A week into my ownership of a vrs 170 tdi and i must say no regrets selling the mk1. A cruise on the motorway last night was nice and quite sitting in sixth at motorway speeds. A work colleague asked informed me yesterday he doesnt bother with sixth in his car (mk3 mondeo 130) because it won't pull. The vrs just goes in any gear pulls like a train. So, this leads me to my question. A pretty short journey to the supermarket yesterday and i noticed the car ticking over higher than normal at about 1000rpm. So the wife started shopping while i left the Octy running. The exhaust note sounded a little burbly a little bit like a misfire. A search on the net leads me to believe a dpf regeneration possibly going on. However, i thought a light came on the dash when this was happening? The car did this for maybe 5 minutes then settled back down. As it's the first week obviously I'm a little concerned. As for travelling i would say it's been a fairly typical week. A couple of short trips to work but a couple of 20 minute motorway trips mixed in. Any advice on looking after the dpf would be appreciated.

The light doesn't show when the DPF is passively regenerating, it only lights up when it's not managed to passively regenerate and it needs you to drive at higher revs to actively regenerate it (or in some cases where there's a fault).

 

John

A week into my ownership of a vrs 170 tdi and i must say no regrets selling the mk1. A cruise on the motorway last night was nice and quite sitting in sixth at motorway speeds. A work colleague asked informed me yesterday he doesnt bother with sixth in his car (mk3 mondeo 130) because it won't pull. The vrs just goes in any gear pulls like a train. So, this leads me to my question. A pretty short journey to the supermarket yesterday and i noticed the car ticking over higher than normal at about 1000rpm. So the wife started shopping while i left the Octy running. The exhaust note sounded a little burbly a little bit like a misfire. A search on the net leads me to believe a dpf regeneration possibly going on. However, i thought a light came on the dash when this was happening? The car did this for maybe 5 minutes then settled back down. As it's the first week obviously I'm a little concerned. As for travelling i would say it's been a fairly typical week. A couple of short trips to work but a couple of 20 minute motorway trips mixed in. Any advice on looking after the dpf would be appreciated.

 Drive it like you stole it.  Works for me anyway,never had the light come on in 3 years of ownership. Only done 15k in those 3 years and rarely is any journey over 15/20 miles. 

Drive it like you stole it. Works for me anyway,never had the light come on in 3 years of ownership. Only done 15k in those 3 years and rarely is any journey over 15/20 miles.

Great advice looks like my days of me being an old plodder aren't quite here yet!!

Just drive it as usual. As said if it's just doing the usual active regen that takes place every 400-600 miles you'll only get the symptoms you describe and no lights. I've had mine from new and it's only done 13k and often I'm only doing short 5 mile trips but have had no problems at all. You can get the odd regen interuption where the fans go flat out when you switch the ignition off to cool the dpf down but as long as you don't just drive it on really short trips so it never gets up to temperature and make sure you don't get repeated interupted regens you'll be fine. Storm in a teacup as far as the cr engine is concerned. Ride the torque and enjoy.....

The light doesn't show when the DPF is passively regenerating, it only lights up when it's not managed to passively regenerate and it needs you to drive at higher revs to actively regenerate it (or in some cases where there's a fault).

John

Ok thanks buddy. So once the light comes on that's when it needs a run. So I'm presuming when its regenerating it's best to leave it running? It was having a go earlier in the day on the way to work but as i didn't know what it was i turned the engine off.

Just drive it as usual. As said if it's just doing the usual active regen that takes place every 400-600 miles you'll only get the symptoms you describe and no lights. I've had mine from new and it's only done 13k and often I'm only doing short 5 mile trips but have had no problems at all. You can get the odd regen interuption where the fans go flat out when you switch the ignition off to cool the dpf down but as long as you don't just drive it on really short trips so it never gets up to temperature and make sure you don't get repeated interupted regens you'll be fine. Storm in a teacup as far as the cr engine is concerned. Ride the torque and enjoy.....

Yeah i think with reading all the horror stories regarding dpf issues I'm nervous as hell! But trying to reason that only people with issues will post on forums it's probably a small percentage. Mines a pd i believe 06 plate. Not sure if they were better or worse than the cr.

Ok thanks buddy. So once the light comes on that's when it needs a run. So I'm presuming when its regenerating it's best to leave it running? It was having a go earlier in the day on the way to work but as i didn't know what it was i turned the engine off.

 

Yep, you're right in when it's revving a bit harder on idle itself that it's probably regenerating and better to leave it if possible to finish.

 

The PD engines were worse for the DPF as unlike the CR engine they weren't designed to have a DPF fitted.

 

John

Comforting to know it's just doing its thing and nothing to worry about. Cheers.

Ive had my CR for 14 months and mine does a mile each way journeys 3 to 4 times a week . I tend to cycle everywhere and missus uses it mid week. It gets a run of about 20 to 30 miles at a weekend and has been faultless. I think i have heard a regen twice during ownership. I wouldnt worry too much just enjoy. 

Comforting to know it's just doing its thing and nothing to worry about. Cheers.

 

there are a lot of horror stories about but take them with a pinch of salt.

 

I had mine removed but that was because I was having problems with the EGR being clogged and the garage suggested doing that at the same time as they'd have to map it etc anyway. I dont regret that at all although it might be a bit too powerful now for an oem clutch lol

there are a lot of horror stories about but take them with a pinch of salt.

I had mine removed but that was because I was having problems with the EGR being clogged and the garage suggested doing that at the same time as they'd have to map it etc anyway. I dont regret that at all although it might be a bit too powerful now for an oem clutch lol

One of these with a map and no dpf will be an extremely quick car i could imagine. What sort of power is yours running buddy?

dyno'd @ 223bhp and 360ft/lb torque

The DPF on the older (pre-facelift) PD170 vRS's are a weak point. Skoda mated a DPF to the engine after it was originally released so it was never designed to run with one.

 

The vast majority of vRS's had an injector recall too (check the spare wheel well for the recall sticker) which also caused a few DPF related issues.

 

The car just needs a longish run to keep the heat in the exhaust system, this then allows for passive regeneration (no intervention from the car). Only if your driving style isn't allowing for effective passive regens will the car try to help (increasing the RPM to increase the temperature in an effort to burn off enough soot).

 

Leaving it ticking over when attempting a regen will result in it giving up (what you experienced in the car park), as of course will turning the engine off.

 

Be wary of thrashing it thinking that you'll be doing it good, whilst this will increase the temps and burn off the soot it also generates more soot too.

 

The only time you need to start worrying is when you see this light...

 

 

This is the car telling you that you aren't doing enough to help it to complete a regen. Read the manual, when this light appears find an A road or motorway and sit in 4th at 60-70mph until the light goes out (around 5-10 mins).

 

If this becomes a regular occurrence the only fix is to have it removed and the sensors mapped out. Do your research here as there might be MOT implications in the future. Lots of threads on here debating DPF removal. Shark (forum sponsor) do a professional DPF delete for around £500.

Edited 16 May, 201511 yr by silver1011

The previous owner confirmed that the injector recall had been done. He also showed me a receipt not long after for a dpf related issue. A forced regen and a sensor iirc. All good advice chaps thanks again and please be pacient with me I've been a petrol head all my life!!

dyno'd @ 223bhp and 360ft/lb torque

Have you had any issues since  removing DPF EGR and what map you running, ive dropped from a 275bhp car to 170bhp cr and struggling with lack of power, but i suppose the pocket is happier

I'm not sure if it's lack of power but the totally different delivery of it. Its like chalk and cheese compared to the mk1 vrs.

Have you had any issues since  removing DPF EGR and what map you running, ive dropped from a 275bhp car to 170bhp cr and struggling with lack of power, but i suppose the pocket is happier

No issues at all.

The only thing which could be said as an "issue" is OEM spec clutch is on its limit. The map and all the work was done at Avon Tuning who are near Bristol

If I had the cash I would have upgraded the clutch to something stronger

Edited 17 May, 201511 yr by ryan-re

Relating to a comment by silver1011 earlier I've just checked the boot for the sticker showing the injector recall but no sticker there. Do all dealers do this? It is a local car and i do know my main dealer leaves a lot to be desired having used them myself in the past.

The sticker should look like this, the one on the right is for the injectors...

 

 

It is a requisite for the dealers to apply the sticker but I guess it is easily forgotten, or removed etc.

 

You can ring Skoda UK and check directly with them. Best to have your reg and VIN to hand...

 

http://www.skoda.co.uk/about-us/contact-us/contact-us

Thanks a lot. I will ring them in the morning I've just checked again but no sticker anywhere in the boot.

Mine didn't have a sticker either but the code was entered in the workshop pages at the back of the service book. 

it will be recorded no matter where it was done so you can ring any dealer and they can tell you.

 

If it wasnt done you can get the work done at which ever dealer you want and obviously you wont pay for it being a recall

it will be recorded no matter where it was done so you can ring any dealer and they can tell you.

If it wasnt done you can get the work done at which ever dealer you want and obviously you wont pay for it being a recall

I read a lot about the nightmare people were having with this. Some cases of engines completely cutting out is bad so obviously i want to check this has been done. I'll get the service book and check if anything has been noted down. If not, I'll ring the local stealers to check. Thanks again everyone.

Nothing in the service book either. I'm gonna have to ring in the morning!!