DPF Woes....

Shelster

Shelster

Shelster

Associate
Joined
3 Aug 2003
Posts
2,028
Location
Plymouth, UK
..and how my car car is trying to break me...

Car in question is an 08 Fiat 500 1.3 16v diesel.

A few days ago (think Thursday last week) the DPF clogged warning light and message came on. Drove like I normally do when that happens (stick ti 3rd gear and revs in the 2-3.5k range) and that did not clear it as usual. So saturday morning went for a run out on main A road down here for 10 miles out and 10 back, sticking to 4th and revs in the 3k range.

The good news is that is did clear finally after the 20 miles, but the car decided to throw up a warning light for Engine Oil Change. Bit strange as it was only changed back in June when the glow plug that had snapped off when it was being changed had to be bored out and the engine flushed...but that is a whole other story.

Checked oil level and all was good, but topped up with a litre of fresh to take level to max on dip stick. Then had to use MultiECUScan to get in and reset service indication and also the oil change indication. All was looking good.

Checked the DPF and the level on there said 34%......so thats good thinks me. Drive 2 miles to go collect Mrs S rom work and the DPF clogged light comes back on.....Sunday do another 20 odd miles run and the light clears.

Now this morning after onlyh doing a run to collect Mrs S from work and then a 6 miles too and from work for me yesterday, the bloody DPF clogged light is back on.

Anyone any idea what the hell is going on?

Does it sound like the DPF is on it's way out? Do I need to go on a slighlty longer journey to fully clear the filter? How likely is the car to conk out on me? We are planning to go to London for New Year and Mrs S not happy with going in the car at the moment

This is the end of the line for the car...has cost far too much in the way of money and trouble. WIll be getting sold as Mrs S is getting a new Mini on lease from work adn that is due in 8 weeks or so.

Just need to keep this car going till then
 
Simon said:
What oil you using.

Oil change indicator might be due to the regen method fiat use where the extra furling might be making its way into the sump
Click to expand...

Using full synthetic 5/30

Armageus said:
Pop down the local motor factors, you can get an additive you add to the fuel which helps clean the DPF. Not a long term solution, but may make a difference in the short term.

e.g. something like this: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Forte-DPF-Cleaner-Regenerator-400ml/dp/B0061ATRK2
Click to expand...

Saw that and am planning to nip down to Eurocarparts and get some from them, add, fill up and go on a nice long trip to Exeter and back.

Am also a bit concerend after doing some more reading on line about this...seems that the oil can become contaminated with diesel and then act as a fuel in it's own right and lead to engine runaway...which does not sound good at all. Going to find out how much an oil change would cost. Would try it myself but do not have tray for catching spent oil in or filter removal tool and as this wil be the only time I am doing it, don't want to spend the money on bits that will only be used once...plus then have to store them and having no garage or shed that becomes troublesome
 
Divine - next car comes with full service plan included in teh lease costs, so won't be doing them myself.

Third - already have this. Have connected up and get the following readings re the DPF and Oil

Oil deg level - 83.921%
Oil Change Counter - 9
Odometer at last forced regen - 101603.3km
Odometer at last spontaneous regen - 0km
Odometer at last forced regen - 0km
Particulate filter clogging - 36.59%
Particle Filter Temp - 36 degrees
Regenration Process - 0.000%
Forced regeneration state - Generic error

This was when I was sat in a car park and after some town driving. Rechecked after a town pootle around and got the following

Odometer at last forced regen - 101614.4.3km
Odometer at last spontaneous regen - 9.2km
Odometer at last forced regen - 9.2km
Particulate filter clogging - 34.97%
Particle Filter Temp - 36 degrees
Regenration Process - 0.000%
Forced regeneration state - Generic error
Total number of regenrations - 209

The big question is...what the hell is going on? The oil deg level was at 100% when I reset it on sunday....so using the car for about 20 miles worht of driving has caused a 16% degredation in the oil? Realsise it does not actually sample the oil, but uses an algorhtym to work things out, butthis does seem very excessive to me.

Re the forced regen - did you do it away from habitation? From what I sumise, the car basically sits at high revs for a period of time. Similar to what you would be doing on a long journey / run, but sat still. Have thought about doing it but really do not want to pee off the neighbours and also run risk of puttin goily deposits on our drive - Mrs S would not like that one bit.

Simon - yeah was a reputable brand of oil that I put in, even said on the bottle that it was suited for cars with DPF's

I put some additive in just now and will take the car out on long run tonight. Will have the ECUScan connected so can see what happens to the temp of the filter. I was under the impression that the temp would be somewhere of 400 degrees upwards when it was regenerating.
 
Dangerous Dave said:
You won't see any smoke out the exhaust as the DPF is catching it. An egr fault could cause excess smoke but no fault code or a boost leak etc. Could also be a faulty DPF sensor reporting incorrect soot levels.
Click to expand...

Did think about a faulty sensor.

What si this EGR that you speak of? Not heard of that...but I have zero mechanic knowledge...I would be laughing if it was a fault with a radar or radio system....damn oily stuff
 
Was Mrs who bought the car before I knew her......I shall say no more. She thought it would be ideal for her running back and too to work and around town. SHe now regrets the purchase.

Am taking it into the garage tomorrow morning for oil change as need it done and back as quick as. Mrs S not happy with me messing aroud with oil on the drive.....love how women prioritise things.

As said, will be going for good long drive tonight to give it a good burn and see what is going on. Only need to keep going for 2 months so hopefully this will not be a death knoll for the car
 
Jumpy - Sunday....gave it a danm good shoeing with a very heavy right foot on all pull aways. Went on A38 for 30 mins doing 70 at 3k rpm.....will be going longer tonight
 
Red line....:eek::eek:

Was hitting it a few times on sunday, but will be taking it up high tonight and am banning myself from using 5th.

Ran data logging on trip home and oil deg went down by 5% almost :eek: Could see the filter temp start to increase, but not by a huge amount and no where near the hundreds of degrees I would expect on a regen

Something is deffo amiss with the motor.
 
Temp was read after engine was warm. Current blocking percentage is reading 34 now which should be below the level for having the light turned on....think summat is borked
 
Did get up to 40 odd the other day.....was suspecting that. Will have a look later how much they are and how easy they are to replace
 
Finally have it nailed down.

Is indeed the temp sensor for the DPF.

Went out this evening...25 mins at 3.5k rpm and stil no sign of clearing....wel not entirely true. The DPF light did go off to be replaced by the check engine light.

Stopped and checked on the ECU scan and this showed excessive regen time...shocker. Reset that and both check engine and DPF lights are off. Checked the figures and DPF blockage was down to 24% and the temp on the filter after that drive...36 degrees.

Guess this failure is screwing with the program for working out the DPF regen cycles and levels.

Now need to find me a replacement temp probe and get that fitted or I will just end up back to where I was.

you are right...DPF's do suck. How can these be good for the environment when I have so far had to do nearly 100 miles to get this sorted....glad we are going petrol
 
Another quick update.....temp on sensor did make it up to 125 on the run.

Have plotted data as graph and will upload later when not on hobbled work connection.
 
From looking at Haynes manual the dpf is towards the front of the engine bay behind the rad. Car going in on 08th Jan to get it changed. Garage quoted £90 all in. This is final spend on the car. Fortunately will be sat on drive for the festive period. Only needed for trip to Newquay way in new year.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom