Ash accumulation - P242F

[anonymous-user]

On the way back from West Wales, about 120 miles in the car went into limp mode. Got home, warning light is blocked dpf.

Seems odd that I drove the car in auto and on cruise all the way, both journeys and this happened.

The car is an Infiniti fx30d.

I can turn the warning light off, plan is to go for a higher rpm drive to see if that works.

Any thoughts or suggestions?

[E-bmw]

Just because you have done 2 journeys at speed doesn't mean the DPF isn't getting blocked.

I am not saying that is all you have done, just using all the info you have given us.

There could be an underlying issue that is causing the soot build up, but it is possibly best to get the DPF out & cleaned properly & then get the engine/emissions systems checked out for underlying causes.

Of course it could just me lots of previous failed regens/short journeys.

[anonymous-user]

The car has been used, up untill may this year, for a 60 mile commute daily. (30 each way)

It seems odd that it would block on a long run, although at 70mph it sits at 1800rpm.

Wonder if it can be forced into regeneration?

[86DA]

We used to do a regular 500 mile round trip approx every 6 weeks, it was surprising how many times the car did a regen a couple of days after getting back.

Car is a 2010 C350 Mercedes.

[stevemcs]

If its ash then its the DPF near the end of its life, no amount of driving will clear it.

[anonymous-user]

stevemcs said:

If its ash then its the DPF near the end of its life, no amount of driving will clear it.

Well thats just one of those things then. Off to the garage it goes.

[E-bmw]

Mr Spoon said:

It seems odd that it would block on a long run, although at 70mph it sits at 1800rpm.

But, like I said, it hasn't necessarily blocked on the long run, it has most likely needed to regen on the long run but detected that there is too much ash.

[anonymous-user]

Spoke to a garage who said they can take it off, clean it and if it improves great, otherwise new dpf.

Booked in for next week.

Will update once complete.

[anonymous-user]

Found a new dpf from Germany for the same price as the garage cleaning one, so I'll pick that up instead and sell the used one for cleaning on eBay.

[stevemcs]

Just make sure there are no further issues, but a new dpf was the way to go.

[anonymous-user]

stevemcs said:

Just make sure there are no further issues, but a new dpf was the way to go.

yes. it is what it is, about £2000 all in from Nissan, so the one from Germany is £400 plus fitting here, so even if i need two of them, im still better off taking the one from Germany.

its just a shame that something to supposed to "save the planet" probably ends up using more fuel and emissions through clogging up and replacing than just not having one

[E-bmw]

Mr Spoon said:

stevemcs said:

Just make sure there are no further issues, but a new dpf was the way to go.

its just a shame that something to supposed to "save the planet" probably ends up using more fuel and emissions through clogging up and replacing than just not having one

Yes, but as Steve has implied & as I did earlier, a DPF will only clog up if there is an issue causing it to clog up and if you don't rectify that issue you will be doing the same again.

A correctly running engine used as it is supposed to be will not clog up the DPF.

[anonymous-user]

I can only vouch for 7k of the 88k on the clock....

[Zener]

E-bmw said:

Mr Spoon said:

stevemcs said:

Just make sure there are no further issues, but a new dpf was the way to go.

its just a shame that something to supposed to "save the planet" probably ends up using more fuel and emissions through clogging up and replacing than just not having one

Yes, but as Steve has implied & as I did earlier, a DPF will only clog up if there is an issue causing it to clog up and if you don't rectify that issue you will be doing the same again.

A correctly running engine used as it is supposed to be will not clog up the DPF.

This ^ even something like a small boost leak (split intake pipe etc) or a failed EGT sensor or glow plug issue can cause aborted DPF regens and sadly often also fail to light up your engine malfunction lamp even though fault codes may be stored when plugged into suitable diagnostic kit

[anonymous-user]

new dpf ordered from Nissan. Was expensive. They will also check the car for aforementioned other issues.

[Ranger 6]

It's right to check all the other systems.

I bought a BMW with only 80k miles. My specialist found it needed 4 glow plugs, with the BMW ECU if there's less than 4 glue plugs working, it can't regen, so the whole system goes down and everything gets blocked.

[Zener]

Ranger 6 said:

It's right to check all the other systems.

I bought a BMW with only 80k miles. My specialist found it needed 4 glow plugs, with the BMW ECU if there's less than 4 glue plugs working, it can't regen, so the whole system goes down and everything gets blocked.

Yep the BMW sixes M57 are the similar but far more likely to be the controller rather than the glow plugs IME

[Ranger 6]

No, it wasn't the controller. I trust Will (TWG in Camberley) to know what he's doing

Changed all six plugs to avoid having to go back in.