I have done about 300 miles of driving in my new vRS CR diesel. After driving to Harrogate to Leeds, the fans started and ran for a good five mins after I stopped. This was accompanied by an acrid burning smell. The temp gauge showed normal, so I opened the bonnet. On inspection I found the source ( I think ) Just to the top left behind the cylinder head cover, I found a silver device much like a mini silencer. This thing was REALLY hot. I spit on it and the liquid just fizzled over the top. Is this the DPF regenerating? If not what is it?? and why was it so bloody hot???

Cheers.

sure your not looking at the top of the turbo?

sure your not looking at the top of the turbo?

Looks like a box to me. Then again, I thought the DPF was somewhere similar to a cat on a petrol engine. IE under the car.

I have done about 300 miles of driving in my new vRS CR diesel. After driving to Harrogate to Leeds, the fans started and ran for a good five mins after I stopped. This was accompanied by an acrid burning smell. The temp gauge showed normal, so I opened the bonnet. On inspection I found the source ( I think ) Just to the top left behind the cylinder head cover, I found a silver device much like a mini silencer. This thing was REALLY hot. I spit on it and the liquid just fizzled over the top. Is this the DPF regenerating? If not what is it?? and why was it so bloody hot???

Cheers.

from what youre describing about the fan and the heat it sounds like the DPF regen from general concensus on here. Mines done it a few times but the dealer didnt really know what it was when I asked. I usually make sure Ive got a longish run to do when it does this so its doenst have to try and regen around town.

Not sure on the hot box though, will have to look under the bonnet tomorrow to see what youre describing

It could be the EGR cooler which IIRC is behind the block. The cooler will get very hot as its taking in exhaust gases straight from the engine before cooling them down and sending them round to the EGR valve (front of engine block in the middle, looks like a throttle body and sometimes makes a high pitch whine).

If anything, the DPF will be under and behind the engine downstream from the turbo.

You may get funny smells from a brand new engine as the heat burns off wax and varnish like substances left over from the manufacturing process.

Its still worth keeping an eye on things as an acrid smell can indicate an overheating electrical component.