Hello everyone

 

Yellow dashboard light came on, it's the dreaded DPF. My car is 3 years old, and this is the first time it's ever come on. What should I do?

 

Drive like the clappers for 20 mins at high revs? What if it doesn't go out after that?

 

Best,

 

Steve

take it for a spin, motorway or fast rd with revs @ 2500 for around 20mins.

Revving the car hard doesn't help it as the car is pumping out more fumes. As Such mentioned the car needs a constant run at 2500 - 3000 rpm until the light goes out. On my pd this usually took about 8 to 10 miles before the light went off. If the light stays on after this you can book it into the garage who can plug the car into his machine and carry out a force regen. Usually about an hours labour. If the light stays on after that the dpf is too clogged to clear which means buying a new one. Other possible options too but i won't go into that!!

1) try not to drive much until the light disappears;

2) wait till the evening (when all the roads are empty) and drive for some while. For me it was like 15 minutes of driving with ~2-2,1 k rpm. It should disappear.

 

If it doesn't then you might expect glowplug and engine lights as well (and limp mode) but I don't think you will go that far.

fourth or fifth gear between 2000/3000 for 20 mins plus.  I have had this problem for a while now and thinking of getting it rejuvenated

I've got a PD vrs and when my dpf light comes on, I take it down the motorway...

4th gear

60mph on cruise

2600ish rpm

Clears every time after about 7 miles...

It won't regen until everything is to temperature I'm told (water AND oil) and seems to be borne out my experience. I use cruise control at 70mph in 5th gear as this is around the middle of the handbook recommended rpm of 1800 to 2500.

 

I find that from a cold start it can take over 30 miles to initiate and then complete.

 

See here for the official guide...

 

http://k2dev.skoda-auto.com/en-GB/SiteCollectionDocuments/Brochures/15364_DPF_Leaflet_v2.pdf

 

It should also be noted that there are a few weak sensors on the MkII Octavia that can prevent the DPF from working correctly. If you have a faulty sensor then the DPF won't be able to regen - hence a DPF warning light appearing.

 

As has been mentioned, if after taking the car out for a long run the light won't go out you need to get the car scanned for fault codes ASAP. This isn't something that can be left a few weeks, it needs immediate attention. If you get the DPF light together with the EML (Engine Management Light) and or a flashing glowplug light (limp-home mode) then it will be a garage job anyway for a forced regeneration.

it could also be a faulty DPF pressure sensor, a very common failure point. Symptoms include car performing regen cycle too often or the light coming on when the car thinks the DPF needs to regen when its not needed. This was the what happened to my late fathers Fabia, the DPF light came on. RAC diagnosed faulty sensor and replaced it. All good after adaptation carried out.

All is well! I did exactly as I should. Motorway, 70mph, 2400rpm in 5th (I've got 6 gear manual) and yes, after 20 minutes the light went out. Result! Lesson? Do not do any short journeys. My car is not designed for where I live, unfortunately. Today was just a day when I had to do many trips. Before the light came on the idle revs were 1000 when usually it is about 700. Was this a regen?

Yes, the high RPM was the car trying to generate enough heat in the exhaust to burn off the soot (a regen).

 

If you don't meet the requirements (speed, RPM etc.) then it eventually gives up and the revs return to normal.

 

Next time you notice the high RPM then this is the time to take it for a long run, before the DPF light comes on.

 

After a certain number of failed or interupted regens the DPF light comes on.

Lesson? Do not do any short journeys

 

These modern diesels are not the best ones for short journeys only but it doesn't mean you have tos drive only 20+km all the time. Short distances are fine if you have a longer trip once in a while.

If you do short distances mostly then I suggest a petrol one as a next car for you.

I do many short trips too (although I do "push a little" on the short highway near my home, usually).

 

Should the dreaded "DPF light" come on, can I do the regeneration by staying put in Neutral (I've a DSG7) and revving it up at 2500 for the time needed?

No, the car won't regen in neutral.

 

Check the link in post #8 or refer to the owners manual in the glovebox.

A month on from the light coming on I haven't had any problems. So I've learnt my lesson. As one poster has said, perhaps it would be better to buy a petrol car next time. So yes, I may buy a Citigo, which would be great around the city and on short trips out, but I wonder about the motorway and driving to England in a Citigo! I would be loathe to sell my Octavia. Let's see in one year.

Just had this same issue on a 2012 cr 140 tdi 169k

dpf light flashing glow plug and eml light.

after reading this forum I scanned with vcds said dpf soot content too high

wouldn't regenerate.

so bought the dpf pressure sensor.

required adapting 

not plug and play did this

glow plug and eml went off

and then drove it

and it regenerated and dpf light now out

for ref for anyone

but you need vagcom or delphi etc to rectify this fault the sensor is not plug and play.