Diesel Particle Filter

[rockyracoon]

Has anyone had any luck with the DPF cleaners that are on the market. Our car (2004 530d) has gone into 'limp mode' for the second time in 4 months. It went to the garage the first time where they cleaned the DPF, but was wondering if one of the cleaners would give me a few weeks grace. I am really not in the mood to be looking for a new car at the moment and it's really not cost effective to get the filter changed.

Arghh... flippin cars.

[ToraToraTora]

.....which is why I don't touch diesel with a bargepole

[EDDIE51]

Ours self cleans. You get a warning on the instrument panel telling you to keep driving as the filter is being cleaned. After about 15 mins at a steady 50 to 60 mph the warning goes off again to tell you cleaning is complete. I have a Zafira but I thought they were all the same.

[EDDIE51]

They clean themselves by injecting and burning extra fuel for a short while. As the extra fuel burns it heats up the filter so that it burns off the particles which are basically just soot. I can't see how a 'cleaner' could do anything. You would need to take off the filter and put it an oven to burn off the particles / soot.

[Baldric]

We ran a 320d as a hack for about 7 years, because it was highish mileage and driven hard by both of us we never had a problem with it.

[EDDIE51]

^ yes diesels are not good for slow around town driving. You need to get up to a steady 50 to 60 mph for a reasonable time at least once every few days.

[Baldric]

Think we may have overdone that ^^^ slightly ;o)

[EDDIE51]

We were told that as long as the engine got up to full temperature and stayed there for 20 mins or so it would keep the filter clear. Around the town hops often do not get the engine hot enough for long enough.

[rockyracoon]

That’s the trouble. Since I went back to work 3 years ago, the car only does 15 miles a day and it’s stop and start all the way. She’s an old girl now, so not worth spending too much money on her.

[Quoi]

I had a similar problem with my e320 merc - had the DPF cleaned at halfords and the EML came back on so i had a friend do a 'turbo' DPF clean and he was able to thoroughly check it was ok but after a few days the EML light came back on.
Turned out to be a sensor and the sensor was stopping the DPF regeneration happening when it should.

[EDDIE51]

^ Good point, a false sensor reading will mean the filter does not go into self clean mode when it needs to. It is worth getting the sensor checked to ensure it is working correctly.

[grahammlong]

Dear RR. Yes suggest motorway driving or similar, dual carriageway, for a few miles - 10 miles plus regularly at 50, 60, 70 mph steady , driven well over 300, 000 miles over the last 15 years in these Diesels, economically - saving on fuel expense with this fuel . Do above, NEVER had an issue with the DPF Diesels, good luck GL.