PCP and Diesel Particulate Filter

gilbert_and_sullivan

On the subject of DPF removal, i have no axe to grind either way, if i thought i could get away with it (be more worried about a serious accident and insurance using discovery to walk away to be honest) i would, as it is with this and other problem with modern Diesels i've walked from them completely and now favour older cars with petrol engines converted to LPG.

As to DPF removal, i'd do it but spend more on the removal than just a gut and reweld, with the associated hollow ringing that will bring, and the additional exhaust noise caused by the empty new 'un-silencer' just below the manifold.

A good welder should be able to gut the unit, fit a straight through pipe same bore as system, and fill the void between that ipe and outer casing with steel mesh tacked into place, that will then be as far as it goes a solid DPF with internals intact.

I wouldn't be doing this in the OP's case as the car is still under makers warranty, and effectively not theirs as its on some form of loan/rental agreement whatever it might be called, so interfering with the ECU could have expensive consequences.

The remapper will tell you, if they are fair, that interfering with the ECU can go wrong big time, its not the old days of giving half a turn on the fuelling screw of a mechanical injection pump to put some more DERV through.

I really don't know what i'd do if i was in the OP's shoes, a problem indeed.

There must be a way to force a regen, and i'd be inclined to go and have a chat with a proper Diesel shop, not the maker and not a normal garage, a place who specialises in Diesel fuel injection, ask their opinion on this and if they have any ideas...if they don't there is no solution basically.

motorguy

bigjl wrote: »

Because it became an MOT failure. And made your car non compliant to Construction and Use Regualtions.

So dissecting my post in detail makes no difference.

Gutting a DPF is the same as no DPF unless you are happy to indemnify somebodies legal fees if they try and argue that point in court you can't make statements to the effect that it is fine.

If a car is pulled over by VOSA or the Police to see if it is roadworthy do you think they won't have a quick knock of the DPF?

If it is hollow then no DPF, a DPF is not hollow.

I agree that removing or gutting was an option.

It now isn't, relying on a play on words as you suggest is risky.

And if you were a loss adjuster would you check every diesel car involved in an RTC to see if the DOF has been gutted?

I would, would save my employer a fortune, unless you admitted from the outset you had modified the car this way and Hereford had admitted all along your car was not compliant to Construction & Use Regs and should not have passed an MOT.

Unless the rules say that only the casing needs to be present not the actual DPF then gutting it is he same as removing it.

Until there is proper evidence to suggest otherwise you have to leave them on.

To be perfectly honest they are not as bad as they once were, though when they become a problem it is better to sell the car.

I doubt that they greatly improve overal emissions and are a lash up designed to make EU targets in Urban areas.

Scaremongering and complete nonsense.

Do you really think the police have nothing better to do than pull cars over, get them up on ramps and then be able to definitely prove by knocking it (????? :rotfl:) that theres no core in there?

Oh come on, seriously?

And whats the worst that can happen - somebody makes you put the DPF back in? Unless you're going to tell us next that its considered treason and a hangable offence??? :eek:

They can only check for the PRESENCE of the DPF, not the contents of the DPF box

The O/P is clearly coming to their wits end, their car has been off the road for weeks, not getting any help or support by the dealer, the manufacturer and their finance company and no doubt will next be told they need a new DPF at maybe £1,000, because of course fitting a new cheap after market one will invalidate the warranty wont it? :rolleyes:

And even when they do do all that, they're likely to be in the same position in a months time.

£300 will have it professsionally removed and the ECU reprogrammed. Problem gone. End of.

Its an option. I would certainly have no issues doing it if i was in the O/P's position. A DPF in this case is like toothache - no one has a resolution, so take it out.

I had my 535d remapped when it had less than 1,000 miles on it. No qualms about it. And had the DPF given trouble i'd have had no qualms about whipping it out.

And how much will the O/P lose by selling the car? bearing in mind they'll have to fix the problem first? £5,000? £7,000?

Or a £300 professional DPF removal. I know where i'd be.

motorguy

gilbert_and_sullivan wrote: »

As to DPF removal, i'd do it but spend more on the removal than just a gut and reweld, with the associated hollow ringing that will bring, and the additional exhaust noise caused by the empty new 'un-silencer' just below the manifold.

A good welder should be able to gut the unit, fit a straight through pipe same bore as system, and fill the void between that ipe and outer casing with steel mesh tacked into place, that will then be as far as it goes a solid DPF with internals intact.

I wouldn't be doing this in the OP's case as the car is still under makers warranty, and effectively not theirs as its on some form of loan/rental agreement whatever it might be called, so interfering with the ECU could have expensive consequences.

The remapper will tell you, if they are fair, that interfering with the ECU can go wrong big time, its not the old days of giving half a turn on the fuelling screw of a mechanical injection pump to put some more DERV through.

I really don't know what i'd do if i was in the OP's shoes, a problem indeed.

There must be a way to force a regen, and i'd be inclined to go and have a chat with a proper Diesel shop, not the maker and not a normal garage, a place who specialises in Diesel fuel injection, ask their opinion on this and if they have any ideas...if they don't there is no solution basically.

removing the box is the big problem - that will cause an MOT fail down the line.

I've driven cars with the DPF removed and there is no extra noise - just a free-er flowing engine. A DPF is like trying to breathe with your mouth stuffed full of wire wool.

I would say the DPF is beyond being cleared by a forced regen - THATS the problem here. Its got too clogged up.

There are cleaners available - you can remove the DPF, fill them up with a cleaner and leave them for a period of time then flush. That will sort the problem in the short time but the O/P is back with the same problem again in a months time.

A remap in this case only switches a little bit of software off to stop trying to do a regen and stop checking for the DPF, thats all.

The only way a remap will go wrong is if the remapper is clueless or you try to boost the car to the point where other components cant cope (usually due to age) - neither of which is the case if you use a professional remapper and they're only switching software off.

Worst comes to worst, simply replace with the original mapping.

motorguy

bigjl wrote: »

You didn't suggest it you basically said people should do it, no caveat of it being at their own risk.

What i actually said was - if you could stop trying to induce hysteria for a minute - was "i'd consider a DPF removal". And so i would.

motorguy

bigjl wrote: »

Though to be honest I haven't found them to be that bad.

You've never found DPFs that bad but you suggested that the company who you previously worked for removed them from their entire fleet? :eek:

I would respectfully suggest the reason you said that was because there was a known issue with 1.9CDTI Zafiras whereby the car only revved at 2,200 RPM at 70mph however the car needed the heat generated from 2,500 RPM upwards to do the regen.

Is this - like your mates Subaru - another case of selective memory to try to justify your position?

motorguy

bigjl wrote: »

The DPF red light coming is not always an indication of a DOF being blocked,

No, its not but in the context of what the O/P is telling us, its clearly not able to do a complete clear.

Oh, and partially blocked DPF and continued driving = kiss goodbye to your EGR valve at some point, and probably your turbo.

gilbert_and_sullivan

motorguy wrote: »

removing the box is the big problem - that will cause an MOT fail down the line.

.

Which isn't what i said.
i suggested to fit a straight through same bore pipe through the now empty DPF canister and fill the void between pipe and canister so its no hollow sounding.

A remapper who fits rose tinted specs over your eyes is not being honest, when you inderfere with the programming of an ECU it can go wrong, rare indeed but just as with operations which a surgeon performs day in day out, once in a while things can go pear shaped.
Imagine if our OP tried this and sods law dictated it should their car which went awry.

motorguy

gilbert_and_sullivan wrote: »

Which isn't what i said.
i suggested to fit a straight through same bore pipe through the now empty DPF canister and fill the void between pipe and canister so its no hollow sounding.

Apologies. You actually put "a straight through pipe" thats the same bore as "system", as opposed to DPF box, hence my confusion - i took it you meant exhaust system.

gilbert_and_sullivan wrote: »

A remapper who fits rose tinted specs over your eyes is not being honest, when you inderfere with the programming of an ECU it can go wrong, rare indeed but just as with operations which a surgeon performs day in day out, once in a while things can go pear shaped.
Imagine if our OP tried this and sods law dictated it should their car which went awry.

And a good remapper will have the original mapping stored so if something does go awry they can simply reload the original mapping, thus mitigating any risk.

As i said - i would consider it. It might not be for the O/P however given the choice between having no car / a car that you have lost all faith in that you resort to selling and losing £,£££s i'd be giving it serious consideration if i was the O/P.

I'd get it done by well known, recommended and experienced remappers - of which there are many, and i'd like a good chat with them beforehand to understand any perceived risks and what can be done to mitigate them.

neilmcl

motorguy wrote: »

Its an option. I would certainly have no issues doing it if i was in the O/P's position. A DPF in this case is like toothache - no one has a resolution, so take it out

Except it isn't really an option, the car doesn't belong to the OP remember.

And talking of which, unless I've missed it, have you contacted the finance provider about this MrsB387?

MrsB387

Complaint has been raised with Nissan and a specialist will call me back within 48 hours.

RAC have been out and forced a regen which comes with a recommendation of an oil change. He has also advised that we purchase Cataclean so I'm off to do that this afternoon.