DPF light on every 2 weeks

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Nathan Grimes

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Hi,

I wonder if anyone might be able to help with a diesel particulate filter problem on my Audi A3 2.0 Tdi Black edition, 11 plate. It has done 117,000 miles and I got it in October last year. Since then, the dpf light has been coming on every 2 weeks. Each time the light illuminates I take it on the motorway in 4th or 5th gear and the car regenerates and the light goes off within about 15 minutes. However, around 2 weeks later it comes back on and I need to get back on the motorway.

To be fair I mostly do town driving, short journeys and maybe a bit further at weekends when I take the family out but still generally less than 10 miles. I realise this type of driving better suits a petrol but my last car was a diesel and I never had any DPF issues (perhaps it didn't have one) and I wasn't aware of potential DPF issues before I bought the A3.

The car was last serviced in July 19. Just Oil and filter change. I've had the fault codes read and only one fault was returned and that was with the Gearbox Neutral Position Sensor (which is probably why my start/stop isn't working, but anyway that's a separate issue and one i'm not too bothered about!).
I guess the car isn't getting a chance to regenerate with the start stop short journeys that I do but when the light does illuminate I can force the regeneration by driving at 3000rpm for 10-20 mins so the car is able to regenerate.

Is this normal behaviour or is there something going on here?
What are the next steps in diagnosing any issue? A garage I went to recommended a Force Regen and then a Full service at a cost of £350 but there's no guarantee that would solve the problem. If it didn't, they recommended a DPF clean with fluids injected at a cost of £300.
I've been using Shell V Power diesel for the last full tank and a half.

Any advice would be great! Thanks,

Nathan
 
Best would be to gut the dpf (stage1 remap) or replace it.

I had exactly same symptoms and that force clean wasn't doing it's job.
Had car remapped+dpf gutted and it all gone.

Btw/fyi:
Once that force clean will start, you shouldn't switch off the car.
Indication would be running fans and increased temperature in the footwell area.
Engine have to get really hot to burn all of the soot.

Fuel additives don't work either. Tried them

Sent from H P20 PRO
 
KrisKrk said:
Best would be to gut the dpf (stage1 remap) or replace it.

I had exactly same symptoms and that force clean wasn't doing it's job.
Had car remapped+dpf gutted and it all gone.

Btw/fyi:
Once that force clean will start, you shouldn't switch off the car.
Indication would be running fans and increased temperature in the footwell area.
Engine have to get really hot to burn all of the soot.

Fuel additives don't work either. Tried them

Sent from H P20 PRO
Click to expand...

What sort of cost am I looking at to gut the DPF and remap?
Not sure if there's anyone around here (Exeter, Devon) that does it.
 
Nathan Grimes said:
What sort of cost am I looking at to gut the DPF and remap?
Not sure if there's anyone around here (Exeter, Devon) that does it.
Click to expand...
Update: just been out and there was no dpf light but the glow plug light is flashing and the emissions light is constantly on. Both amber. This hasn't happened before. Feels like turbo has gone as I've got a big loss of power. Am I in limp mode?
Could a sensor have failed or something? Or egr valve? Considering the problems I've been having with the dpf light coming on every 2 weeks, it feels like this is the end result and something has gone. What do you think?
 
Gazwould said:
It's just the dpf merry-go-round , you need a code read first , probably a dpf pressure sensor , not expensive , but I'm with Kris on the gutting.

https://www.p-v-e.co.uk/
Click to expand...

Do you know of any members with vcds that could do a code read in the exeter, Devon area? Hoping it's a sensor and not the dpf itself! Although if it was I would expect the dpf light to be on.
 
There is a section here, in forum of all registered vcds users and members.
List goes with their location.
Try there

Cannot remember how much I've paid for mine but it was around £400 (dpf gutting, remap and egr off).
Money well spent.

Sent from H P20 PRO
 
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KrisKrk said:
There is a section here, in forum of all registered vcds users and members.
List goes with their location.
Try there

Cannot remember how much I've paid for mine but it was around £400 (dpf gutting, remap and egr off).
Money well spent.

Sent from H P20 PRO
Click to expand...

Are there any complications with the mot when gutting the dpf and remap? Has yours been ok?
Thinking about getting it done.
Cheers.
 
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Nathan Grimes said:
Are there any complications with the mot when gutting the dpf and remap? Has yours been ok?
Thinking about getting it done.
Cheers.
Click to expand...
Well, it is not illegal to have it done. It is not illegal for the garage to do so.
IT IS illegal to drive a car without DPF, if it came out of factory with one.
You will have complications with MOT for sure.
Gas and emission readings will prove that.

Also, if some cowboy will do it for you and ripp the dpf in obvious place, straight fail.
You need to go to a good guy who does it well and know how to weld.
Best to have the dpf cut open on the seam and welded back together in a way, so it looks like oem weld.
After that, you need a "friendly garage" that for an extra £££ will pass it.
Luckily I have one and they passed my car 3rd year in a row.

With dpf gutted, egr turned off (some blank it) and new stage1 map done, economy will increase, if driven normally.
After you get it done, you will not drive like you should, trust me, as the car will be quicker and faster.
Power increase from the map and better exhaust gasses flow will give also more torque.
Turbo sounds tad bit louder but it is a nice wistle.

Telling you, a lot of fun and it is well worth it

Sent from H P20 PRO
 
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"You will have complications with MOT for sure.
Gas and emission readings will prove that."


Simply not true , it's a simple smoke opacity test and properly done remaps don't smoke and get within the vin sticker smoke coefficient value .


Many dpf's are not visible to an mot tester .
 
Gazwould said:
"You will have complications with MOT for sure.
Gas and emission readings will prove that."


Simply not true , it's a simple smoke opacity test and properly done remaps don't smoke and get within the vin sticker smoke coefficient value .


Many dpf's are not visible to an mot tester .
Click to expand...

So essentially you are of the opinion that it would be worthwhile to have the DPF gutted and ECU remapped? Would the EGR also need blanking off?
 
Yes , a real mpg gain to be had too .

Egr mapped out is electronically disabled and remains shut , blank optional and only really needed if egr is faulty and partially stuck open .



We have had both a German and Korean car dpf and egr off Stage 1 , and there was nothing wrong with either !

Because... because on every car forum everyday is a dpf and egr day .
 
Gazwould said:
"You will have complications with MOT for sure.
Gas and emission readings will prove that."


Simply not true , it's a simple smoke opacity test and properly done remaps don't smoke and get within the vin sticker smoke coefficient value .


Many dpf's are not visible to an mot tester .
Click to expand...
My car doesn't smoke unless pushed but been told that, it would show on MOT read.

Witnessed one test when exhaust gasses were measured when idle and rev'd.

Here's my experience against yours .

As for other mot complications I was implying to are, visual checks of the engine bay and underneath the car.
If you have badly gutted dpf with visible hole welded by 3 year old blind tw@t who call him self "mechanic", they will fail you, no questions asked.
Simples

Sent from H P20 PRO
 
Got the car booked in for DPF gutting and stage 1 remap on Monday. He said they recommend leaving the EGR valve as is to regulate the exhaust gas temperature. To prevent overheating of the engine.
Does that sound right?
I thought as part of DPF gutting you'd also need to switch the EGR off?
He said he's done over 100 of these and they've never had a problem.

Cheers,
 
You might want to consider taking your car in for a force regen and a full service, as suggested by the garage you visited. While it may not guarantee a solution to the problem, it's definitely worth a shot. If that doesn't work, then the DPF clean with fluids injected might be necessary. In any case, it's always better to have the issue diagnosed by a professional to avoid any further damage to your vehicle.
 
I wanted to chime in and offer some friendly advice. Diesel particulate filters require extended periods of high-speed driving to regenerate properly, and your short trips around town may not be giving the filter enough time to do so. Also, I've heard good things about ford dpf cleaning services, so you might want to consider checking them out. They may be able to offer some helpful advice or services that could solve your problem. Lastly, keep in mind that using high-quality diesel fuel like Shell V Power can also help keep your DPF system in good shape.
 
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