Hi,

Was heading home last night (4 degress cold). Started the car and I noticed the rpm was ideling at 1k....didn't think much of this as I figured it was due to the cold weather.

Think it normally idles around 700-800?

Anyways by the time I got home, got out and notice a very strong burning smell! never noticed this smell whilst inside the cabin.

Only at this point did I think DPF? There was no fan running whilst the ignition was off...

Did I just interrupt this so called DPF process?

Being caution about this, I jumped back in the car and started her up...notice a good amount of fuel had dropped which probably confirms the previous DPF attempt? Drove her out onto the motorway, above 2k rpm in 4-5 gear for abit. But nothing happened, no sign of further DPF regens (no changes in fuel consumption or smells)?

So I'm none the wiser if the initial DPF regen completed successfully or not?

I only assumed having smelled burning fuel/rubber it did not complete the DPF process?

It's my first diesel car with DPF..so wasn't sure what to expect?

Cheers

Hung

Seems like you have just experienced your first 'Discreet Regeneration of the DPF'.

Nothing to worry about; all perfectly normal.

There are two other tell-tales to this;

1. Engine sounds gruff (not usual smooth) whilst running @ 1,000 - 1,200 rpm, and

2. If you get out and place your hand near the exhaust tail pipes (don't touch) you will feel the heat coming off it (usually only just warm), due to the heat generated by the excess fuel being burnt as part of the regeneration process.

Is there anyway to determine if a DPF had been interrupted? Or successfully completed?

Just curious ....

Is there anyway to determine if a DPF had been interrupted? Or successfully completed?

Just curious ....

Nope. If it wasn't quite completed the next one should just happen a little sooner. Don't worry.

Seems like you have just experienced your first 'Discreet Regeneration of the DPF'.

Nothing to worry about; all perfectly normal.

There are two other tell-tales to this;

1. Engine sounds gruff (not usual smooth) whilst running @ 1,000 - 1,200 rpm, and

2. If you get out and place your hand near the exhaust tail pipes (don't touch) you will feel the heat coming off it (usually only just warm), due to the heat generated by the excess fuel being burnt as part of the regeneration process.

I hadn't noticed the point about the engine sounding gruff being mentioned before, but it matches my experience. If it's still doing a regen when I come off the M1 (the usual time I notice it) and drop to 30mph in 4th it feels like I'm driving on a rough concrete road. It sounds like the engine is labouring but obviously isn't.

All very useful information for the uninitiated! Doesn't sound too scary at all.

All very useful information for the uninitiated! Doesn't sound too scary at all.

I used to have a VAG 1.6 CR oil burner in my last car (Ibiza, never saw the DPF light once in 16K miles) that used to do a lot more active regens than my 2.0 CR snow monster, probably because it was a lot lighter so didn't get up to temp as quickly on my 20 odd mile drive to work. The Yeti has only done 2 active regens in the last 2.7K miles that I have noticed. The Ibiza tended to start after the 17 motorway miles on the way to or from work. If it's idling over 1K just keep driving with the engine over 2K for 5 or so mins till the idle drops and all will be fine. My rule of thumb, try to avoid switching off the ignition if the idles up but you'd probably be fine either way.

I have noticed that on cold mornings the tickover is higher than usual, is this a cold start thing or just because it wants to? I am fully aware of the regen and experienced many of them, although the last one was quite epic! It must have got really hot as when I was stationary smoke was pouring out from under the bonnet and visible in the headlights, last car I had with so much smoke from under the bonnet was a Passat after VW did a poor job of fitting a new fuel filter! All is ok now and car runs fine.

Modern technology, you have to love it!

If it's still doing a regen when I .... drop to 30mph in 4th it feels like I'm driving on a rough concrete road. It sounds like the engine is labouring but obviously isn't.

Mine started a regen on the way to work this morning; the Maxidot kept suggesting that I should be in 3rd at 30mph rather than my usual 4th. I assume that's to help keep the rpm up. [i didn't have time to let the regen finish (had a meeting to get to) so I'll take it for a bit of a longer, faster run on the way home tonight.]

Very topical, I was just wondering about the hot rubbery smell from the exhaust area and was surprised how hot the exhaust was when I put my hand near it. Having just changed to winter tyres and steel wheels I was a little concerned but put it down to the very muddy roads I had just been driving down.

Even on motorways I rarely take the revs above 2000 , so will this cause problems ?

Nah, just give it an Italian decoke every week or so!

Even on motorways I rarely take the revs above 2000 , so will this cause problems ?

No, you should be fine, the DPF should get hot enough even below 2K on the motorway for the DPF to regen passively. If it doesn't the high idle will let you know when it regenerates. I think these 2.0 CR engines warm up a lot quicker than the 1.6 CR diesels.

It must be Thursday again - grumbly sound at 30mph in 4th (around 1400 rpm) coming into Garforth just now. As an experiment I'd stuck to 50mph all the way, so it's quite able to do a regen at that. It had finished by the time I parked but the heat and smell are pretty obvious.

One side effect of the slower run was a welcome 57.5mpg on the maxidot

It must be Thursday again - grumbly sound at 30mph in 4th (around 1400 rpm) coming into Garforth just now. As an experiment I'd stuck to 50mph all the way, so it's quite able to do a regen at that. It had finished by the time I parked but the heat and smell are pretty obvious.

One side effect of the slower run was a welcome 57.5mpg on the maxidot

Yup, once they are hot a steady 50 - 60 mph its amazing what these 170s can get to the gallon on maxidot, on a few occasions I have seen 57mpg on the country lanes on a run.