Yeah although it's not just the failures it's the must lower fuel economy (than the older PD) making a petrol engine much closer and more viable for the runs I do. Even on my 50 mile run on A roads a DPF isn't a great option for getting a constant regen done. My liftshare has a DPF car and a reader and we can see the loading on his. Even with the 50 mile run he still has to take his car out and force a regen himself, something the average Joe wouldn't know about or be able to do.
Maybe once my PD engine is run into the ground there willl be better options, hopefully.
Sounds like their is something wrong with his car rather a symptom of having a DPF. When you talk about regeneration is the dash light on? If it is then he has a problem with either a sensor or the DPF itself.
DPF's regenerate when you are at steady speed, and take between 5-10 minutes normally. This should happen when they are about 35% full, most people will not even know it is regenerating (every 300-500 miles). That is active regeneration, DPF's passively regenerate all the time when they reach operating temperature.
The light will come on when it is above 45% full and normal regeneration has been unsuccessful. It may need a high speed blast of around 5-40 minutes or a diesel treatment to help the regeneration. The light is warning of impending failure.
There are also two methods of regeneration. One method actually has an additive in a small tank next too the fuel tank. This is topped up about ever 70,000 miles during servicing. The other method is just allowing the dpf to heat up and the soot to be burnt to ash, often a puffs of white smoke may be observed.
A lot of people do not realise either that if you have any warning lights on the dpf regeneration is cancelled by the ECU to avoid damage. During servicing as well many ECU's need to have the oil degradation reset to tell the ecu the oil is clean enough for regeneration to take place, this is often missed in servicing by independents.
Sorry I have a brilliant diesel mechanic and am helping him in some new business ventures some of which are dpf linked. There is a lot of myths and legends regarding DPF's. One problem that can be a problem is diesels with very high 6th gears which may not allow the engine to get to the regeneration speed or temperature.
My DPF car has now 64k and 7.5 years old. I have never had the regeneration light on or noticed any drop in MPG. I have once or twice felt it might be in regeneration when driving around country lanes. A very small drop in power was it.
