I am about to take delivery of an ex-demonstrator 170pd vRS Octavia. 1800ish miles on the clock from my local Skoda dealer.

Having read some comments on here, I am concerned about short runs and the DPF playing up. Most of my journeys are at least 20 miles each way on the motorway, but often make a quick run to the local shops etc.....!

Are these "quick runs" going to cause problems with the DPF?

Is there anything that I should be doing to keep the car running properly?

Anything else that people think I should know about?

Thanks

I doubt you usual driving pattern will be a problem for the DPF; it only (AKAIK as I haven't experienced it) need to 'regenerate if you persistently drive slowly or in congested traffic.

My daily commute is 25 miles with 17 miles M'way but 8 miles often congested (NW London) and in 11,000 miles I have not had a peep out of the DPF. It maybe helps that every morning it gets a full throttle 4th gear 'burn' on a long uphill M'way slip road - clears the tubes out I'm sure.

I diet of 'best' fuel is also recommended - I use Shell V-Power diesel.

We've just taken delivery of a Golf GT 140 with DPF, no issues yet in about 1k miles, I reckon this car will do about 1k per month.

Just had to listen to customer service and dealer servicing department say my latest Octy vrs diesel problems are due to driving in conjested traffic. What actually happened is the engine management system is acting up and putting the car into 'creep' mode, causing the DPF to clog up. I do 250 miles per week mainly fast motorway. Until the EMS fault, never had a problem with the DPF, using mainly v-power diesel.

If you drive too "sootily" (ie slow traffic or rich mixture) then the DPF will not be able to burn off the soot as you drive, so it will run in a low power mode (reducing incoming soot) and by way of it's regeneration warning light indicate it would like a nice 20 mile run at 2,000 rpm plus to burn off the captured soot not already burned.

If you drive normally or fast (high rpm)or long distances it will be fine.

Just think of days gone by when town cars needed a good thrash up and down the motorway once in while to clear out build ups in the engine block - the DPF really is no more mysterious (although I realise it is completely different in its workings and location)

whats dpf?

Diesel particulate filter: "A device designed to remove diesel particulate matter or soot from the exhaust gas of a diesel engine."

whats dpf?

A pain in the A***

Less reliable car

Lower mpg, the dpf is another restriction in the exhaust therefore more power reqd to push the gas out but worse than that it relies on being hot enough to work, if its not hot enough the car adds more fuel to try & raise the engine temperature.

It cant be tuned easily either, more power normally generates moor soot which I understand the dpf strugles to cope with on short journeys

Many cars with them cant use bio diesel, check your handbook or with the manufacturer for specific models (dont ask the stealer, they just want you to buy the car !)

Some are service items, on the Superb I believe its changed at 80,000 miles & is around £600.

With Skoda being a service item they are like oil filters etc & excluded from the warranty, if you drive gently & clog it up beyond the point of regeneration you pay for the replacement although to be fair prior to clogging the car goes into limp mode & provided you dont drive too far like that the dealer can force regeneration, although Im not sure how many times the filter can take this. We drove about 50 miles in limp mode with ours & it was fine

Basically its new technology so like all new technology will take a few years & the odd redesign to get it right. Woryingly the emission laws will continue to be tightened for diesels so it can only get worse :mad:

Be warned if you buy a Skoda with a dpf & your driving style dosent suit the car you will get no sympathy from Skoda. We bought a car without knowing the problems a couple of years ago, when it failed the best Skoda could offer was "tough" thats the way it is, if your not happy your contract is with the dealer, sue him if you want.

With ensuring varied driving & never running below 2000 rpm in any gear (dont labour the engine) we have had no more problems. Trickling round keeping revs down & driving gently to save fuel is a thing of the past, get it hot, keep it spinning & you should be OK.

get it hot, keep it spinning & you should be OK.

... so a vRS it is then

No problems here yet with 2.0TDI, 11k miles in & spending a hell of a lot of time in London crawling around, not even seen the light come on.

I have no problems with mine either (VRS) and I do 10 miles to work and back on a mixture of roads. I also do small journeys around the place too.

21k on my 140PD, and no probs.

I do keep the revs low to save fuel, but also have a good blast occassionally - more for my sanity than for the DPF!

6 miles of A-Roads to work twice a day (50/50 NSL & 30), and a few longish (70+mile) motorway trips at 70ish ;-)

No probs yet.

21k on my 140PD, and no probs.

I do keep the revs low to save fuel, but also have a good blast occassionally - more for my sanity than for the DPF!

6 miles of A-Roads to work twice a day (50/50 NSL & 30), and a few longish (70+mile) motorway trips at 70ish ;-)

No probs yet.

Is your car unique :confused:; I thought only the vRS PD 170 had a DPF.

Oh, maybe that's why I've not had trouble then :confused:

I thought all 2.0TDI engines had a DPF if manufactured after a certain date?

I thought all 2007 onward model 140pd's have DPF too (unless it's an option) mine certainly has it!

Is there a code in the service book (and boot) sticker that indicates whether a dpf is fitted? I also thought that only 170bhp tdi's had dpf's.

Just found an 0GG code which indicates 'emissions concept EU4' - is this to do with the dpf fitment?

Scout TDI (140) and vRS TDI (170) def have a DPF from introduction, not sure on other new 140s though.

My MY2008 TDI 140 doesn't have a DPF, although the Scout with the same engine does. I guess its all to do with whether the engine can meet EU4 without or not.

The option code for the DPF is 7GG.

Cars without are 0GG.

My MY2008 TDI 140 doesn't have a DPF, although the Scout with the same engine does. I guess its all to do with whether the engine can meet EU4 without or not.

The option code for the DPF is 7GG.

Cars without are 0GG.

Thanks for that - it's very reassuring that I don't have to worry about a dpf!

Do a fair amount of short journeys, and not a lot of fast driving as we are 50 miles away from the nearest dual carriageway and a bit further from a motorway!

I do think it will get a good blast through towing the caravan though. Not had the 'van out since the end of November though.

Anyway no problems here in over 6000 miles, no warning light, no nothing!

I have no concerns over the DPF now whatsoever!

I have had he car for a month or 2 now and have driven it mostly on motorways. Have got stuck in a fair bit of traffic too though and no problems at all!

Not sure what all the fuss is about really!

Drive the car how it was meant to be driven and you should be fine. If you buy a vRS and then drive like a "Sunday driver" at 30 in 6th gear and then I reckon it will cause issues!!!

If you want a car to drive slowly around town, buy a smart car or a City Rover!! Thats what they were made for!

My MY2008 TDI 140 doesn't have a DPF, although the Scout with the same engine does. I guess its all to do with whether the engine can meet EU4 without or not.

The option code for the DPF is 7GG.

Cars without are 0GG.

So with the 140 Bhp TDi is there a difference in the CO2 emissions from one with/without a DPF ?

There is on the Scout. But thats partly due to the extra weight.

Just been out to the car to have a look...

Mine has the 'OGG' code, so no DPF. Engine code is BKD, built Jan '07 (so presumably MY07).

On this subject, all new 140's in audi range now had dpf's so it is just a matter of time me thinks, unless we get common rail first. But being low down the food chain it may take a wee while.