How do MOT testers know if a DPF was originally fitted?

[Orionaut]

Does it come up as original equipment when the VIN/Reg no is entered?

I am referring particularly to older vehicles where some did and some didn't!

Now that "If one was originally fitted it must be present" is the MOT rule this is potentially an issue when replacing exhaust systems on older vehicles where there is actually a possible choice.

 

[andy_mk3]

As far as I'm aware, there's not yet any information to tell us testers if it was fitted to that vehicle or not.

 

[Orionaut]

As far as I'm aware, there's not yet any information to tell us testers if it was fitted to that vehicle or not.

I have just been told (Like 10 minutes ago) that VOSA knows and that it should come up as part of the test when the vehicle details are entered.

In any case, even if this isnt the case now, I have no doubt that this information will become available in due course. (After all, If ECP knows about it from the reg no, surely VOSA does too! )

Of course this issue mainly applies to older vehicles (EG a 56 plate Vauxhall Combo 1.3D) where some were fitted and some not and where a standard non-DPF exhaust could easily be fitted to a vehicle originally fitted with one (Not something that an unsuspecting owner would want to find out at MOT time)

I think the best advise is to play safe on this one!

(I wonder if VOSA will eventually provide a "DPF check" site along the lines of "AskMID"" for the benefit of SH dealers and private owners alike. )

 

[andy_mk3]

I've never seen it on any VSI (vehicle specific information) so far, and in the manual it doesn't state anything about where to find information on whether it was originally fitted. A bit of a grey area that one really.

I'm sure they will introduce something eventually. It's like the older 1.9 diesel Vectra's, the DPF was only fitted to estate models or something like that. But how is a tester to know that?

I guess the only real way to fail it is if it was obvious, i.e. a new straight pipe fitted with DPF sensors disconnected.

 

[snapdragon69]

All 'modern' cars in the EU are supposed to have an emissions sticker under the bonnet and it will say something like EU5+DPF. Similar to the one about headlight alignment or the type of refrigerant.

 

[Amraam]

If the DPF is removed from a car that had one fitted from factory, it's an MOT failure and illegal. The Tax rates are low based on this emission, so removing the DPF will cause higher emissions.

Technically you're still putting the same amount of crap into the atmosphere, but the DPF makes the particles finer, hence why you don't see loads of black soot coming out of the back of modern diesels.

 

[andy_mk3]

All 'modern' cars in the EU are supposed to have an emissions sticker under the bonnet and it will say something like EU5+DPF. Similar to the one about headlight alignment or the type of refrigerant.

I'll have to look out for that next week.

If the DPF is removed from a car that had one fitted from factory, it's an MOT failure and illegal. The Tax rates are low based on this emission, so removing the DPF will cause higher emissions.

Technically you're still putting the same amount of crap into the atmosphere, but the DPF makes the particles finer, hence why you don't see loads of black soot coming out of the back of modern diesels.

Indeed, but they can still pass the emissions test without the DPF.

 

[miniyazz]

If the DPF is removed from a car that had one fitted from factory, it's an MOT failure and illegal. The Tax rates are low based on this emission, so removing the DPF will cause higher emissions.

Technically you're still putting the same amount of crap into the atmosphere, but the DPF makes the particles finer, hence why you don't see loads of black soot coming out of the back of modern diesels.

Technically removing the DPF is likely to decrease the CO2 emissions, which VED is based on, and so if anything you're going to overpay the tax.
What removing the DPF may do is increase the harmful particulate load in the atmosphere (possibly including NOx and SOx although I'm not up to speed on whether the DPF affects these) - not something the government monitors, naturally, since either taxing people on how much they emit (putting the tax on fuel instead of flat rate per car specs) or taxing people on the harmful stuff they emit, would be far too sensible for any government to consider.

 

[LupoLover]

MY MOT guy said if you smash out insides and put back on car how is he to know? Or even just cover up as they arnt allowed to remove anything from car. He basically said dont worry about it (Tho I do have my DPF and no intention of removing it unless causes me issues which it hasn't for last 20k and its been mapped)

 

[andy_mk3]

Well there's obviously no way of telling that way. But if it's replaced with a straight pipe then it could be failed.

 

[Amraam]

Hmmm. If I didn't loath the tractor like sounds of a diesel, I'd start looking at them again after learning these 'tricks'

 

[jono_astra]

.

 

[Amraam]

could be kind of obvious that its been smashed out if you think about it.

A DPF filter in the car will remove the soot particles produced by a diesel car. Doing the smoke emissions test with a car with a dpf is always 0. Normally you can also run your finger tip around the exhaust and its nice and clean.

Take the dpf out of the equation and you will get soot coming out of the exhaust, giving a higher reading on the smoke test or at least emitting soot out of the exhaust. So that would give an indication to the tester that the dpf has had its materials removed or its missing.

But knowing VOSA this wouldn't be adequate enough as a reason to fail :lol:

General rule of thumb is that all diesel's from around 2010 have DPF's fitted from new ( think its a law but not 100% sure one that).

2009 and it was an EU law. Typical.