DPF ; Please Help!

[320i24v]

Hello!

I am new on this forum and would like to first say Hello!
Secondly, I just have a MK3 2.0 TDI Leon on order and I am beginning to be worried about the particle filter as this is my first diesel car.
I have found out what the DPF is a couple of days ago and I would kindly ask you to help me with any advice, opinions etc. on the maintenance, etc.

I have never owner a car with this kind of filter before, I understood that some people remove them altogether in order to not encounter any issues.

What are your opinions? How should I take care of it in order to regenerate? Remove it? Etc.?

Thank you guys!

 

[TimothyS]

I own a Megane Coupe now for almost 5 years, also has a particle filter. Never had any problems with it but once, needed to go to the dealer to regenerate, took half a day I think.. They told me if you drive a longer distance once in a while it cleans itself out..

 

[ma9mwah]

what kind of journeys do you do? If you regularly do more than 15-20 miles in a single trip then you shouldn't have any issues. Be careful having it removed, as the new MOT rules say its an instant fail if its not there (though how they would test for this is another discussion)

 

[keithjeb]

Hello!

I am new on this forum and would like to first say Hello!
Secondly, I just have a MK3 2.0 TDI Leon on order and I am beginning to be worried about the particle filter as this is my first diesel car.
I have found out what the DPF is a couple of days ago and I would kindly ask you to help me with any advice, opinions etc. on the maintenance, etc.

I have never owner a car with this kind of filter before, I understood that some people remove them altogether in order to not encounter any issues.

What are your opinions? How should I take care of it in order to regenerate? Remove it? Etc.?

Thank you guys!

You should only gave a problem if you're doing journeys where the engine doesn't get up to temp for a while. I haven't monitored it on this one, but on my old volvo it needed to be up to temp for a while before it started regeneration. 20 miles of motorway should be fine, but on mine the oil temp is only just up to 90 in the 22 miles to work as it's slow traffic the whole way. For my money I wouldn't have a dpf diesel if I couldn't bank on at least 50 miles on the motorway each week. But then again if you're not doing that there isn't much point in a diesel in the first place

 

[DeanC]

To be honest it was the old generation cr engine in the mk2s which caused all the horror stories. All the reports are that the new one is and will be fine.

If you need a diesel because you fo long trips you will be fine

 

[JK1]

I was worried at first to. At the moment mine does the 2mile commute to work and back, I take a detour a couple of times a week and I sometimes do a longer journey over the weekend and I've had no issues after 4months.

 

[Asce]

To be honest it was the old generation cr engine in the mk2s which caused all the horror stories. All the reports are that the new one is and will be fine.

If you need a diesel because you fo long trips you will be fine

I think you mean the PD170 fitted to the FR's. But it doesn't matter what engine type, as long as you are doing mainly city driving you will run into issues with the DPF.

 

[320i24v]

Hey guys,

Thank you all for your replies!
I do a lot of rush hour city driving on a Monday to Friday basis, around 13 - 15 miles per day I think, but I will have longer journeys in the weekend.
I guess it is not a must to take it on the motorway? Enough sporty driving for 1 hour or so should be enough, right? Or do you need to be at constant speed for a longer period of time in a specific gear for it to regenerate?
Also, do I have an indicator somewhere that tells me that the DPF has regenerated successfully (or is regenerating)?

 

[DeanC]

I think you mean the PD170 fitted to the FR's. But it doesn't matter what engine type, as long as you are doing mainly city driving you will run into issues with the DPF.

No the CR although the PDs with DPFs suffered too.

 

[Asce]

Hmm wasn't aware of any CR's having issues. But it really depends on where its being driven. If mainly in a city, i personally wouldn't consider a diesel as first choice. Too much to go wrong with not a lot to gain.

I own a Megane Coupe now for almost 5 years, also has a particle filter. Never had any problems with it but once, needed to go to the dealer to regenerate, took half a day I think.. They told me if you drive a longer distance once in a while it cleans itself out..

If i remember correctly, i think Ford and Peugeot/Citroen added an additive in the fuel tank which needed replacing every 100k.

If 320i24v is worried about the DPF, you can get a DPF cleaner that you add in the tank.

 

[320i24v]

Hmm wasn't aware of any CR's having issues. But it really depends on where its being driven. If mainly in a city, i personally wouldn't consider a diesel as first choice. Too much to go wrong with not a lot to gain.



If i remember correctly, i think Ford and Peugeot/Citroen added an additive in the fuel tank which needed replacing every 100k.

If 320i24v is worried about the DPF, you can get a DPF cleaner that you add in the tank.

DPF cleaner? This is a new thing. Have any of you guys used one before?

 

[Asce]

http://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/p/c.../diesel-system-additives/?555770340&0&cc5_862

Ive used a few times in my PD170, does help as it doesnt regen as often.

 

[Jarre]

No the CR although the PDs with DPFs suffered too.

The CR engines haven't really suffered with DPF issues. The PD engines on the other hand do have a lot of issues as the engine wasn't designed to work with DPF

 

[320i24v]

The CR engines haven't really suffered with DPF issues. The PD engines on the other hand do have a lot of issues as the engine wasn't designed to work with DPF

But as I have ordered the 2.0 TDI 184 BHP engine (which is a CR engine) I should not be encountering any problems?
Hopefully?

 

[Jarre]

But as I have ordered the 2.0 TDI 184 BHP engine (which is a CR engine) I should not be encountering any problems?

Hopefully?

Really, no. But you should try and look after your DPF. If you're doing out of town driving most of the time you'll be fine. If you do a large amount of town driving then you may need to take it on a run to ensure the DPF has change to generate. I believe it does tell you in the user manual how to look after the DPF.

 

[320i24v]

Really, no. But you should try and look after your DPF. If you're doing out of town driving most of the time you'll be fine. If you do a large amount of town driving then you may need to take it on a run to ensure the DPF has change to generate. I believe it does tell you in the user manual how to look after the DPF.

Great, thank you!
Will make sure to read it once i will get the car delivered. Can't waaaaait!

 

[dw911]

Really, no. But you should try and look after your DPF. If you're doing out of town driving most of the time you'll be fine. If you do a large amount of town driving then you may need to take it on a run to ensure the DPF has change to generate. I believe it does tell you in the user manual how to look after the DPF.

Great, thank you!
Will make sure to read it once i will get the car delivered. Can't waaaaait!

Your probably better doing a search on here and on the net for some good info about looking after the dpf
The info regarding looking after the dpf in the leon mk3 hand book is very sparse to say the least

 

[Jarre]

You shouldn't really notice it's there, I'd be very surprised if you had issues with it

 

[dw911]

You shouldn't really notice it's there, I'd be very surprised if you had issues with it

+1 on that

On the mk2 I never knew it was there
On the mk3 its only noticeable as the fan seems to run on quite often along with the revs sitting around 1000 on tick over

Don't loose sleep over it, if your worried buy a petrol model

 

[320i24v]

+1 on that

On the mk2 I never knew it was there
On the mk3 its only noticeable as the fan seems to run on quite often along with the revs sitting around 1000 on tick over

Don't loose sleep over it, if your worried buy a petrol model

Thank you! I feel better now! I already had a petrol 1.6 Turbo Vauxhall Astra and I am fed up of averaging 20-25 mpg in rush hour city traffic, so I have decided to go for the Diesel Leon.
Now, the order has been placed, the car was confirmed as build week 10, so I can't wait to get it delivered.
I first said that I do not care about the DPF as it is a new car with 4 years warranty, but I was told the DPF was not included in the warranty list as it has been marked as wearable parts.