DPF - again!

Have covered 21K in my FR 170 TDI and have always driven by the guidelines on the DPF leaflet I picked up when I first collected the car from the stealers. I had read everything on here first too, to make sure I kept the DPF sweet. I have driven the car the same-ish route to and from work everyday for the past 19 months with no problems.

However, was caught out a couple of weeks back and had to fill her up with ASDA diesel - I usually use BP or Esso, occasionally Shell. Last Weds I called in at my usual BP and filled her up. Friday the bleedin' DPF warning light comes on as I drive to work, so I drive miles out of my way (about an extra 30 miles!) along fast A-roads and follow the instructions to the letter.

No effect.

Drive home from work the same way = no effect, though tail-pipe on the zorst is red hot and the gases are hot enough to burn my hand.

So yesterday, decides to take her on the M1 and go for a long blast. Before I even got onto the slip road, the engine management light pings on and seconds later the coil light comes on and she goes into limp mode. :censored: So I end up stuck on the M1 for a junction until I can get off and limp home.

I'm not a happy bunny.

Was it the fuel change? :confused: :shrug: Dunno, though it's made me suspicious. Maybe just coincidence...

Need to get to the stealers ASAP in the morning. Maybe time for a long discussion and discourse on the effectiveness of the DPF... :(
 

dannychapman10

K04 Time ;)
Mar 30, 2009
1,268
1
Grimsby, UK
Could be the fuel, I notice a difference if I use Morrisons fuel to my normal Shell Optimax or whatever it's called, my car seems to just not feel as pokey :(

Danny.
 

Nath.

The Gentlemans Express
Jan 1, 2006
8,620
16
EASTLEIGH, HAMPSHIRE
My guess is it's a sensor fault and the DPF isn't full at all.

Fingers crossed a new sensor under warrenty will get you going again.
 

mds1256

Facelift Leon Cupra
Jan 7, 2007
1,012
1
Could be the fuel, I notice a difference if I use Morrisons fuel to my normal Shell Optimax or whatever it's called, my car seems to just not feel as pokey :(

Danny.

i notice when filling up with JET diesel from the usual shell or total diesel i get DPF regen within 10-15 miles of driving every time i have filled up with JET so i no longer use JET and just stick to TOTAL or SHELL

so it could be fuel but i reakon it is also a sensor issue as meantioned before
 

Nath.

The Gentlemans Express
Jan 1, 2006
8,620
16
EASTLEIGH, HAMPSHIRE
Hey Sooty, as you have an FR Derv with a DPF you should change your username to "not so sooty torques" . Never seen an FR Derv making soot yet.
 

NickP

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Apr 23, 2003
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Colchester, Essex
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Hey Sooty, as you have an FR Derv with a DPF you should change your username to "not so sooty torques" . Never seen an FR Derv making soot yet.

I was pleasantly surprised standing behind mine when it was dyno'd and not the slightest hint of black smoke throughout the entire run :)

I was also pleasantly surprised with the figures too :)
 

NickP

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Apr 23, 2003
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Even though I've never had any DPF issues or had the DPF light on in 32k miles, I'm being de-dpf'd shortly :)

Can have the original Down Pipe with DPF fitted and original software reflashed for £60 if I want to go back to standard at any point or any potential purchaser wants to..
 

NickP

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Apr 23, 2003
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Colchester, Essex
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Do you have to have the downpipe replaced?

Can you just have the DPF off and a map to go with that?

There are two options - having your stock d/p opened up and the dpf removed and re welded, which retains the 'stock' look and is slightly cheaper, but doesn't overcome some of the squashed bends in the original d/p which hamper the gas flow

or the second option which I'm going for, where the original d/p is completely replaced by a milltek large bore downpipe.
This then leaves you with the fully functioning original if you ever need to have it refitted - i.e. resale etc...
 

dimension_fm

Guest
I mostly use Morrisons fuel and always have done since new, have done 15k in it now and never had a problem with it, my driving is a mixture of town and motorway driving.
 
Even though I've never had any DPF issues or had the DPF light on in 32k miles, I'm being de-dpf'd shortly :)

Can have the original Down Pipe with DPF fitted and original software reflashed for £60 if I want to go back to standard at any point or any potential purchaser wants to..

Yep, been following other threads on here which talk about having the whole shebang ripped out and like you, having full new system in. Like this. Any news on how this will affect MOT though? I know they measure soot from my 15 years of driving dervs, but will the new system pass the soot test? Do they measure any of the NOX which the DPF/CAT is supposed to sort? I would imagine the soot would pass (seeing as my old Pug 309 and ZX passed) but are any of the other emissions tested under the latest MOT tests? :confused:

I'm hoping to keep my FR for a few years yet and don't want to shell out £800-odd notes if it is going to fail the MOT come 2011... :(
 
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