Hi All,

 

As you are probably all very aware, I have had a bit of a bad time with my Octavia's PD170 lump this year. Anyway, I just picked up my car after having a new turbo fitted and the garage said did you know the DPF has been gutted? Answered erm, yes, cough cough. He then said, it probably caused more trouble than good to be honest. Get a DPF put back in mate. It makes the turbo work harder hence why you just had to fit one.

 

Any truth in it? I still have my old DPF kicking around at home.

Edited 6 May, 201511 yr by whitep

Gut instinct says that is total BS, but I am not a mechanic and so will reserve judgement until someone a lot more qualified makes an opinion

I feel like its crap, OK it might spool up quicker etc, but plenty have done it and its been ok. My turbo always whistled and OK it only lasted 2 weeks after the DPF was taken off, but I dont think the turbo will work harder, especially with less resistance in the tail pipe.

It's possible the garage is speaking from their experience; the cars they see for replacement turbos have had their DPF's removed. They probably didn't ask why the owners removed them, so they now associate the removal of DPF's as the cause, when in fact the turbo was already damaged.

Good point.

At the time early on with DPF removals I'm sure there were a few posts here about turbos failing after the DPF removed and there was the question over whether it was related to the DPF removal or just coincidence as most of the cars having the DPF's removed were a few years old and had done a reasonable number of miles.  I thought the outcome was that it was related to the DPF being removed as it changed the turbo back pressure which led to premature turbo failure therefore the DPF removal maps were updated to account for this change in behaviour.  It's a while since I looked into this so could be talking rubbish but there were definitely at least discussions on this before.

 

JOhn

For what it's worth I had issues with my DPF and around the same time I went through 3 turbos, all within a 1 month period (and thankfully all under warranty).

 

I am unable to say for sure if the dodgy DPF was having an effect on the life of the turbo but at the time I'd have happily chopped the bloody thing out and taken an immense amount of pleasure in driving and reversing over the damn thing several times.

 

Wasn't it Shark that removed your DPF? I'd be taking their opinion on this over a local garage.

 

There are plenty of Octavia's without their DPF's still driving around on their original turbo's.

I think my DPF constantly regenning finished my Turbo off, 700 degrees for miles and miles at a time is going to do damage. Metal conducts heat, and aluminium melts circa 500 I believe..... and of course oil burns. I am convinced an exhaust running at 150-200 degrees is better than one at 700!!!

 

I do believe different operating temperatures and pressures all of a sudden certainly wont help a turbo. A bit like putting different wheels on old hubs helps wheel bearing fail.

it would seem that a non pristine DPF would give a turbo a fairly relaxed life pressure wise  apart from the regular overdose of heat as you say,  think they're trying to sell you a DPF  --  does anyone have a feel for pressures  involved  within the exhaust between turbo and the next large restriction  (DPF?)

AFAIK The less backpressure the better with a turbo. Ie: No DPF is better for it!! Sounds like a sales pitch to me. Otherwise all 1.9pd 105 engines would be blowing up turbos left right and centre :no:

AFAIK The less backpressure the better with a turbo. Ie: No DPF is better for it!! Sounds like a sales pitch to me. Otherwise all 1.9pd 105 engines would be blowing up turbos left right and centre :no:

And all petrols

129,000 miles on my PD170, 50,000 since my Shark remap and DPF removal. Aside from cold start, I haven't had a single engine or turbo issue. Most of my miles are dual carriage/motorway though.

Dodgy remap might have more to do with it. Lots of people will go to the cheapest provider irrespective of reputation.