Hi.

I have been reading the threads about the awful burning rubber smell that occurs during DPF regeneration and was wondering if that is what is happening with my '59 plate 1.6TDi  estate?

The car has done 162000 miles, mostly by the previous owner. I don't do a huge amount of motorway driving, but usually give it a good blast every week or so. Unfortunately, my daily commute is through the Blackwall Tunnel, so lots of sitting on the clutch.

I have noticed that after switching off the engine, the fan runs for another 30 secs or so.

Yesterday, whilst sitting in a queue at temp traffic lights on quite a steep incline, I noticed a sudden onset of burning rubber smell, which I initially thought was coming from a car in front. 

My question is does the 1.6TDi do DPF regeneration? If so, bearing in mind the above, is this the most likely reason for this?

Alternativly, could this be clutch/flywheel related? The flywheel is a bit rattly at idling, but my garage said it's not bad enough to justify the expense of replacement.

 

Any thoughts most welcomed,

Thanks very much

All cars with a DPF fitted will need to regenerate it and I'm pretty sure a '59 plate would have a DPF so it's plausible. Saying that, I've never smelt my car regenerating even if the fan kept running after turning it off...

 

 

Prolonged riding the clutch can definitely cause burning smells so I'd guess that would be more likely. It's better to put the handbrake on and put the car in neutral when you're stationary.

 

Also, you've posted this in the MK3 section and yours will be a MK2, I'll ask a mod to move it

 

 

Thanks langer2k, my mistake for wrong section - I thought I had posted in MK2.

This is the first time I have experienced this smell, but it is probably the longest I've been between long motorway runs, so may tie in. 

I know riding the clutch is not ideal, but slow creeping traffic, with selfish bullies continually queue jumping and barging infront does bring out the worst in me....  !

 

When conducting a regen whilst stationery you should also notice an increase in revs to around 950-1000rpm. 

 

The smell of a regen is quite distinct, more hot metal rather than burning rubber, and more noticeable around the boot and passenger rear door areas. 

 

I try and leave the engine running for a minute or two at the end of my journeys to give the car time to 'sort itself out', which is an officially recognised Technical Term. 

Oh, the smell was definitely coming from the front end and was a distinctive mix between burning rubber and exhaust type smell. It seems to have passed now, but I will definitely need to get it looked at. In the meantime, will try your leaving the engine running at the end of a journey tip.

 

Many thanks

I had a gaseous (think propane/aerosol) and exhaust type smell coming from the engine that was entering the cabin. It turned out a (or the) seal on the EGR Cooler had failed. 

 

 

10 hours ago, babygoose2004 said:

Yesterday, whilst sitting in a queue at temp traffic lights on quite a steep incline, I noticed a sudden onset of burning rubber smell, which I initially thought was coming from a car in front. 

 

A DPF regeneration wouldn't initiate if the car is idling.

 

Are you sure it wasn't the clutch you could smell? Slipping the clutch on a steep incline, especially one that's done 162,000 miles, for much more than 30 seconds or so is likely to result in objections from the clutch.

Dpf regen can occur at idle, as long as the egr inlet temperature is above 300 Deg. 

 

Mine will regen, or attempt to, when stuck in traffic.

 

If you have a Bluetooth dongle and vag dpf app you can monitor what's going on. Has the car had the software fix from vag ?

 

Fans staying on afterwards is a sign of failed regen.