A mate of mine got his brand new seat leon fr supercopa tdi yesterday, with the car came a leaflet which explained DPF and how to resolve the issue with the light. However it also said if a replacement DPF is needed it will not be covered under warranty, is this the same for Škoda?

I noticed a leaflet on the side of the service counter a few weeks ago but didn't read it.

That's pretty poor from Seat imho.

Surely the only way a DPF would need replacing under warranty (I.E. before 60K miles) is if the warning lights have been ignored? In which case i would not expect a warranty to cover such items failing due to driver neglect.

DPF's have been replaced under warranty before now (Skoda). Seat are notoriously bad for wriggling / squirming out of genuine warranty claims.

If the correct procedure for clearing the DPF isn't followed (i.e. the dash lights are ignored) then not replacing it under warranty is fair enough.

If your driving style isn't suitable for DPF equipped cars and you weren't informed of this at the point of purchase and the DPF subsequently fails prematurely (within the warranty period) - is that then not covered?

Who's to say that a DPF can't suffer from a mechanical/manufacturing defect under normal operation - is that then not covered?

What if a sensor fails preventing the DPF from properly regenerating (this is possible without seeing the EML/DPF/Glowplug light) and it fills up to a level that prevents a forced regen - is that then not covered?

If VAG want to exclude this filter from their warranty then that is all well and good, but before they do that they need to reduce the price of it from £1,200 to a level more appropriate for what is in theory a 'consumable'.

As far as I'm concerned if my driving style is sufficient for the DPF to regen successfully and I follow the procedure outlined in the manual for correct DPF operation and it still fails within the 3 year warranty period then the component isn't fit for purpose.

Well i cant link through my phone, however a quick search on google "skoda dpf warranty" brings up the exact same leaflet done by skoda. Hopefully wont be a concern to be as i do DRIVE the car and will be getting rid and out of the Škoda (VAG) brand ASAP.

DPF's have been replaced under warranty before now (Skoda). Seat are notoriously bad for wriggling / squirming out of genuine warranty claims.

If the correct procedure for clearing the DPF isn't followed (i.e. the dash lights are ignored) then not replacing it under warranty is fair enough.

If your driving style isn't suitable for DPF equipped cars and you weren't informed of this at the point of purchase and the DPF subsequently fails prematurely (within the warranty period) - is that then not covered?

Who's to say that a DPF can't suffer from a mechanical/manufacturing defect under normal operation - is that then not covered?

What if a sensor fails preventing the DPF from properly regenerating (this is possible without seeing the EML/DPF/Glowplug light) and it fills up to a level that prevents a forced regen - is that then not covered?

If VAG want to exclude this filter from their warranty then that is all well and good, but before they do that they need to reduce the price of it from £1,200 to a level more appropriate for what is in theory a 'consumable'.

As far as I'm concerned if my driving style is sufficient for the DPF to regen successfully and I follow the procedure outlined in the manual for correct DPF operation and it still fails within the 3 year warranty period then the component isn't fit for purpose.

Couldn't have said it more better, its pretty bad to be honest, obviously you have to read up how to drive your car nowadays but majority of people i would say don't buy a car they have to then drive down motorway for 10-15min in 4th gear, not very consumer friendly in my opinion.

If he got that at time of delivery and it wasn't made clear at time of purchase, then I'd reject it as not suitable to your needs.

If he got that at time of delivery and it wasn't made clear at time of purchase, then I'd reject it as not suitable to your needs.

Well thats what I'm thinking, as I have not been told anything to do with dpf on my car, touch wood ill have no issues

I would have no idea the car even had one if it wasn't for hanging around in Briski since I had my Furby VRS. No one mentioned it to me nor did they talk about suitability which it clearly isnt at present and I have to take the car out on the autobahn every so often just to keep her honest but I have had approx 6 - 8 regens on my CR170 since I got it (the one where it burns itself out) 10K miles

I would have no idea the car even had one if it wasn't for hanging around in Briski since I had my Furby VRS. No one mentioned it to me nor did they talk about suitability which it clearly isnt at present and I have to take the car out on the autobahn every so often just to keep her honest but I have had approx 6 - 8 regens on my CR170 since I got it (the one where it burns itself out) 10K miles

Iv got 4200miles on mine and so far been alright, i just don't think its right people have to go out of there way just to ensure there car operates correctly

Its a filter, same as an air or oil filter, unless defective it wont be covered under warranty & also like any filter has a design life. If you dont drive the car as per the manual then Skoda can wriggle.

Its pants technology on a lot of the transition models that were modified to accept the neccesary changes to suit the eurocrats more onerous emission levels. Hopefully on newer models these have been designed from basics with these levels in mind.

I had huge rows with Skoda after issues with the filter on our Mk 1 Superb & Skoda hid behind the dealer. When we bought the car DPF's were new & no warnings were given when you bought the vehicle. We tried to argue the car wasnt fit for purpose but your contract is with the dealer, not Skoda so when it goes legal you have to sue the dealer although Skoda will offer advice & help in the background to the dealer. We never went that far as it just seemed pointless. Our DPF clogged whilst on holiday in france & the french dealer after a week of struggling I understand fitted a new one. We could not drive the car as per the manual when regeneration was called far as it would have been suicidal on a 23kM descent of a french mountain with numerous hairpin corners.

There are going to be more & more issues as cars reach higher mileages & the filters fail through age / miles, all a bit of a ticking time bomb but then I guess the aftermarket boys will come up with pattern ones similar to whats happened with catalitic converters

Edited 2 September, 201213 yr by Stuart_J

I have already seen replacement DPFs for half the skoda price, but why bother when it can just be removed and mapped out.

here is the leaflet mentioned above

http://www.skoda.co.uk/gbr/documents/19246_skoda_DPF_Leaflet_v7.pdf

23mph min 700rpm .......... 700!!!!! I thought it was over 2000 rpm oh well lol. The only reason I know mine has regened is the couple of times I have gotten out of the car and its fan is still on and the smell of it then VCDS logs how many times and it had done 4 just after it was a year and 6500 miles old. First time it ran was the day after I got back from a 1000 mile drive in a oner really peeved me off that it hadn't managed to handle it itself during that drive 95% of it on motorways, not to mention another 1500-2000 miles done within the 2 weeks before that!

Also is it just me or does the environmentally friendly thing sound like a load of bull when they say it catches the bad stuff suit etc but then at some point it burns it out anyway releasing it into the atmosphere just at a higher concentration when it does lol ............................. As I see it its nothing to do with the environment as what goes into it will come out at some point all be it with a delay, its just a way of bending me over and taking it up the exhaust pipe if you ask me. First wink of trouble and I will remove it on that mighty day will be a new exhaust / suspension and a bit of stage 2 action make it worth my while.

Here is the leaflet mentioned above...

http://www.skoda.co...._Leaflet_v7.pdf

"Diesel Particulate Filter for Common Rail Diesel Engines"

What do you reckon the leaflet for the PD engine consists off?

"Dear owner, it doesn't really matter what speed you drive at, your car doesn't have a hope in hells chance of regenerating by itself. If you see a warning light, please don't bring it in, we'll just have to fob you off. The best thing you can do is sell it and buy a petrol. Kind regards, Skoda UK."

"Diesel Particulate Filter for Common Rail Diesel Engines"

What do you reckon the leaflet for the PD engine consists off?

"Dear owner, it doesn't really matter what speed you drive at, your car doesn't have a hope in hells chance of regenerating by itself. If you see a warning light, please don't bring it in, we'll just have to fob you off. The best thing you can do is sell it and buy a petrol. Kind regards, Skoda UK."

no no no "the best thing you can do is buy a CR170!"

This is a sales leaflet. It has been issued so that there is a concise, consistent source of pre-sales information.

There has been no change to warranty cover for the DPF.

If there is a manufacturing defect or the DPF fails in service it will be replaced under warranty, provided warning lights have not been ignored.

Last week one was replaced FOC because it rattled.

The DPF issues I see here seems to be the same as I have seen with the Vauxhalls, Merc's etc etc etc unless a car is given a regular "decent" drive (all the 4th gear for 10-15 mins is a bit of crap advice and really makes no difference other than to trigger the ecu into performing the regen in the first place from my direct experience)

the worst thing you ca do is shut the car off part way through a regen as this really causes more issues, but if you do a regular 15>20 mile drive on a good A road or dual/M'way then they work well and can be kept operational for well into six figure mileages, if you look at most fleet cars with big miles they have almost no issues with EGR DPF or other "city" issues so it is appearing that driving style has as much to do with the issue as anything.

I drive 100 miles a day in a commute and (albeit a Vx at the minute till I change to an Octavia VRS CR170) have no major DPF faults to report.

It must be said that dealers should take more responsibility for explaining the entire DPF scenario however. No one mentioned it to me either :-)

The DPF issues I see here seems to be the same as I have seen with the Vauxhalls, Merc's etc etc etc unless a car is given a regular "decent" drive (all the 4th gear for 10-15 mins is a bit of crap advice and really makes no difference other than to trigger the ecu into performing the regen in the first place from my direct experience)

the worst thing you ca do is shut the car off part way through a regen as this really causes more issues, but if you do a regular 15>20 mile drive on a good A road or dual/M'way then they work well and can be kept operational for well into six figure mileages, if you look at most fleet cars with big miles they have almost no issues with EGR DPF or other "city" issues so it is appearing that driving style has as much to do with the issue as anything.

I drive 100 miles a day in a commute and (albeit a Vx at the minute till I change to an Octavia VRS CR170) have no major DPF faults to report.

It must be said that dealers should take more responsibility for explaining the entire DPF scenario however. No one mentioned it to me either :-)

Yea the not mentioning it to customers is a bit of an issue at least this leaflet is a get out for them if they throw it at you as I am sure they just don't want to scare customers putting them off and loosing a sale in the process.

With regards to Vauxhall fleet cars I have loads at work mainly Opel Astra 1.9 CDTI's and Corsa 1.3CDTI's and the Astra's have given us regular issues with DPF from new when the light comes on and it then requires a spirited drive to clear it one has had to be replaced and the warranty did not cover it, Cost €1800 ish if I recall late last year. I just leave them in a low gear and drive around the town for 15 minutes at 30mph ish until it goes out then give it another 5 min and come back. These are cars that are driven on the German autobahn's frequently too. But the fact that all company drivers have now to be specifically educated to this as an issue is a pain having to explain it as the light comes on and some will ignore it until the next time they are local to us and come in. We have tracking systems fitted to the vehicles and this causes drivers to then drive more appropriately as it measures braking, accelerating, cornering, speed and braking etc. But for an employer to ask an employee to drive in a specific manor and more or less force them to , to then have to turn around and ask them to sit on motorway at 70mph in 4th etc is farcical. As I said before what is the point in a filter collecting the bad stuff if it then just releases it at a later time anyway......

Its a filter, same as an air or oil filter, unless defective it wont be covered under warranty & also like any filter has a design life. If you dont drive the car as per the manual then Skoda can wriggle.

If it was a paper/disposable filter, that cost in the £5-£50 region I'd agree with you.

However a part that costs £1k to change, seems like it's either not suitable for the environment the car will be used in (read poor design) or a joke.

The main reason I bought a petrol.... Alfa 2.4jtd was always regening despite motorway miles. Plus coked up swirl valves, egr etc etc. all new diesels are the same - poorly thought out 'bandages' for emissions IMO.

Got a diesel with a DPF and having issues? Rip it out!

Got a diesel with a DPF and not having any issues? Rip it out anyway!

Your car will run smoother, be more powerful, still pass the MOT emissions test and use less fuel.

Post it back to Skoda UK and ask for a £1,200 refund off the price you paid them for the car

Got a diesel with a DPF and having issues? Rip it out!

Got a diesel with a DPF and not having any issues? Rip it out anyway!

Your car will run smoother, be more powerful, still pass the MOT emissions test and use less fuel.

Post it back to Skoda UK and ask for a £1,200 refund off the price you paid them for the car

I like it!

Do new MOT regs in UK now have emissions testing on diesels too? Used to just be "metered smoke test" which was dead handy to pass.

Yes, sorry, saying 'emissions test' was some what misleading.

In the UK diesel engined cars only have to pass a soot test, which assuming you give the car an 'Italian tune-up' on the way to the MOT test station is easy to pass.

Yes, sorry, saying 'emissions test' was some what misleading.

In the UK diesel engined cars only have to pass a soot test, which assuming you give the car an 'Italian tune-up' on the way to the MOT test station is easy to pass.

wow thank Buddha for that I was worried that they had actually started seeing what CO2 levels were coming out. My fear is that some day for vehicle excise duty they will work out that by having the reading being recorded on a MOT certificate and checked when taxing would enable cars within a safe limit but over their own class banding be charged more for a tax disc. That would be a pain for remapped cars!

And those with their DPF's removed!