Just a quick question to confirm my assumptions anyone please. I parked up this morning after my 10 mile journey into work. I noticed that my idle speed was elevated and I could smell burming (I've read lots of threads about this but they have all merged into one in my feeble brain now). After turning the ignition off I noticed that the fans were running. My assumption is that this is the normal DPF burnoff procedure and despite turning the ignition off this will complete it's cycle. Is this correct?

Thanks.

DPF regeneration only works when the engine is running and vehicle is travelling as per instructions in handbook. The radiater fans are only running to cool the radiator and will stop when the predetermind temperature is reached, this is quite normal.

It is very unusual for the fans to run after the engine has been switched off at this time of year (unless you were giving it a dam good thrashing on your way to work!?).

There was another thread not so long back asking a very similar question, the suggestion was that the fans running on have something to do with turning the engine off mid way through a DPF regen due to the increased exhaust temperatures required for the burning off of the excess soot.

The higher idle and burning smell certainly suggests that your car was regenerating its DPF.

As I understand it from the manual, if you turn the engine off during a regen it cancels the process and you will then have to meet the requirements again for it to start the DPF process for a second time.

Well I definitely didn't thrash it as I'm still in my first 500 miles. I will be going out at lunchtime so I will see what happens then. The fans may have cut in as I sat idling for a while wondering whether or not to let it finish before I turned off but couldn't wait any longer. There were no warning lights on or anything and I have seen my car from the office window and it wasn't in flames.

Had exactly the same experience the first time mine did a regen (around 600miles). Ended up popping the bonnet to see what was burning the smell it was so strong. For the next couple of regens your get a smell. I'm on 13,000 miles now and although sometimes you get the fans doing there thing the burning smell has gone.

If the fans are running with an elevated idle speed, then it will be a DPF regen.

You really need to let the engine run until the idle returns to normal to let the cycle complete.

I had this happen to me last Saturday - pulled up outside my son's house and the tickover was elevated, and the fan ran on after I switched off, so I knew it was doing a regen. Strangely it was at the end of a 130 mile motorway run, so I would have thought it would have done a passive burn off during that. Anyway no lights on the dash and everything's been normal since so I guess it finished it's cycle at some point (probably the 130 mile drive back home).

Interesting to hear that some of you have experienced the same thing and thanks for the replies.

Anyway I have just been out over lunch and done another 20 miles at between 30 and 75 mph, so mixed driving. I did stop half way and did not notice any of the events I mentioned. Also on parking up everything seemed normal again. I assume therefore that either it did manage to complete/burn off enough this morning or that I didn't achieve the conditions to start the re-gen again on my next trip?

For the second or third time ( in two thousand odd miles)I noticed a very "hot" smell when parking up.but no light displayed, nor fans running that i had noticed.Nor indeed any elevated engine revs.

Anyway the last time was just now having parked up after lunch.

a "hot" smell, so i opened the bonnet.

I take it the DPF lives right beside the turbo at the back of the engine. being as hot a location as possible?

anyway bloody hot unit all shrouded in an asbestos like material covered with tin, plus a couple of wires going into some sort of (I guess) sensor unit. so i take it this the the DPF?

PS

My turbo is tiny too

Edited 17 November, 201015 yr by dieseldogg

To furthur add to the DPF tale.

I am ****ed at the poor fuel consumption (perhaps in part due to the colder weather) but on a 60 mile round trip last night only got sommat like 46.5mpg, mostly open road 60mph driving too.

and the Trip 2 only gives sommat like 47.5mpg.

****e really when the 12 year old Galaxy with long obselete engine technology will do as well ( albeit driving a bit slower)

But regardless the Galaxy easily met or exceeded the Govt figs.

This Octavia 1.6 CR ...............not a bloody mission