Ive owned a 2006 reg Superb Elegance TDi, for the last 14mths. Up until now, apart from a few teething troubles (which were done under warrenty) everything has been ok.

A few weeks ago the coil light suddenly started flashing and visit workshop was appeared on the display. I used my code reader and the only fault code stored was "DPF fluid reservoir empty".

I booked it into Rainworth Skoda, who looked at it and said the fluid level and sensor were both fine. However the fault continues, sometimes going 8 miles before coming back on, or as much as 75 miles.

Ive checked the usual problem of water ingress (as did Rainworth) and the carpet/underlay is bone dry, and the wires appear to be fine. I have also removed the cover in the boot, for the dpf fluid, and it was dry and covered in dust, Ive cleaned this out and made sure the plugs were all connected properly.

The car hasnt any loss of power or performance, doesnt appear to be using anymore fuel, or excessively smoking from the ehaust.

Are dealers able to check the fluid another way, without disturbing the dust, etc at the top of the reservoir?

Anyone got any suggestions or ideas what it could be???

the fluid replenishment should be around 80k miles upwards, takes a few litres at around 30 quid a litre so ive heard, so depending on how many miles you have covered, and apparently it requires specialist equipment to fill it. So either your car hasnt done enough mileage for fluid to be an issue or it is another fault, or they dont want to get ivolved in doing it.

If it's not a Stupid question

" Do all cars with a DPF have this Fluid"

Not a stupid question.

No, most current diesels do not use a fluid to regenerate the DPF - instead, extra fuel is introduced when the engine exhaust valves are open to burn off the soot.

The use of fluids was a bodge, needed for engines such as the PD, which cannot provide fuel at this point in the operating cycle.

I would strongly recommend avoiding any diesel which needs a fluid to regenerate the DPF. The long term ownership costs will completely outweigh the fuel savings you gained from having a diesel in the first place.

rotodiesel.

Not a stupid question.

No, most current diesels do not use a fluid to regenerate the DPF - instead, extra fuel is introduced when the engine exhaust valves are open to burn off the soot.

The use of fluids was a bodge, needed for engines such as the PD, which cannot provide fuel at this point in the operating cycle.

I would strongly recommend avoiding any diesel which needs a fluid to regenerate the DPF. The long term ownership costs will completely outweigh the fuel savings you gained from having a diesel in the first place.

rotodiesel.

Mines a PD Octavia Vrs Hatch, 07 plate so it will have Fluid???................Yes

Roto, is the liquid they use similar to Adblue.

Adblue - chemical toilet fluid?

Sorry, I've no idea, as there will be several trade names for this stuff. A DPF equipped diesel was well off my radar when I was car shopping.

rotodiesel.

the fluid replenishment should be around 80k miles upwards, takes a few litres at around 30 quid a litre so ive heard, so depending on how many miles you have covered, and apparently it requires specialist equipment to fill it. So either your car hasnt done enough mileage for fluid to be an issue or it is another fault, or they dont want to get ivolved in doing it.

The car has done approx 60,000 miles, which is obviously a bit less that the suggested refill figures, but surely that depends on how its been driven, and therefore the number of regen cycles the fluid has been used for.

Im at a bit of a loss, the only fault code that is stored, is saying the reservoir is empty. Theres no pattern to the miles between the light coming on. Theres no broken wires, water ingress or anything!

I recon if you keep on driving it, assuming the fluid reservoir is empty, then it will be a matter of time before the dpf becomes blocked, and if you cant unblock it when the engine management senses the dpf becoming blocked then the car's computer will put it in limp mode, and once in that mode it is somewhat awkward getting it back to normal due to the reservoir being empty. If the dealer cant regenerate the system then it will probably be a new dpf filter....and that i believe is not cheap...so its cheaper to make sure the reservoir is filled up and the engine oil changed more regularly inc the air filter, and then the emissions will be cleaner, and in theory the warning lights should not appear on the dash. Not cheap at the end of the day, so if you plan to keep it, then get it filled up regardless, or do what roto recomends..get rid of it and get a 1.9 tdi 130 superb.

I've been wondering about blocked DPF's, surely you should be able to take it off and run a hose pipe through it to remove the ash, or have I missed something?

The car is on a service plan, and so gets fully serviced when needed at a skoda garage. As I've peviously said, its been into the dealer to have the fluid changed, but got told its fine and the sensor is working fine. They don't know themselves why the light is coming on and generating that fault code!

Mines a PD Octavia Vrs Hatch, 07 plate so it will have Fluid???................Yes

No you do not have fluid in your Octavia, only the Superb MK1 has the fluid. The Superb MK2 does not use fluid in any of its DPF engines including the PD ones, neither does the Octavia.

No you do not have fluid in your Octavia, only the Superb MK1 has the fluid. The Superb MK2 does not use fluid in any of its DPF engines including the PD ones, neither does the Octavia.

Thanks Manny

Mind put at ease.

Anyone got any ideas, as the topic seems to have digressed!

could be an electrical glitch..a bad earth maybe..but if they say reservoir is full and engine is fine then i wouldnt worry. just service it more than the recomendation says