My 2013 1.8TDCI 110bhp, when performing a DPF regeneration puffs out a cloud of blue/white smoke. The previous owner fitted a new DPF (aftermarket) and also the wrong one. It being for a euro 4 van. Mine is euro 5. It only puffs smoke out during its regen and after it’s finished it’s ok again and has no smoke at all. I have bought a new DPF I just don’t wanna fit it and ruin it cause it was expensive. He said before the aftermarket one was put on it it never smoked on a regen, but since this it smokes.

Whilst ours (2011) can never see any smoke at all and don't know when regen is occurring I suggest if it passes MOT smoke test then it is OK?
Blue smoke normally oil - is the level OK/increasing Or ?
Waiting for other comments of course...?

I would be interested to know what the difference is between the Euro 4 and Euro 5 DPF on these.  I can't think why the DPF itself would create smoke.

White smoke basically means something isn't getting hot enough to complete the burn fully.  If these use a vaporiser then maybe the vaporiser glowplug is knackered and not igniting the fuel.  If they don't use a vaporiser then maybe the cat isn't getting hot enough to ignite the post-injected fuel from the cylinder.  I don't see how either of those could be affected by the DPF though.  The only thing I can think of is the coating inside the DPF may not be keeping the DPF hot enough to completely burn the soot.  Did the Euro 4's need Eolys additive?  Even if not, the Euro 5 core coating may allow a clean burn at a lower temp, and the PCM would be mapped to that lower temp on the later vehicle.

On 12/26/2025 at 9:56 AM, Shearers said:

Whilst ours (2011) can never see any smoke at all and don't know when regen is occurring I suggest if it passes MOT smoke test then it is OK?
Blue smoke normally oil - is the level OK/increasing Or ?
Waiting for other comments of course...?

Oil level doesn’t really change maybe loses a 100ml if that over a few months. Nothing suggesting it’s burning a lot of it  

So the mystery of blue/white smoke when regen taking place isn't solved unless that leads to the 100 ml loss which is well within normal tolerances?

On 12/25/2025 at 1:08 AM, Jack parker said:

My 2013 1.8TDCI 110bhp, when performing a DPF regeneration puffs out a cloud of blue/white smoke. The previous owner fitted a new DPF (aftermarket) and also the wrong one. It being for a euro 4 van. Mine is euro 5. It only puffs smoke out during its regen and after it’s finished it’s ok again and has no smoke at all. I have bought a new DPF I just don’t wanna fit it and ruin it cause it was expensive. He said before the aftermarket one was put on it it never smoked on a regen, but since this it smokes.

I’ve made a discovery and found the difference between the Euro4 and 5 filters and it’s the size of the filter itself, the euro 5 has to catch more soot so it’s bigger. And maybe cause of the different BHP these vans come with. Mine being the 110bhp whereas others are 90/75bhp 

Thanks for the pictures.  Interesting to see the size difference.  Can't see how that would create smoke though? 

(Also has nothing to do with power, plenty of engines come with multiple power levels but the same size DPFs).

5 minutes ago, TomsFocus said:

Thanks for the pictures.  Interesting to see the size difference.  Can't see how that would create smoke though? 

(Also has nothing to do with power, plenty of engines come with multiple power levels but the same size DPFs).

I think it’s partially blocked cause the dpf pressure was quite high too idle at about 9-10mbar and shot over 130mbar which is what my little manometer maxed out at when revved up. The weight is much different old one is heavy, cause every 3 months or so I’d get an ash and soot accumulation fault, I’d force regen it, it would go and it would be ok again for a few more months. I started the van and no blue smoke when revving it up without it fitted so it must’ve just been a bad dpf giving me grief. Once I’ve fitted the new one I’ll let you know how it behaves the pressure pipe nut snapped in half so I’ve now gotta wait for a new one to come. So I should be fitting it Friday hopefully. 

For anyone following, IMHO, forced regens are generally to be avoided if at all possible.
If the DPF is regularly clogged and not being regenerated normally there is likely a fault causing that which needs attending to first.
Forced regens can overheat and crack the DPF.
I'm with Jimmy:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BwC661PSI0