Hi does anyone know how to top up the diesel particle filter fluid? I have a 2.0 superb 140 tdi and the particle filter additive needs replenishing. Is it easy to do on my own or do I need to take it to the dealers.

How many miles do you have on your 2.0 TDi? I think it's a dealer job, as the tank for the additive is under the spare wheel, under the boot floor.

I have done 89,000 miles on it. Do you know any garage or dealer that will do this for me, or even where I can get this additive from? I am hoping it will just be a case of topping up the fluid only, without having to replace the filter as well.

Apart from a main dealer, no I don't sorry. You can probably buy the additive, however there isn't an easy way of topping up the fluid.

Ok thanks, looks like a trip to the dealers for me then.

It might need a new filter. These Filters are only supposed to last 80k. It all depends on how much soot/ash is in there. I believe the magic number is 150mg and its a new filter. We are now getting to the crunch time with the 140TDI Superbs, most people including dealers were unaware the DPF could have a life span of just 3 years. I was told that at 12 months, mechanics were seeing levels of 50mg ash . This ash cannot be burnt and remains thoughout the filter life. Ask the question? Also the additive is VERY expensive so be prepared for 2 shocks. (not going to tell you the cost of filter!!!).

I do believe that filling the additive chamber is not that difficult but I could be wrong. Just get the filter ash checked.

OK how much is the filter? Glad that my 55 plate 2.5TDi hasn't got one!

I believe £800 excluding labour! I came within hours of buying a nice black 140TDI but with extensive research soon found out about the DPF. No problem for a company car owner as the filter is likely to last the distance of the lease. Private owners, especially those buying second hand will have a real shock. As I said these cars were first registered in 2006 and they are entering there fourth year and the filter will need replacing.

Oh and those with extended warrentys will also like to hear its not covered.

Hence why I bought the 130PD 55 reg.

Wise man. The 5 speed manual transmission is more reliable too.

Diesel Superbs with DPFs will be scrap money soon - given that they're hard to shift at the best of times. It's a real shame the politicians have now scuppered the most efficient engine available for road transport.

I bought a Euro III AWX diesel without a DPF for all the same reasons. It will have to last me a while...

rotodiesel.

But why does the EuroIV 140bhp produce more emissions and has reduced fuel consuption than the 130BHP? How can that be environmentally friendly? Rotodiesel you forgot to mention the oil pump failures in the 140bhp as well. I do feel generally sad for buyers of the 2.0TDI because Skoda have not been open and honest on its limitations.

I could do better tbh, the whole thing is like a sealed for life hoover, and you can't empty the bag, another printer ink howler in effect, I have a much more simple idea to have the same effect in mind, self reporting and low maintenance, but they won't want that, an £800 job and some high priced Redex is spiffy to them isn't it.

One reason I'm thinking of Petrol next time, these new gen Dervs are rubbish, most ppl think a derv is bought for economy, but the knowers know you buy it for longevity, as it revs lower so it should in effect last longer.

Someone I know bought an Elegance the same week I did, mine is a 1.9 and his a 2.0 with dpf, history of them is this, mine has had an alternator and a battery and some boot hinges, his has had turbo,oil drive spline,dpf and a clutch and dmf so far that I know of, so in effect to catch some soot his car has had to have the replacement parts made (eco method o'course) and mine hasn't, his has used 507, mine hasn't, I love mine, he doesn't, see the pattern.

Edited 18 December, 200916 yr by Supurbia

I could do better tbh, the whole thing is like a sealed for life hoover, and you can't empty the bag, another printer ink howler in effect, I have a much more simple idea to have the same effect in mind, self reporting and low maintenance, but they won't want that, an £800 job and some high priced Redex is spiffy to them isn't it.

One reason I'm thinking of Petrol next time, these new gen Dervs are rubbish, most ppl think a derv is bought for economy, but the knowers know you buy it for longevity, as it revs lower so it should in effect last longer.

Someone I know bought an Elegance the same week I did, mine is a 1.9 and his a 2.0 with dpf, history of them is this, mine has had an alternator and a battery and some boot hinges, his has had turbo,oil drive spline,dpf and a clutch and dmf so far that I know of, so in effect to catch some soot his car has had to have the replacement parts made (eco method o'course) and mine hasn't, his has used 507, mine hasn't, I love mine, he doesn't, see the pattern.

Supurbia, we both know are cams are doomed !!! Some more GM going in mine at the weekend.

Supurbia, we both know are cams are doomed !!! Some more GM going in mine at the weekend.

LOL, stoppit!!! :->

Hmmm, I had a lucky escape it seems. I wanted the 2.0 TDi when it first came out but the dealer couldn't get one. So I had the 55 plate 2.5TDi instead for similar money. If I'd known what I know now, I would have had the 1.9 but I didn't, so I got the 2.5 instead.

To be honest, it has been an excellent car. The only problem I have had with it was caused recently by an indy "VAG specialist" here in the north west who took in a perfectly fault free vehicle in for a cambelt change and returned it to me with three faults two of which were MOT failures and the other one could easily have written the engine off if I hadn't stopped the motor promptly when I did on the way home. Needless to say, the next service in two weeks time will be done by the Skoda dealer that has served me well for the last 8 years.

Well the cheapest quote I have had so far for the particle filter is £382 plus VAT, from Skoda dealers. Only problem was they had never heard about the additive and didn't know what it was. The most expensive quote I have had so far is £437 plus VAT for the filter, and £37 per litre for additive, and that was from trade part specialists. I asked two different Skoda dealers (Allams and Crawley down) about the additive and they didn't even know what it was. I took my car to a private mechanic who put it on the computer for free, and it said diesel particle filter additive needs replenishing. So I'm thinking of just buying couple litres of additive and getting my mechanic to put it in and this should hopefully solve the problem.

Hmmm, I had a lucky escape it seems. I wanted the 2.0 TDi when it first came out but the dealer couldn't get one. So I had the 55 plate 2.5TDi instead for similar money. If I'd known what I know now, I would have had the 1.9 but I didn't, so I got the 2.5 instead.

To be honest, it has been an excellent car. The only problem I have had with it was caused recently by an indy "VAG specialist" here in the north west who took in a perfectly fault free vehicle in for a cambelt change and returned it to me with three faults two of which were MOT failures and the other one could easily have written the engine off if I hadn't stopped the motor promptly when I did on the way home. Needless to say, the next service in two weeks time will be done by the Skoda dealer that has served me well for the last 8 years.

Take it to a VW dealer, cheaper and they know the car better, lots of Passats, very few Superbs.

Just to update, I have got it sorted now. After no joy from any Skoda dealers I ended up taking it to a mechanic I know who topped up the DPF fluid for me, for £25. He even cleared the fault code for me. However, having said this I would still recommend going to a Skoda dealer or specialist to have it done because they will have the necessary equipment to do this. As we didnt have the equipment to top up the fluid we had to improvise and it did the job, I hope.

did your mechanic say how he did it? the improvisation he used in order to top the dpf up? . it would be helpful if you could explain exactly how it was done....without having to go through the expense of a main dealer...cheers andy

did your mechanic say how he did it? the improvisation he used in order to top the dpf up? . it would be helpful if you could explain exactly how it was done....without having to go through the expense of a main dealer...cheers andy

I am assuming you already know the location of the DPF fluid tank. If not, then it is in the boot under the spare tyre, just to the right of the centre hole where you skrew in your wheel clamp there are two flat (kind of oval shaped) rubber covers/plates which can be removed with a flat screwdriver. Under these are two tubes/pipes with covers/lids on them which can be removed with a screw driver and pulled off (mechanic did it so not sure). One is the breather pipe (according to my mechanic) and the other is where you top up the fluid. Breather pipe is towards the top and has a narrow opening and the other is towards the bottom and slightly wider opening, but you cant tell until you take off the covers/caps. I suggest you take the breather pipe cover off first and then the other one. We used an old empty one litre bottle of engine/brake oil which had a long transparent nozzle on the front (like the bottom of a funnel). Cut the bottom off the bottle, turned it upside down and coincidentally the nozzle fit snug and tight over the tube. Then just poured in the fresh additive, replugged and so far so good. I guess you can use anything which fits tightly over the pipe. The additive tank itself takes a maximum of 4 litres and at £37 per litre its not cheap. I bought mine from TPS for £35 a bottle. Apparently the correct method is to suck out all the old fluid and then refill with 4 litres of new additive, but you need the equipment to do that.

Now having said all this, I have not had any problems so far and all seems well but i wouldn't recommend this method, you can do so at your own risk. I still have a feeling that the tank is somehow pressurised and the correct eqipment is needed to top it up, but i've done it now and time will tell. May be someone can research and put it on here.

Edited 29 December, 200916 yr by jav

thanks for tha info jav.....i quite like the idea of doing some of the work myself, its been a long time since ive meddled with car engines....stripping them out and refurbishing them and re-fitting. Mind you the cars i used to work on was the mk3 cortina 2,0ltr GT Pinto engine...and the rover v8.

Mind you doing work on those cars take me back...roughly 30yrs ago lol....and they were fairly simple to work on.....unlike todays computerized engines we have today. Incidentally, who was the name of the firm you got your additive from? you mentioned TPS...Where are they based and do yu have an address? cheers andy

thanks for tha info jav.....i quite like the idea of doing some of the work myself, its been a long time since ive meddled with car engines....stripping them out and refurbishing them and re-fitting. Mind you the cars i used to work on was the mk3 cortina 2,0ltr GT Pinto engine...and the rover v8.

Mind you doing work on those cars take me back...roughly 30yrs ago lol....and they were fairly simple to work on.....unlike todays computerized engines we have today. Incidentally, who was the name of the firm you got your additive from? you mentioned TPS...Where are they based and do yu have an address? cheers andy

TPS are VW owned parts shop. Just bought some service items from them and VERY cheap compared to GSF. You do not have to be trade and they are very helpful, 5 litre of 507 oil is around £24 to give an example. I think VW have finally woke up to competition of other parts companys and this is there answer.

http://www.thetradepartsspecialists.co.uk

many thanks for that information....

The only problem I have had with it was caused recently by an indy "VAG specialist" here in the north west who took in a perfectly fault free vehicle in for a cambelt change and returned it to me with three faults two of which were MOT failures and the other one could easily have written the engine off

Clearly, for all those legal reasons, you can't quote the name of this wonderful indy specialist on the forum - but I'd appreciate a PM if they're anywhere near South Manchester...

cheers

Edited 4 January, 201016 yr by sidewaze samm

I am assuming you already know the location of the DPF fluid tank. If not, then it is in the boot under the spare tyre, just to the right of the centre hole where you skrew in your wheel clamp there are two flat (kind of oval shaped) rubber covers/plates which can be removed with a flat screwdriver. Under these are two tubes/pipes with covers/lids on them which can be removed with a screw driver and pulled off (mechanic did it so not sure). One is the breather pipe (according to my mechanic) and the other is where you top up the fluid. Breather pipe is towards the top and has a narrow opening and the other is towards the bottom and slightly wider opening, but you cant tell until you take off the covers/caps. I suggest you take the breather pipe cover off first and then the other one. We used an old empty one litre bottle of engine/brake oil which had a long transparent nozzle on the front (like the bottom of a funnel). Cut the bottom off the bottle, turned it upside down and coincidentally the nozzle fit snug and tight over the tube. Then just poured in the fresh additive, replugged and so far so good. I guess you can use anything which fits tightly over the pipe. The additive tank itself takes a maximum of 4 litres and at £37 per litre its not cheap. I bought mine from TPS for £35 a bottle. Apparently the correct method is to suck out all the old fluid and then refill with 4 litres of new additive, but you need the equipment to do that.

Now having said all this, I have not had any problems so far and all seems well but i wouldn't recommend this method, you can do so at your own risk. I still have a feeling that the tank is somehow pressurised and the correct eqipment is needed to top it up, but i've done it now and time will tell. May be someone can research and put it on here.

hi there,

I am having the same problems with my superb tdi 140 2006 plate. It drives fine but every so often the engine management light

iiumminates, so I took it to my local garage who hooked it up for free and the information came up as additive particulate filter empty....

It still drives fine will look into topping it up myself. What would happen if i left it as it was as the car drives fine at the moment any ideas

on this thanks.