Diesel Particulate Filters (DPF) issues and comments

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Trying to work out whether I can buy a new diesel car I came across this DPF problem on some modern diesels. So I thought I would do some research.

I spoke to Ford UK today. In general terms, it appears they have no specific advice and each case it taken on its merits. I would presume that means the salesman exercising a duty of care towards his customer and making sure that the customer's driving profile fell within their guidelines.

I have also spoken to the service department at Dagenham Motors in Enfield. I spoke to their service department and their head technician. Coincidentally, he has a 1.6 Fiesta with DPF. I asked about short around town journeys throughout the week and an occasional longer blast at higher speeds. He said that he drives short distances most of the time but that once a month he takes it out for a longer drive up the motorway, in his case from Enfield to Southend, which is about 40 miles each way.

Of course I have no way of knowing whether this is truly sufficient but it is the word from a guy who works with these cars and has one of his own. I am not saying this convinces me but it does make me feel better and is about as near as "from the horses mouth" as I am likes to get.

I will continue my research. I have this from the AA http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/fuels-and-environment/diesel-particulate-filters.html but I would welcome your comments and links. Thanks.

Ranger8

There is a lot of scaremongering about DPFs and some warranted bad press, the wisest course of action in deciding to buy a diesel or petrol is to accurately forecast the type of motoring the vehicle will be doing.
To my mind petrol vehicles are the wisest choice for primarily short urban trips.
DPFs need to be able to warm up/get hot at least occasionally to do their job, so too many short journeys will result in regeneration problems.
Not the end of the world but will possiblly need a forced regeneration at the main dealer.

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Ranger8 wrote: »

There is a lot of scaremongering about DPFs and some warranted bad press, the wisest course of action in deciding to buy a diesel or petrol is to accurately forecast the type of motoring the vehicle will be doing.
To my mind petrol vehicles are the wisest choice for primarily short urban trips.
DPFs need to be able to warm up/get hot at least occasionally to do their job, so too many short journeys will result in regeneration problems.
Not the end of the world but will possiblly need a forced regeneration at the main dealer.

That is true I agree but the problem seems to stem from no official statement from the manufacturers.

I want to know whether I can liken it to an overflow. Say this overflow can hold 1000ml. Now you can empty it when it reaches 100ml or 300ml or 900ml and you have no problems. The problem only comes when you let it reach 1000ml and it cannot hold any more.

If a monthly 50 mile run down the motorway at 60 mph sorts out all the build up from a month of short in town hops then we are fine. If it does not, then we have problems. The trouble is that we do not know where we stand.

JonathanA

We've had a couple of cars fitted with DPFs. My car covers about 15000 miles a year and my wife's car does 7,000 to 8,000 a year. We've never had any problems with either of them. My wife's car does a lot of round town driving, short distances (2 - 3 miles) with occasional longer runs of 100+ miles.

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JonathanA wrote: »

We've had a couple of cars fitted with DPFs. My car covers about 15000 miles a year and my wife's car does 7,000 to 8,000 a year. We've never had any problems with either of them. My wife's car does a lot of round town driving, short distances (2 - 3 miles) with occasional longer runs of 100+ miles.

Cheers Jonathan

gilbert_and_sullivan

Kia Ceed 1.6 Diesel....apparently no DPF and no DMF either....7 year warranty too.

cepheus

It's not usually worth getting a Diesel for low mileages anyway since the extra capital cost and servicing is unlikely to make up for fuel economy savings. What sort of distance do you drive?

In theory manufacturers should ensure proper functioning of after treatment devices for all driving conditions, but I doubt if they do.

I would also like to know how someone knows they haven't got a problem, it's the poor !!!!!! behind the malfunctioning Diesel who always sees and breathes it in, whilst the driver of the Diesel is usually oblivious.

PS Gosh that was a bad swear word!

john-306

cepheus wrote: »

It's not usually worth getting a Diesel for low mileages anyway since the extra capital cost and servicing is unlikely to make up for fuel economy savings. !

I'll add to that my road tax and insurance are way lower than a compatable performance petrol car. That swung it for me;)

cepheus

Well the price of diesel has come down now so the differential may be less. Here is a Diesel v Petrol comparison site
http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/petrol-vs-diesel/#

finallycruising

I was oblivious of the DPF problem when the salesman offered me a diesel over the petrol Mazda 3 I'd gone to see. It was one month newer than the petrol on an 08 rather than 57 plate and was cheaper than the petrol - that should have set alarm bells going? No discussion about driving style took place. We do a lot of short journeys with a couple of 50+ miles per month.

Result is that although I've never had the DPF light come on to indicate a blocked filter, I have recently experienced the DPF light flashing. Cause was too much diesel in the engine oil. I was not warned to check the oil for a rising oil level, which, apparantly, is a high risk with this design.

In the case of an incomplete DPF regeneration the uncombusted diesel fuel finds its way to the sump. The dipstick has a '0' for too low, a '1' for full and an 'X' above the '1' for "too high, change the oil now". I wish this had been pointed out to me at purchase.

Net result is that I'm now resigned to at least one oil change between annual services. Don't get me wrong, the car is great but I'm not going to save as much as expected on fuel and road fund licence due to the additional oil changes(s) and there's the additional hassle.

I do resent that the salesman never passed on this essential information.

P

Thanks for the AA link property.advert

flyingscotno1

finallycruising wrote: »

I was oblivious of the DPF problem when the salesman offered me a diesel over the petrol Mazda 3 I'd gone to see. It was one month newer than the petrol on an 08 rather than 57 plate and was cheaper than the petrol - that should have set alarm bells going? No discussion about driving style took place. We do a lot of short journeys with a couple of 50+ miles per month.

Result is that although I've never had the DPF light come on to indicate a blocked filter, I have recently experienced the DPF light flashing. Cause was too much diesel in the engine oil. I was not warned to check the oil for a rising oil level, which, apparantly, is a high risk with this design.

In the case of an incomplete DPF regeneration the uncombusted diesel fuel finds its way to the sump. The dipstick has a '0' for too low, a '1' for full and an 'X' above the '1' for "too high, change the oil now". I wish this had been pointed out to me at purchase.

Net result is that I'm now resigned to at least one oil change between annual services. Don't get me wrong, the car is great but I'm not going to save as much as expected on fuel and road fund licence due to the additional oil changes(s) and there's the additional hassle.

I do resent that the salesman never passed on this essential information.

P

Thanks for the AA link property.advert

Did someone not post something about how his engine in the Mazda 6 became scrap due to the oil level?