Hi all, I have the chance to pick up a 2016 octy 2.0 tdi SEL. It's dsg with 29k. No adblue. How likely are dpf problems with most of my journeys being 10-12 minutes?

IMO a TDI is not suitable for your usage / short journeys.

& as for what use it has had in the 8 years up to now we have no idea so what the readings are for the DPF.

I'm not worried about having to do forced regens or dpf cleans. I'm a mechanic anyway. Just wondered if anyone had real experience of using a 2.0 tdi for relatively short journeys

1 hour ago, Moley_mole said:

Just wondered if anyone had real experience of using a 2.0 tdi for relatively short journeys

oh yes, just don't do it. TDI's aren't designed for anything under 10 miles. I've had several TDI150's and they all need a good run to keep them happy.

4 hours ago, Moley_mole said:

I'm not worried about having to do forced regens or dpf cleans. I'm a mechanic anyway. Just wondered if anyone had real experience of using a 2.0 tdi for relatively short journeys

Most of my journeys are that short these days, I have had no problems at all but I have had the "emissions fix" rolled back and fitted an EGR emulator/simulator.

As you are a mechanic and will know promptly if anything is not well and will not be paying a garage to make any repairs I say go for it!

I would consider the above EGR mod though as thats an accident waiting to happen even when driving longer journeys.

The diesel will give you massive savings regarding fuel consumption on short journeys as there is no mixture enrichment as soon as the compression ignition cycle is self sustaining, OTOH frequent regens will consume fuel so a rollback like I had done is again an advantage if you can get it done cheaply, it also takes the extra load off of the EGR allowing it to work under the conditions and last as long as it was designed for.

Are this age octavias subject to the emissions fix saga? I thought it was the earlier ea189 engines?

1 hour ago, Moley_mole said:

Are this age octavias subject to the emissions fix saga?

Only very early MK3 cars; most of the problem vehicles were Gen2 Octavia's, but early Gen3 cars did have Euro5 engines; changeover year was 2014-2015 from Euro5 to Euro6 though.

Hi again,

Thanks for the info.

I have just checked the build sheet and its an ea288 engine.

You only have to read the number of posts on here from owners having DPF problems most of which are from driving patterns that do not include regular long runs to get the strong impression that your driving pattern is not suitable for a TDI Octavia 3.

I work in a garage, the majority of dpf faults are fleet vehicles, caused by idling all day. I don't remember seeing any vw/audi/skoda dpf faults, apart from a couple of faulty temp sensors. How many dpf issues are actually the symptoms of other faults? Like a knackered turbo blowing oil into the dpf? Or using oil that isn't low ash?

2 minutes ago, Moley_mole said:

I work in a garage, the majority of dpf faults are fleet vehicles, caused by idling all day. I don't remember seeing any vw/audi/skoda dpf faults, apart from a couple of faulty temp sensors. How many dpf issues are actually the symptoms of other faults? Like a knackered turbo blowing oil into the dpf? Or using oil that isn't low ash?

All I will do is repeat the advice to read what private owners of TDI Octavia 3's have posted here about DPF issues due to short journeys.

At the end of the day it's your decision, but I will say that I will NEVER own a TDI with a DPF based on what I have read here and on other owners forums and my driving pattern which is 80% journeys less than 10 miles.

Which is why he was asking for people who actually have experience which I am one of.

As the OP said the vehicle did not have Adblue I had assumed it was an EU5 like mine but mine was one of the last EU5's in 2015 and his is a year later.

4 hours ago, Moley_mole said:

How many dpf issues are actually the symptoms of other faults? Like a knackered turbo blowing oil into the dpf? Or using oil that isn't low ash?

I bought 20 litres of Mannol that was supposed to be low Saps but was a con job, I did my usual "whats the worst that could happen?" one oil change left before I will have used it all and the DPF differential pressure has risen significantly which it hadn't before ☹️

On 24/03/2025 at 14:40, varaderoguy said:

Only very early MK3 cars; most of the problem vehicles were Gen2 Octavia's, but early Gen3 cars did have Euro5 engines; changeover year was 2014-2015 from Euro5 to Euro6 though.

Do you have any info? I've just got an early 13 plate 2.0TDI MK3 and it doesn't have the pressure sensor on the 3rd glow plug and there is something different around the end of the exhaust cam on the side of the head compared to my other 66plate 2.0TDI. As well the later car is significantly better on fuel.

5 hours ago, e301988325i said:

Do you have any info? I've just got an early 13 plate 2.0TDI MK3 and it doesn't have the pressure sensor on the 3rd glow plug and there is something different around the end of the exhaust cam on the side of the head compared to my other 66plate 2.0TDI. As well the later car is significantly better on fuel.

I suspect its a Euro 5 vehicle. If you are based in the UK, then you should check https://www.gov.uk/check-vehicle-recall to see if the vehicle has a recall against it for the Euro5 fix. IMHO....if I was you, I wouldn't touch the car if it hasn't had the work done.

Mine is a 1.6 tdi, 2016 plate. I drive shortish journeys, a mix of 5 to 10 miles and 10 to 20 miles mostly interspersed with some longer runs on weekends and have never had an issue with the dpf. Currently done 116k, of which 60k is me in 7 years. The dpf regen runs regularly and the fans come on some times if it's working when I park up but no issues whatsoever. Car is regularly serviced and I've had no other issues with it although I appreciate you're looking at the 2.0 litre not the 1.6

On 06/08/2025 at 15:38, varaderoguy said:

I suspect its a Euro 5 vehicle. If you are based in the UK, then you should check https://www.gov.uk/check-vehicle-recall to see if the vehicle has a recall against it for the Euro5 fix. IMHO....if I was you, I wouldn't touch the car if it hasn't had the work done.

Well yeah, it's a Euro 5 EA288. No recalls come up. Why wouldn't you touch it?

2 hours ago, e301988325i said:

Why wouldn't you touch it?

The Euro5 defeat remediation work generally made the Euro5 engines run like a bag of spanners and lost people a load of MPG.