Re Gen DPFilter

[Trooper2142]

Has anybody experienced regeneration of diesel particulate filter . Travelled 26 miles and stopped in car park kept engine running as you do ,to lubricate turbo, and thought I had blown rear box on exhaust noise was quite horrendous .went shopping and returned to car checked oil level and was in between Max-Min Level on dip stick where I keep oil level . Travelled back home and exhaust noise back to normal .Previous journey was 160 mile round trip to Mackies Tour .Do these DPFilters Re Gen after every journey over so many miles

    

Regards

            

            Tom

 

[Old Peter]

Good morning, Tom.

 

When I bought my s type 2.7 diesel I was aware the DPF needed regeneration periodically, particularly if you do quite a few short journeys, as I do.

 

A helpful poster some time ago, whose advice I followed, does an hours run once a month if he has not done any long journeys.  Basically the filter will regenerate if you do 30 minutes continuously at over about 35 mph when the engine has warmed up to normal temperature.  What is also interesting is that the EGR valve will benefit from a bit of a blast occasionally to stop it sticking.  Givng it a bit of a blast on a quiet Sunday morning is also very enjoyable.

 

Regards,

 

Peter.

[msmicksmith]

The ecu will automatically sort out the regeneration process when it senses that the engine is in the correct environment.

Basically, once warmed up, if the car is driven at a constant speed, usually above 50 mph approx, the ecu will raise the exhaust temperature to around 600 degrees to burn the soot out of the DPF. The carbon is collected by the filter as the particles are quite large. Burning the carbon reduces it to micro particles which dissipate into the environment, allegedly harmlessly.

If, like Peter says, you only do short, low speed journeys the environment is never correct for this process to be triggered and eventually the DPF will block up causing the dash light to illuminate and reduced power. An occasional longer, faster run will induce the required situation for the ecu to perform it's overheating process, which usually needs to be for around 15 mins.

They are a pain in the a*se, but required as a result of diesel engines being more polluting than Brussels allow and our engine technologies unable to reduce the pollutants without a post-burn treatment process. What irritates me is that manufacturers could easily put in a warning system to tell the driver that the DPF is getting close to its limit and another system to say when the engine is within its 'sweet spot' and that regeneration is taking place. This would mean the driver could sort out his own DPF cleaning without having to visit the main dealers after the inevitable blockage....... not sure it'll catch on though given that there is a £70 an hour labour charge to be had by the aforementioned dealers!

[Trooper2142]

Hi Peter

Thanks for your comments, warning light has never come on.But must say I do not regret buying the x type.

As it gives great pleasure when driving it and the Auto is great even if I have to Pay More Road Tax.

 

Regards

             Tom

 

Hi Mick

Thanks for your technical details, I keep up to date with your comments on your x type ,never tried the sport model , I went for the touring suspension.

           

Regards

         Tom