diesel particulate filter warning light

[lucid]

My mk6 1.6TDI (105) has done about 2500 miles and I got a warning light on the way home last night. Just checked in the manual and it appears to be the DPF (manual says its saturated with soot) and suggests I go driving at 70kph for 15mins. Well this was in the early hours and that was a no no as needed to sleep.

This is my first diesel so not that sure about this, is it a common occurrence with these, do I need to get the dealer to take a look?

[VAGMAN54]

probably needs a regen.try driving it to see if it will do a regeneration itself if not the dealer can do a forced regen for you and they will probably change the exhaust gas pressure sensor,but from what dealings i have had 90% dont need the pressure sensor.....

[lucid]

Thanks will try going for a fast drive around for a while, with the light on its like driving a bag of spanners very lumpy re the power.

[percymon]

Short low speed journeys will cause the dpf to clog, you need to drive above 2k revs for about 15-20 minutes so 3rd and 4th gear only!!

Sadly VW don't tell buyers they have to use their diesel engined cars when filling in the order form.

[psmith98752]

Will clog if you do lots of short journeys. This has happened once on my MK6. I generally do a 15 mile commute each day which keeps the car fine. Stopped that for about a month and then I got the light. Just went for a run on the motorway and all fine since then.

I think its a stupid thing to put on a car though, if it gets clogged then there should be some way of it cleaning itself without you having to drive the car.

Stupid EU laws...

[lucid]

Yeah like a way to trigger a clean out manually if necessary. I had no idea what this light was when it 1st came on eeek.

[DerekHago]

And wouldn't it be nice if it told you that it was cleaning the DPF? I've lost count of the times I've parked up, got out and heard the fans running and smelled that acrid smell of burning that tells me I've stopped it half way through.
If there was a light on saying a burn was going on, I could just keep driving till it went off...

[saxwinder]

Hi

New member here -- 2006 Passat 170

I've endured a nightmare with my car this last 2 weeks.
DPF light came on followed by rough running ---- I usually do motorway driving --- It went out then came back on --- after several visits to garages including a Main dealer they said drive it hard mmm Hard to do sometimes on NI ROADS. Then safe homemode
I was informed a new DPF was required at £ 1200. After a vist to a local mapping expert he ran it on a rolling road for 20 mins "quite scary" but eventually the Lamba reduced to 0.
Total cost £250. I have sinced removed the DPF and installed a replacement down pipe what a difference!

[james_tiger_woo]

I have sinced removed the DPF and installed a replacement down pipe what a difference!

What does that do to your emissions? What will that do come MOT time?

[Keithuk]

I wouldn't have thought it would make a big difference MOT wise James. Diesel engines are only tested for smoke not exhaust gas content (as with petrol). Providing its within the smoke spec it should be ok.


Metered Smoke Test (Diesel) (http://www.dvtani.gov.uk/uploads/customerservices/DieselandCATleaflet.pdf)

The same would apply to petrol engines, if someone removed the Cat because its a restriction then providing the gas coming out the back is still within spec for that make and model then it should pass. Its more unlikely for a petrol engine though. ;)

[saxwinder]

Keithuk is correct --- it passed MOT this morning no problems.
James --- The pipe to replace the DPF wasn't cheap and then another remap to remove the DPF sensors -- but considering the bill I would have received from VW it was worth it.
The car drives totally different and a little roart out of the exhaust is satisfying.