Hi all, I'm pretty certain the dpf on my 2018 Focus 1.5tdci has cracked. It's outside of the 100,000 mile extended warranty and the MOT is coming up. The reason I believe the dpf has cracked is there is excessive soot around the tailpipe.

Has anyone used a non genuine dpf replacement and if so what results have you had? Would you recommend genuine Ford or non genuine?

Thanks in advance

Check Jimmy's channel (looks like you carried out his finger test!):
https://www.youtube.com/@ORileysAutos/videos
There is a lot of mention of after market DPFs not being as good as OEM.
To avoid future problems whatever you decide, what is the history (any forced regens - not recommended by me or Jimmy)
However this lot have a warranty:
https://bmcats.com/

Thanks for the reply. The car runs fine, and has always gone through regens consistently, however I'm sure it shouldn't have passed its last MOT emissions. It was still within Ford's 100k mile extended warranty for the dpf replacement if it failed on emissions....the MOT was at a Ford dealership. What makes me suspicious is on the print out 4 out of the 6 tests were above the limit, 1 was just inside the limit, the last one was way below the others, as if it was barely revved. Maybe I'm bring overly suspicious.

AFAIK there is only 1 MOT diesel emissions test...smoke opacity. If it passes the quick test (Fast Pass?) that's it (ours is always, so far, well below the limit)

If it needed to have multiple tests and the last passed suspiciously low compared to others and didn't reach the speed (if that is evidenced) you have a good right to be suspicious?

How long ago was last test and if it didn't pass the Finger Test before then IMHO it had already failed.

If another test was done (not MOT related) then that may be relevant but good luck getting anything out of Ford without serious evidence that a Small Claim judge would accept?:

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/law-and-courts/legal-system/small-claims/

The normal suggestion would be to negotiate with garage first (keep a diary and all evidence including previous tests, who said what and when etc):

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/buying-or-repairing-a-car/problems-with-a-car-repair/

Totally agree with everything you say, I think it was cracked before the last MOT, which was last August. I'll take it for an emissions only test we'll before it's due and go from there. It's now on 101500, outside of extended warranty. I'd have no chance trying to get something towards buying a new dpf, which I think retail at around £1600. What do you think about low mileage second hand from a breakers? I know it's probably a lottery getting a decent one.

Cheers for your feedback, I'll cross my fingers.

12 hours ago, Daveb40 said:

What do you think about low mileage second hand from a breakers?

Low mileage DPF's are a bad idea. Generally means they've done a lot of stop start town driving on a cold engine. I would risk a used one from a breakers, but would want one that'd done average or even high mileage for the year.

However...with this being a known problem on this engine, I would expect a used DPF to fail eventually as well. Though it may still be cheaper in the long run than spending £1600 on a genuine new one.

Yeah I agree, that may be the short term solution. I should have kept my 2008 focus 1.8tdci....no dpf