Dpf Blocked - Clean It?

[DJ_Andy_M]

OK!

My DPF has finally blocked, and the car is refusing to regenerate.

• I have two EML codes, P242F and P2459 which will not clear.
• Dashboard alarms every time I start the car with "Engine Malfunction"
• Car is in limp mode.

So... Do I:

• Get a new DPF.... Genuine or non-genuine?

Or

• Clean it, get the eolys refilled and ECU reset?

My MOT is due to run out at the end of this month, and the DPF being broken is likely to cause it to fail I assume.

Help?

Andy

[Mr Singh]

how many miles has the car done?

what kind of driving are you doing? is it mainly town driving or is it motorway?

i dont think at 2008 MY it would have EOYLS but i could be wrong.

was there an amber warning saying DPF full (i assume that ford have some sort of warning system)

you could take it to ford and ask them to do a forced regen

http://wiki.ross-tech.com/wiki/index.php/009305/P2459

this code tells me that you are not driving it properly or long enough for it to do a regen i.e. mainly stop/start, town driving

http://wiki.ross-tech.com/wiki/index.php/P242F/009263

and this code tells me that there is a possibility that it could be recovered, but it will have to be plugged it to fords diagnostic kit for it to control the regen procedure.

[DJ_Andy_M]

The EML light on due to those codes :) At 75,000 miles I had the car serviced by Ford (I had Engine malfunction when I handed it to them, which they cleared, it then came on again at about 86,000)

Car has now done 86,500 miles. I brought her on 47,000 miles 2 years ago.

I am a DJ/IT technician so I drive a lot of miles. I drive every friday and saturday from Fareham to Guildford and Wimbledon, as well as every day on the motorway to Stockbridge to do a day job.

My mechanic has plugged his snap-on device into the car, but couldn't do anything major for me.

Edit: When handed to Ford with Engine Malfunction the car WAS NOT in LIMP MODE. This second occurrence it IS now in LIMP MODE.

[martyntdci]

try and take it for a thrash, like say 55-60 in 3rd for a few miles, so you give the exhaust system chance to reach optimum regen temps

[DJ_Andy_M]

try and take it for a thrash, like say 55-60 in 3rd for a few miles, so you give the exhaust system chance to reach optimum regen temps

Already tried this....... I had to go from London to Swindon in limp mode and it didn't help. I was on the M4, ragging the t*ts off it, boinging back and fourth like Jeromy Clarkson!

I also try and give her a good "Italian Tuneup" once a month just to be sure.

[Mr Singh]

so you are doing the mileage which is good.

if i recall correctly cars with EOYLS fitted they need the DPF replacing at 75,000 miles, but EOYLS was removed after a certain year and the engine mapping changed for the regen cycle.

when did ford service it? you could try and take it it back to them and say the EML is back on.

[DJ_Andy_M]

I think October/November time it was serviced, however because I haven't ever taken it to them before their documentation only said it was having a 37,500 mile service!?

I've had another mechanic say even though its exceeded 75,000 he can clean it, and fill the eoloys again for me but I don't know how long that will last if its effective at all? Which is why I ask is it worth cleaning or getting a new one.

Mine is a EURO IV engine according to the ETIS pages.

[martyntdci]

so why dont you get the internals of the dpf removed, and then get the car mapped with affecting software removed? i think this costs around 350 mark..... then you will never have to worry about the problem again for the life of the car

[DJ_Andy_M]

so why dont you get the internals of the dpf removed, and then get the car mapped with affecting software removed? i think this costs around 350 mark..... then you will never have to worry about the problem again for the life of the car

You obviously haven't seen the latest surrounding insurance/MOT and doing this. This is not an option.

Edit:

http://www.fordownersclub.com/forums/topic/52535-new-mot-requirements-dpf-andor-catalysts/

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/10573720/DPF-removal-the-facts.html

[artscot79]

I think we should stop advising to do the removal process guys even the removers wont give any gaurantees now its an on you're own head be it job we cant give out radio codes but advise to illegally remove something that despite regs invalidates youre insurance and makes the car illegal to drive

[DJ_Andy_M]

Right I had a "Terraclean" done on my car today by Terraclean South (https://www.facebook.com/TerracleanSouth)

He did a full engine clean using his system, which included a DPF clean for £250 (Standard clean for a Diesel is a lot lessat £108!).

He then did a ECU reset so all the management codes cleared, and told the car effectively it had a new DPF. Forced a regen (the weirdest thing ever when it revvs its self up and down again!) and the car runs like new!

While it was under cleaning, something turbo related came unstuck which wasn't meant to be stuck as well which was a positive thing as well.

The fun part was getting some fuel in her as there wasn't enough for a regen. Smoked out half of Wickham due to the residual cleaning materials left in the engine. Got back, did the regen, clean as a whistle and no smoke.

I'll see how we go now, and this could be the solution to not cutting it away, and also saving on getting a new DPF all together!

Some pictures from the event:

All hooked up and ready to go:

First run before soak, that's just a little bit of crap to come out the back:

Cleaning after soaking:

[ChrisCooper]

The fact that more companies are now offering DPF cleaning, and at reasonable (compared to replacement) prices is very positive for owners of DPF fitted cars. It is a worry with mine although touch wood it's not shown any problems yet despite my less than perfect use (pretty free running A and B roads and some stop start traffic as opposed to lots of constant speed driving). Actually, I'm slightly worried that it's behaving itself too much incase the previous owner has had it removed, given the changes to MOTs.

[DJ_Andy_M]

I think this is the way to go. There are other cleaning methods like taking them off and heating them up or jet washing them.

I almost paid £200 for just a clean up and eoloys fluid, but that was only topped up at last service recently! This for an extra £50 cleans all the crud out the pipes and krannies as well as emptying the DPF!

DPF before clean was 5 k-something, afterwards 0!