Is it legal to remove DPF on 2012 Mondeo?

gord115

My work colleague has had problems with the DPF blocking up on his 2012 Mondeo.

He has had the DPF removed and been told it is only illegal to remove the DPF on cars made in 2014 or later.

Is this correct?

angrycrow

No it is not OK to remove the dpf filter from any car. See below from the current MOT manual.

"8.2.2 Compression ignition engine emissions
8.2.2.1 Exhaust emission control equipment
You only need to check components that are visible and identifiable, such as diesel oxidation catalysts, diesel particulate filters, exhaust gas recirculation valves and selective catalytic reduction valves.

If a diesel particulate filter has clearly been cut open and rewelded, you should reject it unless the vehicle presenter can show evidence that there was a valid reason to cut it open, such as for filter cleaning.

Defect Category
Emission control equipment fitted by the manufacturer missing, obviously modified or obviously defective
Major
An induction or exhaust leak that could affect emissions levels
Major
Evidence that the diesel particulate filter has been tampered with"

AdrianC

There's two aspects to "Is it legal?", at least as far as MOT goes.

1. Will it pass the emissions smoke opacity check?
2. Can the tester see the DPF has been fiddled with?

There may also be Construction and Use issues.

Lemme guess - he doesn't use it much for longer, harder journeys, so it never gets the chance to regenerate?

daveyjp

At 7 years old the DPF may be due for replacement anyway. They don't last forever and block with ash overtime.

sevenhills

I am thinking about buying a diesel with 100/130,000 miles, do they emit more pollution with age?

gord115

Lemme guess - he doesn't use it much for longer, harder journeys, so it never gets the chance to regenerate?[/QUOTE]

Yeah,when he bought it 3 months ago,I told him he'd have problems.

He said he was told by the dealer that particular engine didn't have a DPF.

I told him he was wrong,now he knows he was.

System

daveyjp wrote: »

At 7 years old the DPF may be due for replacement anyway. They don't last forever and block with ash overtime.

Mine is 9 years old on 144,000 miles with no issues, sensor readings show no blockage, it happily does a regen every 400-600km. I drive a 44 tonne truck on over half a million miles and the dashboard gauge for the DPF filter usage shows 0%.

Joys of having diesel vehicles and using them for the right types of journey they should be doing, not pottering around town.

System

sevenhills wrote: »

I am thinking about buying a diesel with 100/130,000 miles, do they emit more pollution with age?

Only if they've not been maintained properly like any car.

forgotmyname

Its legal to remove it, but illegal to drive it on the road with it removed and should fail the MOT with it removed.

sevenhills

Tarambor wrote: »

I drive a 44 tonne truck on over half a million miles and the dashboard gauge for the DPF filter usage shows 0%.
Joys of having diesel vehicles and using them for the right types of journey they should be doing, not pottering around town.

I have read that its much easier to reduce polution from large vehicles because they have unlimited space for Adblu or a DPF and the cost of less than a £1,000 is a large amount when buying a £8,000 car but much smaller when you think about the price of a 44 tonne truck.

AdrianC

sevenhills wrote: »

I have read that its much easier to reduce polution from large vehicles because they have unlimited space for Adblu or a DPF and the cost of less than a £1,000 is a large amount when buying a £8,000 car but much smaller when you think about the price of a 44 tonne truck.

"Unlimited" might be a bit strong, but certainly retro-fitting emissions kit is a lot easier (and economically viable) on a wagon than a car. Which is why retro-fitted kit renders wagons eligible for the London LEZ, but there's no such exemption for cars for the ULEZ.