Recommendations for new DPF, injectors and EGR cooler.

[BillyCool]

Hi Team,

My car had reached that point where it needs some TLC.

2.0 tdi FR ST 184 bhp CUPA engine code. 156,000 miles.

New DPF - it's knackered. Car regens every 30 miles and garage says it's toast.
New EGR cooler and valve (my choice to replace whilst DPF being done as they are prone to fail).
New injectors - #1 is over fuelling a lot and #3 isn't much better. Get lots of engine wobble at idle.

I'm invested in the car and plan to keep it, run it into the ground and bury it. I was expecting maybe a £5k bill for everything. However.

Quoted today:

DPF - genuine £3,345+VAT plus 6 hours labour
Cooler - £400+VAT and some labour but not much as the cooler is taken off anyway to get to the DPF.
Injectors - £1480+VAT plus fitting

Total is about £8k. Much more than I expected.

DPF price is massive. Garage said it's a dealer part and fully warrantied. They have just sourced an OEM one that they are happy to fit and that is £1100+VAT, more in line with my expectations.

I'm going to delay the injectors until DPF is done.

Are there any good OEM brands for DPF's? Autodoc has a few but I have no idea what's good. I just want to understand the price differences.

Also injectors. Any ideas whether it's worth trying to save a few £ or go with the fully branded/warrantied ones.

Thanks.

 

[SuperV8]

Ouch - my 150,000+ mile CUPA is regening around 70 miles so i'm also looking at DPF options!
Luckily our DPF is able to be split (later versions are welded!) - 04L131606EX it's actually a combined DPF & CAT - which is one of the reasons the OEM part is so expensive. There are aftermarket companies selling just the DPF part - and large band clamp.

For example:

https://www.autodoc.parts/nap-cleanair/21616647

Which is using the more expensive silicon carbide.

I have also been musing if I can clean my existing DPF - it's just such a pain to get to:

Regarding egr cooler.
04L131512D

was replaced circa 2016 by
04L131512BQ

Which went from rectangle holes - to round. These egr coolers are subject to large thermal stresses - and would think the round version copes with this better? Personally I would only change this if it was leaking.

Regarding your injectors - have you tried diesel fuel system cleaners/additives?
OEM number 04L 130 277 AE = Bosch 0 445 110 470
Also I would inspect your dogbone mount.

My next job is changing my cylinder head cover as it has a slight mist around the back edge - and I think it is letting too much oil through as I can see oil traces into the turbo. - which might be contributing to my oil consumption?
And I'll also be changing my air to water intercooler as have noticed a leak (another common problem!)

 

[R3k1355]

Should be able to remove the DPF and have it properly cleaned on a machine, regain 90% of original capacity.

They all need it eventually, on-car cleaning is ok but only works to a point.

 

[R3k1355]

This is how a properly knackered DPF looks on a cleaning machine.

5.146 Aufrufe · 26 Reaktionen | Went out to Phils 2012 Vivaro which had over 300 mbar at idle on his dpf due to a broken boost pipe . Van had also been due a service to did that as well . Back on the road and back to work within 24 hours . | Dpf Cl

Went out to Phils 2012 Vivaro which had over 300 mbar at idle on his dpf due to a broken boost pipe . Van had also been due a service to did that as well . Back on the road and back to work within...

www.facebook.com

 

[cuthound]

Get it Terracleaned

Got my DPF cleaned out - Page 1 - General Gassing - PistonHeads UK

 

[BillyCool]

Thanks for the replies.

@SuperV8 They did say the CAT wouldn't need replacing so I'm not sure if they'll do just the DPF. They said a lot of aftermarket stuff was rubbish.

My DPF was chemically cleaned on the car before Xmas and it's not done much. Can't comment on how good a removal and a clean would be. For peace of mind I'd rather have a new one.

I'm changing the EGR cooler BEFORE it starts to leak . It's a known issue and since they remove it to get to the DPF most of the labour is already paid for. Might as well get it done, as well as the EGR valve. I actually want to inspect the old ones and see how gunked up there are.

The injectors are on hold until the DPF is done and I can sell another kidney to pay for it. The car runs on BP Ultimate and since 2 of them are over fuelling and not blocked I'm not sure if a cleaner would help. I can stick some through and see what happens. It also had a carbon clean 4 weeks ago and that highlighted the injector issues.

It's in for the DPF/EGR tomorrow. See what it's like after that. I suspect the injectors will still need doing.

The joys of car ownership.

 

[BillyCool]

Should be able to remove the DPF and have it properly cleaned on a machine, regain 90% of original capacity.

They all need it eventually, on-car cleaning is ok but only works to a point.

Garage suggested it's knackered. For the time and labour to remove and refit I may as well fit a new one. Can't be doing with the aggro!

 

[SuperV8]

Thanks for the replies.

@SuperV8 They did say the CAT wouldn't need replacing so I'm not sure if they'll do just the DPF. They said a lot of aftermarket stuff was rubbish.

My DPF was chemically cleaned on the car before Xmas and it's not done much. Can't comment on how good a removal and a clean would be. For peace of mind I'd rather have a new one.

I'm changing the EGR cooler BEFORE it starts to leak . It's a known issue and since they remove it to get to the DPF most of the labour is already paid for. Might as well get it done, as well as the EGR valve. I actually want to inspect the old ones and see how gunked up there are.

The injectors are on hold until the DPF is done and I can sell another kidney to pay for it. The car runs on BP Ultimate and since 2 of them are over fuelling and not blocked I'm not sure if a cleaner would help. I can stick some through and see what happens. It also had a carbon clean 4 weeks ago and that highlighted the injector issues.

It's in for the DPF/EGR tomorrow. See what it's like after that. I suspect the injectors will still need doing.

The joys of car ownership.

Sounds a good plan, I have been looking into changing the EGR at a later date 'just in case' - and is still a ball ache of a job - so wise to do it at the same time.
Would be interesting to see photos of yours.

Yes, I can't see those on vehicle 'DPF clean's' doing much for a long term fix - maybe help to turn the DPF light off short term for an MOT!

Has your DPF light ever come on? mine has never come on.

Speaking to an expert diesel guy I work with about injectors - and he said injectors can be cleaned and greatly improved - however there is a risk of the cleaning also loosening varnish which could also be masking a worse issue so you could make them worse! As you say - the joys of car ownership!!

Guess you're also due your second cambelt soon?

 

[BillyCool]

Sounds a good plan, I have been looking into changing the EGR at a later date 'just in case' - and is still a ball ache of a job - so wise to do it at the same time.
Would be interesting to see photos of yours.

Yes, I can't see those on vehicle 'DPF clean's' doing much for a long term fix - maybe help to turn the DPF light off short term for an MOT!

Has your DPF light ever come on? mine has never come on.

Speaking to an expert diesel guy I work with about injectors - and he said injectors can be cleaned and greatly improved - however there is a risk of the cleaning also loosening varnish which could also be masking a worse issue so you could make them worse! As you say - the joys of car ownership!!

Guess you're also due your second cambelt soon?

Garage said a lot of the EGR coolers will have a new EGR valve attached anyway, so it's changed by default.

I do hope to get some photos. I intend to take the EGR cooler and valve away with me if I can.

Never had a DPF light come on. Car still completes a full regen, even if it does it every 30 miles!

Can't be arsed to faff with the injectors. Probably just bite the bullet and get them done.

2nd cambelt was done Oct 2024. The 1st change was done early due to the stupid electronic "switchable" water pump failing. Was replaced with a non-switchable version and never had an issue. More VAG witchcraft.

 

[R3k1355]

If it's still able to fully regenerate it's not ******, it's just full of ash. To be honest you could go for an on-vehicle clean and get some good improvements.
I've heard the Terraclean DPF one is best, find a local garage that uses their solution.

Instead of 8 grand you'll be in just a couple hundred quid

 

[BillyCool]

If it's still able to fully regenerate it's not ******, it's just full of ash. To be honest you could go for an on-vehicle clean and get some good improvements.
I've heard the Terraclean DPF one is best, find a local garage that uses their solution.

Instead of 8 grand you'll be in just a couple hundred quid

Thanks - but I've had an on car clean and it didn't work. The garage says it's knackered so I'm replacing it. I can't be @rsed to mess around with it any more.