Just looking through the car manual (one of the other things I have taken to whilst being off work on the sick). It recommends getting the DPF checked at 100,000 miles. Is it necessary to get a DPF changed at any point, or can they run for ages?

If they do need changing, is there any cost advantage of changing it before waiting for it to fail?

Thanks guys

Edited 17 May, 201214 yr by xreyuk

What's a DPF? X

Diesel Particulate Filter

Beemers have a count down on a hidden idrive menu (5 series anyway). A bit like a variable service is works out when the DPF needs replaced according to driving style regens etc. Allegedly it throws a wobbler at about 100-120k and demands that the DPF is changed (~£1500).

Put me off high mile beemers that might otherwise be fine for a long time.

Never heard of any other manufacturer considering them a consumable in this way.

Just looking through the car manual (one of the other things I have taken to whilst being off work on the sick). It recommends getting the DPF checked at 100,000 miles. Is it necessary to get a DPF changed at any point,

Yes the DPF will eventually need changing when it cannot clear through regeneration and becomes blocked.

This can happen sooner or later depending on driving pattern.

Absolutely no point in renewing before having to.

Yes the DPF will eventually need changing when it cannot clear through regeneration and becomes blocked.

This can happen sooner or later depending on driving pattern.

Absolutely no point in renewing before having to.

or just get rid, the filter that is

There will no doubt soon be loads of Companies Offering DPF Cleaning services as more and more cars are traded in at 3 years old and then the unsuspecting new owners get to know what a new replacement DPF will cost them.

http://www.dpfcleaning.co.uk

'DPF cleans guaranteed for 5,000 miles or 6 months'

I would rather send my bank details to a Nigerian Bank!

george

Edited 17 May, 201214 yr by sk4gw

Run it on vpower and every 10k chuck BG244 in the tank

Run it on vpower and every 10k chuck BG244 in the tank

BG244, Will it do any harm to the Injectors/engine if you have had the injectors replaced in the last 3 months and had the DPF removed

Car always runs on BP finest expensive diesel ( 07 TDi PD Vrs 170 )

BG244 will clean all fuel lines check online for further info it's similar to millers but better IMO, but running it on the premium diesel will make a hell of a difference less soot build up, however don't drive it like granny would, don't change up to early and labour the engine,get the engine warm it's not a pd engine thats the difference, not sure on removing the dpf filter

Well I use Millers Additive basically every other tank. They said that will help the DPF, and it has done since, I haven't noticed any regenerations.

I was under the impression that every DPF eventually got full of ash that cannot be burned off. However, after reading here http://www.volvoclub.org.uk/diesel_filter.shtml, it seems it's only cars that use the DPF additive in the fuel (which I don't think my car does) build up this ash. It says there that normal DPF's should be okay for the lifetime of the car.

The reason I asked, is that SEAT say get it checked around the 100,000 mile mark, but as it's an expensive job, I can imagine them trying to bull**** their way to selling it to me that I need it changing.

Can they be cleaned? I've seen videos on YouTube of people just going to town on them with a hose.

If the DPF can't get clogged by ash as above, I doubt I'll ever need it replacing as I do mostly motorway driving, and I believe doing extended periods at 70mph should get the DPF up to temperature enough to burn off the soot.

However, just in case there is definitely no advantage having it replaced before it gets completely clogged? Leaving it to get clogged won't damage any parts that wouldn't be replaced anyway?

The DPF is a filter so is unlikely to last the life of the car.

During a regen it burns off the soot it collects and turns it into ash. This ash remains in the filter so it will eventually fill up to a point it will no longer be able to function properly.

As DPF's are relatively new they are still expensive, however as with most things as demand for replacements increases they will come down in price over time.

Until then if you do suffer a DPF failure then the most cost effective route will likely be to have it professionally removed and the ECU reprogrammed allowing you to benefit from the increased power and reduced fuel consumption.

Okay cheers

I do mostly motorway driving so maybe that'll help. I guess I'll just have to wait and see.

I read somewhere that DPF removals aren't going to be taken to kindly by an MOT test, but I don't know for sure.

How much does DPF removal cost?

It was £800 for 530d when I looked into it. Not cheap but less than a new DPF

Another question, what's a regeneration?

DPF burns of the soot by going super hot like a self cleaning oven. the burning off of the soot is regeneration.

From the AA -

Passive regeneration

Passive regeneration takes place automatically on motorway-type runs when the exhaust temperature is high. Because many cars don't get this sort of use car manufacturers have to design-in 'active' regeneration where the engine management computer (ECU) takes control of the process.

Active regeneration

When the soot loading in the filter reaches a set limit (about 45%) the ECU can make small adjustments to the fuel injection timing to increase the exhaust temperature and initiate regeneration. If the journey is a bit stop/start the regeneration may not complete and the warning light will come on to show that the filter is partially blocked.

It should be possible to start a complete regeneration and clear the warning light by driving for 10 minutes or so at speeds greater than 40mph.

If you ignore the warning light and keep driving in a relatively slow, stop/start pattern soot loading will continue to build up until around 75% when you can expect to see other dashboard warning lights come on too. At this point driving at speed alone will not be enough and you will have to take the car to a dealer for regeneration.

Edited 18 May, 201214 yr by Aspman

Volvo have a replacement schedule for P1 vehicles (C30, S40, V50) fitted with a DPF filter and that use an additive, this is at the 75k mile service, affecting mostly the 1.6 diesel and some 2.0 diesels,

funnily enough the exact same engines, with additive requirement, are/were used in the Ford Focus etc, and Ford never had a replacement schedule for the DPF

so which manufacturer is right ?

driving style can have a huge effect on the longevity of the DPF

Volvo have a replacement schedule for P1 vehicles (C30, S40, V50) fitted with a DPF filter and that use an additive, this is at the 75k mile service, affecting mostly the 1.6 diesel and some 2.0 diesels,

funnily enough the exact same engines, with additive requirement, are/were used in the Ford Focus etc, and Ford never had a replacement schedule for the DPF

so which manufacturer is right ?

driving style can have a huge effect on the longevity of the DPF

As above, there is no point in changing it until it goes, Volvo are probably just doing it to make money earlier.

Over on TDI Club, there are people who have over 200k on their CR engines, with the original DPF in place. They've never been cleaned/replaced.

Personally, when mine goes, I'll probably either go for a DPF delete, or try hosing the thing out (which YouTube shows plenty of people doing) and see how that goes.

I'm worried about getting a DPF delete personally because of horror stories I've heard.

I'm worried about getting a DPF delete personally because of horror stories I've heard.

......and they are ?

......and they are ?

Loads of people having problems with CEL and other things, and then going back to the people who did the job, only to be told it's not their fault and refusing to fix it.

Sounds like a shoddy garage not a "dpf delete horror story"

Sounds like a shoddy garage not a "dpf delete horror story"

Loads of people having problems with CEL and other things, and then going back to the people who did the job, only to be told it's not their fault and refusing to fix it.

Speak to shark.

Sounds like a shoddy garage not a "dpf delete horror story"

Who said it was the same garage? I've seen it at loads of different garages.

@ Auric - I've e-mailed them as they don't list the 1.6TDI CR. It seems that judging from what PendlePerformance said that people are working on it but haven't got anything sorted on it yet. I imagine that by the time my DPF does go, they'll have something though.

Who said it was the same garage? I've seen it at loads of different garages.

No suprise as there are lots of shoddy garages. Take it to someone who knows what they are doing and there doesn't need to be any horror stories.

The soot that plugs up a DPF is carbon, which when burnt turns to CO2, there is no ash left behind unless it's poisoned by something else (like oil additives if your engine is burning oil).

DPF's are not traditional filters, they are more like catalytic converters. Some catalytic converters last the life of the car, others get poisoned and plug up.

Fuel additves are going to make absolutely no difference.