Hello everyone.

 

From previous posts you will know that I'm very new to Skodas. Although I've owned cars for many years, even some diesels, this DPF thing is a mystery to me and slightly concerns me. I've had my car just over three months, it is a 1.6 Mk II Fabia diesel with around 75000 miles on the clock. It had been well looked after by the previous owner and it came with lots of service history. Just prior to me buying it the cambelt and water pump had been replaced, and also a full service carried out. At the moment the car is running well with no problems, good fuel efficiency, and I like it.

 

I don't do a lot of miles in a year, 6 to 8000 perhaps, with a lot of short journeys - so I now gather that this type of car is not ideal for me. Anyway, I've got it and need to know to best way to treat it and avoid any DPF problems for as long as possible, so what it the best way to achieve that? Also, I gather it is advisable to change the oil and filter fairly frequently, so what oil do forums members advise is the best one to use? If the worst comes to the worst, and I do need to get the DPF replaced at some time, what would be the approximate cost of replacement?

 

Any replies/help would be greatly appreciated.

9,600 miles (10,000) is often enough, or annually for the oil and filter.

The oil required is VW507 spec.  so 5w 30 FS III (that is long life) 

  It can come from anyone as long as to the correct spec.  Quantum, Asda, Tesco, Comma, Castrol if you want.

Skoda recommendation for oil changes is every 15000 km or every year, whichever you hit first.

 

Regarding the DPF, try and get the car fully warmed up as often as possible (difficult I know if your driving is mainly short trips). If you notice a regeneration in progress (idle speed will be higher than normal and suggested gear changes will indicate a lower gear than normal) try and keep driving until it finishes. Shutting down the engine before the regen finishes risks dropping some diesel into the crankcase: this is part of the reason more frequent oil changes are recommended for low mileage cars, as they're more likely to see interrupted regens.

 

A lot of users here use an app called VAG DPF on their phone to help keep track of the DPF - it might be worth your while getting it if you're worried about keeping the DPF healthy. You will need a Bluetooth OBD dongle: I've just ordered the Carista one as it can also be used with the Carista diagnostics app.

 

Once the DPF is allowed regenerate regularly it's fairly robust. Two things will kill it:

Soot overloading from not being able to regenerate: you will get adequate warning about this from the car via the DPF warning lamp.

Oil ash blocking the filter. This will happen due to age normally and shouldn't affect you for a long time yet. It can also happen if you use the wrong oil specification as DPF recommended oils have lower ash content.

@chimaera

Skoda might recommend that for low annual mileages and types of use as VW do,  the thing is, where do Skoda writing down that recommendation?

*they forget to tell people.*

The car can be on Variable / Flexible servicing and oil changes at 18,000-20,000 miles / 24 months, they leave the factory set of flexible / variable servicing.

http://volkswagen.co.uk/owners/servicing/regimes

 

@Salopshire

Has your car had the Emissions Fix done, or did the previous owner maybe decide not to have it?

http://skoda-auto.com/services/recall-actions

 

 

 

 

Edited 1 March, 20206 yr by Roottootemblowinootsoot

Thanks for the very helpful replies. I checked the emissions fix, on the link given, and it has been done. I have bought that Carista DPF device, but I discovered that it needed an Android phone. I don't have one of these, but I borrowed one and still couldn't get it to work.

4 hours ago, Roottootemblowinootsoot said:

@chimaera

Skoda might recommend that for low annual mileages and types of use as VW do,  the thing is, where do Skoda writing down that recommendation?

*they forget to tell people.*

The car can be on Variable / Flexible servicing and oil changes at 18,000-20,000 miles / 24 months, they leave the factory set of flexible / variable servicing.

http://volkswagen.co.uk/owners/servicing/regimes

 

@Salopshire

Has your car had the Emissions Fix done, or did the previous owner maybe decide not to have it?

http://skoda-auto.com/services/recall-actions

 

 

 

 

It's in the Skoda service manuals I purchased through erWin (for both Superb 2 and Fabia 2). In my own case it has also been prompted from the service notification on the dash, so I suspect any car that has been through a main dealer or alert independent for servicing will notify its owner at the appropriate time that a service is needed.

3 hours ago, Salopshire said:

Thanks for the very helpful replies. I checked the emissions fix, on the link given, and it has been done. I have bought that Carista DPF device, but I discovered that it needed an Android phone. I don't have one of these, but I borrowed one and still couldn't get it to work.

The device is not a DPF device, it's a diagnostic interface that connects the car to an appropriate diagnostic tool. For it to work you need the interface plugged into the car's diagnostic port (under the steering wheel where the fuse panel is) with the ignition on, the interface then needs to be paired with your phone (or tablet) via Bluetooth, and you need a compatible app on the phone, the recommended one here being VAG DPF which is supported by the Carista interface. If your own device is an Apple device, there may be apps available on that platform that can do a similar job, and the workflow is broadly similar to that on Android.

2 minutes ago, chimaera said:

The device is not a DPF device, it's a diagnostic interface that connects the car to an appropriate diagnostic tool. For it to work you need the interface plugged into the car's diagnostic port (under the steering wheel where the fuse panel is) with the ignition on, the interface then needs to be paired with your phone (or tablet) via Bluetooth, and you need a compatible app on the phone, the recommended one here being VAG DPF which is supported by the Carista interface. If your own device is an Apple device, there may be apps available on that platform that can do a similar job, and the workflow is broadly similar to that on Android.

 

Yes, sorry, I didn't make things as clear as I should. I know where it connects, and have done so. I also downloaded the VGA DPF app but I still couldn't get any communication between the two devices.

1 minute ago, Salopshire said:

 

Yes, sorry, I didn't make things as clear as I should. I know where it connects, and have done so. I also downloaded the VGA DPF app but I still couldn't get any communication between the two devices.

Was the ignition on? The interface gets its power from the car, and if the ignition is off there's no power going to it and you won't be to connect to it.

I'm fairly certain it was, but I'll try again when I have access to the phone - as I said, I don't have an android phone myself.

If you have an iOS device, Carista's own app is available for iOS. It's probably going to be a little bit clunkier for monitoring the DPF day to day but you will be able to get the information at least, and it'll also let you confirm that the interface device is working with your car.

@chimaera

A dealership setting a car to fixed service interval is not a recommendation it is a field action.

An owners manual or a website is where many owners / drivers look, not purchasing a 'Manual' for maintenance.

But that is neither here nor there really, maybe 'recommendation' gets lost in translation.  But VW do bother to publish a recommendation.