If the filter was blocked enough to see it with your eyes, the engine would struggle to rev and go back in to limp mode straight away.
You need to rely on sensor and pressure readings.
- Thread starter RonA
- Start date
You need to rely on sensor and pressure readings.
DPFs do eventually become ash loaded, but should last well beyond 100k if treated correctly, as long as there are no other problems.
We've had vans do over 300k on the original DPF.
Depending on the vehicle there are options that avoid complete replacement.
I've used the Tunap on vehicle cleaning solution, which works (it was official method for Vauxhall/GM DPF cleaning under warranty).
Or there are a few companies which will clean your DPF by reverse flowing it in a jig.
The big problem is a blocked DPF is often just a symptom of other problems, and there still is a lack of knowledge in the trade about diesel engines. If I get a blocked DPF, I want to find out why, not just clear the blockage. I'll either drop the DPF or remove a big sensor to see what smoke is coming out the engine when revved. As good as modern engine management systems are, they can't see what's going on, so if the engine is pumping out endless soot, all it sees is the DPF getting restricted.
The likes of Terraclean, although some of the stuff they do can cure problems, my experience of them is snake oil salesmen, who'll tell you cleaning is the cure for everything. They no doubt do have some good franchisees, but if you're actually good at diagnosing vehicles, I very much doubt you'd be wanting to spend your days running a cleaning system through engines.
It's a bit like going to your local tyre/service centre and asking them to diagnose your engine management fault. Some might manage it, other's might play parts darts, and others will just shrug their shoulders.
roblane65
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The building trades not much better in IMHO same thing customers want a silk purse job for pigs ear money .
pawsnizzy
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But, in my experience, invariably receive the opposite
stevethegrease
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I've come to this discussion late in the day, but I have a young friend, now a highly trained ( and paid) motor technician, but with years of 'grass roots' experience behind him. He works in the trade, using all the diagnostic techniques and stuff that do my head in, but anyway, he reckons that virtually all vehicles he's seen that have some persistant DPF fault that is not relatively easily resolved, have some other underlying fault - usually with the injection system, or to do with oil burning or minor head gasket problems, or similar. Just a thought.
premmington
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I would have done! I hate cars...
I have always enjoyed painting/decorating - making things out of wood - gardening/fencing - cutting lawns/hedges.
But if I had bought a van and been an "odd job man". I reckon in the end I would have got fed up with that. (plus I doubt the income stream would be the same as owning a garage).
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My Wife is now retired (early @ 59). But she was a Museum Curator - she loved her job - she really did. The only reason she stopped doing it - was they closed the Museum - if the local one had not been closed with cut backs - she would have continued working (maybe past normal retirement age). When she took redundancy she did concider another job in another museum - but it was 35miles away - she did not fancy the 70mile round trip daily. She was used to cycling to work locally - 1.5miles daily for 30years.
Trevorleach
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I wish I had done something mathematical as I was good at it, but I failed the exams as I could not show how I worked out the answer in the right hand column, they said I had to show how I worked it out so they could see I was doing it the correct way ie not cheating, this was before calculators were allowed, I could just just look at the numbers do a quick think and poof there was the answer.
But in my trade I reckon every person in it is a bit special in the head!
But in my trade I reckon every person in it is a bit special in the head!
premmington
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I like maths/spreadsheets - I like doing the books and that sort of thing - it is one part of running my own business for thirty plus years I have enjoyed.
Frustrated accountants....?
All thou they are all gonna be out of work soon with MTD coming for everybody - they are gonna loose a lot of income stream sadly!
Ubique
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If I get one that is a 'repeat repair' and doesn't have SCR, the first thing I usually check after the basics is injector compensation, cylinder balance and compression. Downstream NOx & O2 sensors giving incorrect values can also trigger DPF warnings. Heisenberg's Principle definitely applies!
Ubique
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I wouldn't have done anything differently - well, maybe a different 1st Mrs.... but then I wouldn't have met the current one so.....
I've had a range of different careers, I was lucky enough to work outside of UK in some very different environments, i've spent weeks at a time on mountaintops at -51deg. C with windchill and sweated briefly in portaloos in an ambient of +55deg. C with everything that goes with that....
Not by choice but I ended going back to the trade I left to do bigger and better (mostly) things, playing catch-up was a steep curve but I managed to become qualified as Master Tech. (or whatever they called it) for four different brand groups. It can be frustrating at times but I've worked hard to become the curmudgeonly old b'stard they expect me to be
Ubique
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I'm pleased to say she didn't take a penny from the joint account, just everything in front of it.....Your 1st Mrs doesn't even count in this thread ! Its a mistake often made and everyone has options in that department , well dependent on the cost involved
a like paying for your own re training
Ubique
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Well she scanned my signature to use on documents transferring the houses etc. into her name whilst I was out of the country so yes, don't show women how to used a document scanner or tell 'em what the password is for the shared folder are a couple of lessons I've learned from that episode.
On a positive note, it did make me a better marksman.
