DPF and limp mode (wtf?)

[MikeShaw100]

Dear readers

Had my Leon FRTDI for one week and its been fantastic. Except for today that is...

I have only done 500 miles including a trip to the coast and commutes on the motorway, yet to my horror the DPF warning came on today, shortly thereafter car went into limp mode... crazy...

Car now back at dealers who will investigate Monday.

Anyone had a similar experiene or thoughts on how this should occur so soon?

Mike

 

[sp1derman78]

Sorry to hear that Mike Hope the dealer gets it sorted quickly.

 

[CANIS]

Sorry Mike.

I've had mine for 11 months, & i've done 21k miles and it has never happened to me.
I hope you get it sorted and I hope you have as much fun as I have had in mine.

 

[devonmikeyboy]

The DPF is a big problem on the PD170`s.

 

[m0rk]

what does the manual say about a cleaning cycle? seems like a very weird to install on a car...

 

[Crazyhazy]

The DPF is a big problem on the PD170`s.

Thrash it....

 

[BanziBarn]

I reckon it must be faulty as I drive mine mainly in town at low speeds and it's never got blocked up.... unless there is a big varience between cars on how well the DPF can clean it's self.

But lets hope it's faulty and they get it sorted for you.

 

[s3atl3onFR]

Mine comes on average every 500 miles unless I do some motorway driving. Though if you do lots of town driving try driving in 3rd gear keeping it around 3000 revs for at least 15-20 minutes, this should activate self clean. Its probably one of the most annoying things about the car.

 

[MikeShaw100]

Thankyou well wishers.

As I have done lots of fast miles, the DPF warning was a real surprise.

As its a new car, I havnt yet seen what happens when the DPF self regenerates. Should an indicator appear when the DPF is self cleaning?

Not heard from the dealer yet, but Simon (my sales guy) has been in touch suggesting that as the engine light came on as well, its a fault on a sensor somewhere.

I will keep you informed on progress, but I miss my baby already...! and its my birthday today....!

Imagine the scene if you will. Heading back to the garage in 'limp mode' on Sunday and being overtaken by everything - even scooters and ambulant chairs. Just had to grit my teeth and let on that I didnt have to prove my car was quick.

I will of course get my own back when my baby returns....!

 

[RED06LEONTDIFR]

Omg Read Your Manual!!

On my god, does no one read their manuals for the car??? The DPF light comes on if the filter is dirty/blocked with carbon deposits, it is a simple fix just cruise along at around 1400 revs for a bit and it blows out the crap and viola lamp extinguished, I have had it once or twice, mainly after ragging it around for a few days, it also comes on if the temp gets really high, since the DPF's temp can rise very quickly.... Another solution, get some detergent/cetane booster like millers or slik 50, or even use BP Ultimate from time to time, since I have been looking after my fuel more my car has been smoother and I haven't seen the light once..

 

[RED06LEONTDIFR]

I reckon it must be faulty as I drive mine mainly in town at low speeds and it's never got blocked up.... unless there is a big varience between cars on how well the DPF can clean it's self.

But lets hope it's faulty and they get it sorted for you.

Yours wont get blocked if your using low revs all the time, thats how it cleans it self...

 

[JonTelfer]

Hmmm, I thought it was the other way round. If you granny it round town the exhaust temps will be much lower and at a lower throughput so the soot accumulates. I've put 10k on mine usually up and down dual carriageways/M4 and the light's never come on.
There's always this if you're worried:
http://wiki.ross-tech.com/index.php/Diesel_Particle_Filter_Emergency_Regeneration

Jon

 

[RED06LEONTDIFR]

Not Exactly

Hmmm, I thought it was the other way round. If you granny it round town the exhaust temps will be much lower and at a lower throughput so the soot accumulates. I've put 10k on mine usually up and down dual carriageways/M4 and the light's never come on.
There's always this if you're worried:
http://wiki.ross-tech.com/index.php/Diesel_Particle_Filter_Emergency_Regeneration

Jon

Soot is formed up of unburnt fuel, the more you boot it around the more unburnt deposits you accumulate, whether under normal running you should get praticaly no soot at all because it is burning properly... That is why when you boot a diesel a big black cloud of smoke comes out the exhaust, of cause with a DPF you don't get that because it traps it, and eventually will clog up unless you calm it down and let the regular clean flow blow it through...

 

[RED06LEONTDIFR]

You are running it perfect!!

Hmmm, I thought it was the other way round. If you granny it round town the exhaust temps will be much lower and at a lower throughput so the soot accumulates. I've put 10k on mine usually up and down dual carriageways/M4 and the light's never come on.
There's always this if you're worried:
http://wiki.ross-tech.com/index.php/Diesel_Particle_Filter_Emergency_Regeneration

Jon

The reason your not getting the dreaded DPF light, is because you are running your engine at good revs and at continous speeds so you are not wasting fuel. The recommended thing to do is to give it a run for a bit usually between 1400-2200 revs at a continous speed.. You have perfect running conditions for a DPF keep it up..

 

[Michael B]

Ive completed 11000 miles in my FR TDI, ive had it less than 4months and not once has the light come on. Go out and give it a good blast down a road any you should have no problems. Too much grannying I think

 

[RED06LEONTDIFR]

Thats All I Ever Do!!!

Ive completed 11000 miles in my FR TDI, ive had it less than 4months and not once has the light come on. Go out and give it a good blast down a road any you should have no problems. Too much grannying I think

THATS ALL I EVER DID!!

I am not complaining about my DPF light.. But blasting it around has not resolved anything, I haven't had it on for ages, I have only had it illuminated twice over the past 18,000 mile and that was quite early on. I don't do a lot of A/road M/way driving so blasting around suburbia is all I do which triggers it off after a while...it takes like 5-6000 miles mind, but it does eventually.. But I have a much smoother and well run system now anyway, read about my TDI recipe when ya get chance...so I should hopefully never get it again...

 

[RED06LEONTDIFR]

Never heard that..

Thrash it....

I have never heard that, it does its job properly for me thats all... I love it, no crap and dirt up the back of the car, no plumes of smoke.. Its ace!!!

 

[MikeShaw100]

Loving the banter guys and gals........

I have indeed read the manual and understand how it should operate under normal use conditions, and from the comments therefore assume that if the DPF kicks in under normal use, the light will not appear Ie it only appears when there is a large amount of soot to clear and then do as the manual suggests (2000 revs 4/5 gear for 15 ot 20 minutes).

Will of course keep you all upto date.

Mike (happy FR Driver again).