Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) issues if using a diesel at low mileage

Buffman

Buffman

Buffman

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Anyone used a diesel at low mileage before?

I use it daily for around a 2.3 mile 10 minute run to work and back (Monday to Friday), and a fortnightly 30 minute trip with a long trip to Glasgow (from Birmingham) every 6 months.
I was wondering if this will knacker my DPF? I'm moving house in 4 to 6 months when I buy one, which I imagine will be further away (20 mins on motorway/a roads).
Would it be knackered after these 6 months? Or would it take longer?

Note, I currently have a diesel (suzuki sx4 2010 with 80k on the clock, 1.6 diesel). (inherited... Before anyone asks why I bought diesel, which I don't really want to replace as I'm saving for a house and I like the motor)

Im interested in hearing your stories!
 
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Personally I do not see a problem. As long as you are getting a good motorway run thrown in, of which will regenerate the DPF. Problem will arise if non DPF regeneration which leads to build up of soot ect. Regeneration burns off this build up.
 
1Mile???
Your engine wont even get half warm.
You are killing that engine, nevermind the DPF filter.

Yea your DPF wont be happy, but then again i bet its not even driven enough to fill up.

And as long as you drive it on a Motorway once in a while it will regen.
 
A quick google suggests that the Diesel 1.6 SX4 uses a Ford/PSA DV6 engine, which also need the service schedule sticking to with regards to topping up of the DPF Eloys additive.

If it was a more recent diesel then I would have said you would be ok, but being essentially a first generation DPF, the short journeys are going to be a huge issue for it.
 
Ah I've just checked and it's actually 2.3 miles (and 45 mins walk through a horrible bit of motorway / single Lane A roads! Otherwise I'd walk it)

I suppose I could get a lift from the Mrs instead.... But I really can't be bothered :o. (I'm guessing it's better to not use weekdays instead of really short runs?)

How long a run is considered more reasonable for a diesel? Prior to this I used to give it a good 50+ mile hoon down the motorway every time I switched the engine on (was working away)

I suppose my options are:
Occasionally get Mrs to drive to her work (her work is ~30 mins away)
Swap cars with the Mrs for her petrol Fiat panda (which I would sell... Because it's horribly uncomfortable and ugly as sin)
Sell diesel and swap for a petrol motor


Don't think it's worth swapping/selling anything new as I'm looking for a house in the next 4 months... So trying to save pennies
 
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Due to popular belief, you don't need to "blast it down a motorway" in order to regenerate the DPF...

Passive Regeneration always happens when you're travelling long trips up and down the country.

Active Regeneration has a set percentage value in order to start regenerating, you can normally tell if the regeneration is happening due a higher idle or see a higher mpg in idle. If that is the case, do not switch off the engine until the process is finished...

The ECU heats up the DPF to correct temperature in order to burn the excessive crap regardless if you're stood still or doing 70mph down a motorway.
 
I ran my Mazda CX-5 diesel like this most of the time, I live 1.5 miles from home, and if I used it during the week that's all it did, although I pretty much took it for a 20-30 mile trips most weekends and pretty much caught the regen in one of those..

I never had any issues with the DPF (despite worrying about it), although the Mazda was engineered to re-gen at low temperatures, and they had worked on that aspect..

I know what you mean about preferring diesel over petrol, my Mrs has had two 1.6 petrol motors in her last two cars and both couldn't pull the skin off a rice pudding, so tediuous to drive in comparison, so I'd take a 1.6 diesel over a 1.6 petrol anyday if it was just a normal car..
 
Swifty55 said:
The ECU heats up the DPF to correct temperature in order to burn the excessive crap regardless if you're stood still or doing 70mph down a motorway.
Click to expand...

Be interested to see how the ECU can inject fuel to raise exhaust gas temperature to heat the DPF, when you are stood still in traffic and stop/start has kicked in :D

Yes passive regeneration takes place all the time when the DPF reaches the required temperature, but that generally only naturally occurs on longer journeys at higher engine speeds.

Hence why active regeneration was designed, to forcibly raise DPF temperatures, but it still requires a number of conditions including a minimum rpm, and minimum engine temperatures etc.


Generic overview here:
http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/fuels-and-environment/diesel-particulate-filters.html
 
Armageus said:
Be interested to see how the ECU can inject fuel to raise exhaust gas temperature to heat the DPF, when you are stood still in traffic and stop/start has kicked in :D

Yes passive regeneration takes place all the time when the DPF reaches the required temperature, but that generally only naturally occurs on longer journeys at higher engine speeds.

Hence why active regeneration was designed, to forcibly raise DPF temperatures, but it still requires a number of conditions including a minimum rpm, and minimum engine temperatures etc.


Generic overview here:
http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/fuels-and-environment/diesel-particulate-filters.html
Click to expand...

Start/Stop should be disabled when the process is running. That is the case in my dads Vauxhall Insignia.

Active Regeneration usually kicks in when a certain point is met, but you do not need to be at a certain RPM/gear or speed - hence the higher RPM/MPG when idle.

Tried and tested in various vehicles I've owned, driven and friends.

OP could always go with a Remap/DPF delete option?
 
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Demon said:
I'd take a 1.6 diesel over a 1.6 petrol anyday if it was just a normal car..
Click to expand...
I'd take a 1.6 turbo petrol over a diesel any day of the week. It's the turbo that makes diesels what they are. Without them, they would be even worse than a non turbo petrol.

Diesel < Petrol < Turbo Diesel < Turbo Petrol. In terms of performance per CC.
 
EliotG said:
I'd take a 1.6 turbo petrol over a diesel any day of the week. It's the turbo that makes diesels what they are. Without them, they would be even worse than a non turbo petrol.

Diesel < Petrol < Turbo Diesel < Turbo Petrol. In terms of performance per CC.
Click to expand...
Lol, well yes, hence why I qualified it with "if it was just a normal car"..

Of course I'd take a 1.6 hybrid f1 car over a 1.6 petrol turbo any day of the week!
 
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