorways at 80mph (generally) and I did a long run at the weekend, my DPF requires injection of chemical to help keep it unblocked and apparently its very toxic (so not a DIY job). It certainly isnt just a case of running it up to a hot temp to get it clean in the case of a 57 (early Jan 08) plate 2 litre turbo Focus. Its done 60,000 mainly motorway miles but they reckon 2,000 rpm isnt quite enough to keep itself clean hence squirty juice running out.
2,000 rpm equals about 75mph - so do I have an excuse to break the speed limit and I think I know now why everyone keeps overtaking me :)
I thought they were poor drivers, little did I know its cos theyre keeping their DPFs clean.

Matt
 
MatBin said:
Mine does 55 miles each way to work every day on clear motorways at 80mph (generally) and I did a long run at the weekend, my DPF requires injection of chemical to help keep it unblocked and apparently its very toxic (so not a DIY job). It certainly isnt just a case of running it up to a hot temp to get it clean in the case of a 57 (early Jan 08) plate 2 litre turbo Focus. Its done 60,000 mainly motorway miles but they reckon 2,000 rpm isnt quite enough to keep itself clean hence squirty juice running out.
2,000 rpm equals about 75mph - so do I have an excuse to break the speed limit and I think I know now why everyone keeps overtaking me :)
I thought they were poor drivers, little did I know its cos theyre keeping their DPFs clean.

Matt
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you break the speed limit every day anyway?
 
DPFs reduce emissions and are less polluting, they clean themselves when hot which requires the car to be run at decent speeds for a period of time regularly.
 
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A guy at work bought one of the new JEEPs to avoid this; apparently the DPF us only fitted for EU legislation that's relevant to only one or two countries (France is one I think). Apparently, Jeeps aren't officially stocked in France so UK models don't have them fitted....
 
seventythree said:
you break the speed limit every day anyway?
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By a little at 2,000 rpm to do 3,000 I'd be way over it and its a 6 speed box, dropping to 5th at 75mph isnt that nice, no idea what it would be like in 4th.

Matt
 
It took me a few months to get used to driving with the DPF. My light came on regularly for the first few months. The first time I needed the sensor replaced which was a warranty job. I can't say i've had any problems for a good 6 months now, had the car for 12.

The garage told me nothing about the DPF when I bought it. But then again, they told me if I had any problems just to call them and they'd come and get it. First problem I had they told me it would be 6 weeks before someone was available to pick it up.
 
Needed the fluid topped up at a cost of £220 incl VAT.
Did some calcs, 42K ownership has cost me £1600 in servicing, which I think is a lot, petrol car would have had 2 services - probably about £600 in total.
However working it out fuel savings at 47 instead of say 35 mpg have saved me £1600 (at todays prices), so all in the diesel is probably cheaper to run (just, if you include tyres etc) because I do mainly motorway mileage but if I'd driven in town it would have been more expensive on fuel.
So bottom line is they are OK on motorways only I suppose.

Matt
 
Does the diesel version of the MK7 Fiesta have a DPF, not sure because I haven't had any warning lights come on as yet, it's a 1.4TDCi
 
75 on the speedo is probably on 70mph or very close anyway, DPF's this is why I run petrol cars and simple diesel vans for work, no problems.
 
Willid1 said:
Am I missing something here.
1. Fit DPF to new car so - I assume - it does not pollute us all with it's particles.
2. When it gets clogged up take it out for a blast and burn all the particles off? What kind of nastiness does that cause.
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Let's be honest here - the manufacturers will do anything to lower the CO2 emissions in the short term - IE while the cars are tested, because lower CO2 means lower company car tax, means sales of more cars.

However, for anyone doing more than just running around, the addition of a DPF should not be an issue. For example, my current hack has done 60k and has never needed it's self cleaning process to be instigated.
 
I have a DPF on my diesel Passat which comes on regularly if I'm not doing motorway type runs.

The instructions for clearing are to run the car between 2000 a 2500 RPM until it clears. I've noticed it only does this though if it's a good motorway run, it won't clear itself running round town...
 
Very interested in this thread. I run an 08 Saab 1.9TTiD and get very good mpg of 53. Main use is to and from work - 22 miles on a dual carriageway at around 60mph and 1500 revs. Specifically asked my local Saab dealer about this and was advised that in those conditions there should be no problems. Now, reading this thread and the need to get the engine up to 2000 or 25oo revs I am not so sure:(
 
Some cars use the additional fluid injection system, some use a regen system and fluid (mine does) but there's no indication its doing either until it runs out of fluid.
I am also old the actual DPF unit may well need replacing at about 70/80K miles and they are very expensive, 700-900 quid.

Matt
 
MatBin said:
Some cars use the additional fluid injection system, some use a regen system and fluid (mine does) but there's no indication its doing either until it runs out of fluid.
I am also old the actual DPF unit may well need replacing at about 70/80K miles and they are very expensive, 700-900 quid.

Matt
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They also say the same thing about catalytic converters fitted to petrol cars though, and I have rarely heard of one needing replacement.
 
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