Your DPF experiences: positive and negative

[mercmancdi]

When you say high revs, what do you mean?

At 70mph in top my engine is turning at 1750rpm. Would I need to change down?

Yes I would drop a gear ,, but you need not rev the guts out of it ..

 

[Carabosse]

Thanks guys. I'm feeling a little more reassured now.

Sounds like getting rid of the DPF is not something that needs to be a priority, i.e. I can live with it for a while and see how I get on. I think I read too much into some forum threads on here.

I'm still waiting for my car to be put back to standard: GAD need some gaskets for the new DPF which they removed but which gave (so far) insoluble transmission problems. At least I'll have a sparkling new DPF and that should stay clean for a while.

The other mods (EGR disable, power remap etc) I'm not really that fussed about. I was only having them done because of the DPF removal I'd rather my car was put back to 100% standard.

 

[Adamteddy]

Hi Carabosse,

Small aside but I had a Volkswagen Passat 170Tdi 2007 with a DPF and in the end I had to get rid of it because it was always trying to regenerate. I only did short journeys with the occasional 180 miler and I felt like I had to rag it everywhere if I was in town to try and heat up the filter. If you genuinely only do short mileage then I would get a petrol car. I now have a W211 E280 petrol and love it. Fuel consumption is almost half the Passat but I don't have any concerns about Turbos or DPFs anymore.

I believe new Mercedes DPFs have some kind of heating built in that try and get the whole system up to temperature quicker, at least that is what a salesman told me when I inquired about a diesel. I think most dealers selling new cars ask about your driving habits and will dissuade you from a diesel if you only do short distances.

Loads on the web about the whole VW/Audi group DPF issues.

 

[Scoob]

Hey all,

I have a C350 CDI - same engine ECU etc. as Carabosse - and while I generally do longer journeys of 25+ miles I don't drive that often at the moment, Additionally, I tend to be "driving miss Daisy" as I really like the relaxed style and how it makes me feel. Likely this is why I regularly see over 50mpg on journeys, despite my average speeds rarely going over 32mph.

Now, I do drive the car harder every so often, but usually only for a quick blast and only if I'm 100% in the mood. I've spent weeks doing nothing but pottering, could this potentially "hurt" my DPF's ability to regen?

Re: ECO light staying Amber being a potential indictor of DPF goings on... I've had my ECO light be green for miles, only to turn Amber just as I get home and reverse up my driveway. Hopefully that's not a regen just starting, as the car might then not be used for a couple of days. Additionally, EVERY time my car has been into Merc - for gearbox software update and parking brake - the ECO light has stayed amber for an extended period afterwards.

Anyway, I want to just potter in my car in "E" for extended periods. I bought this car as a relaxed cruiser, though of course it has the potential to be quick if I so choose. The last thing I want is to feel obliged to have to drive harder regularly so my DPF doesn't become problematic.

I think, based on what I've read, my DPF has already triggered some sort of forced regen a couple of times now. I know this is done by adding up to 20% (gasp!) extra fuel, causing the car to be somewhat more gruff and less refined for a while - something I've experienced - along with this I notice my MPG suddenly drop quite markedly for the exact same journey driven in the exact same way. During this I've not noticed the ECO light stay Amber mind.

You know, there's so little concrete information on the DPF and how it works. Even the Merc techs don't seem to know that much. Being a potterer however I am aware that I'm not helping the DPF do it jobs. I think as soon as I can get rid, I will get rid.

Ok, ramble over

Scoob.

 

[Carabosse]

I switch ECO off every time I start the car! I know I don't drive particularly economically - combination of pottering and flooring it! Lol!

However, I was used to getting 23mpg in my previous car. To be able to get 35mpg+ in the C207 is, to me, quite amazing in a car of this power, weight and quality.

 

[Carabosse]

Should have added: how do I know the DPF is clogging?

I realise the check engine light will come on but that could be almost anything?

 

[discoking]

As my own aside, I think there is an impression out there that any mods invalidate warranty. In fact the manufacturer has to prove the mod caused the problem, whatever it may be, before being able to wriggle out of liability.

From experience in dealing with manufacturers and after market warranties I would say it would the owner that would have to prove the mod didn't cause or have a say in the problem and not the other way round,and that usually involves hiring engineers/experts at considerable expense to try and prove a point not to mention the time period involved while the dispute goes on.

 

[Carabosse]

From experience in dealing with manufacturers and after market warranties I would say it would the owner that would have to prove the mod didn't cause or have a say in the problem and not the other way round,and that usually involves hiring engineers/experts at considerable expense to try and prove a point not to mention the time period involved while the dispute goes on.

Any tuner worth their salt will argue the toss direct with the manufacturer. That is why tuners have insurance in case it is unsuccessful and they have to pay for the repairs.

I would never get an after-market warranty so can't comment: I've have only ever had extended warranties from the manufacturer.

 

[ianstaley]

I only have 2 negatives for the dpf on my sprinter,it is on the motorway every day but still blocked up,ok it was at just over 800k but cost just under £1800 to have it replaced only for it to be stolen two weeks later along with the rest of the exhaust with a cost of £2200 to be replaced inc a guard

Sound like an inside job that, garage replace the pipework and a low life meco tells his mate he knows where he can get a sprinter exhaust complete for cheep.

 

[roop_the_loop]

I've done 10k miles in my E220CDI, and the DPF hasn't made itself known in any way whatsoever. So I guess that's about as 'positive' as it can get, the fact that you don't notice it's there. (Oh yeah, and of course the air is sweeter around where I live and the birds are singing brighter. Bastards, wake me up 5am every morning...)

I do a mix of different driving, at least half an hour on fast A-roads or motorways most days, and maybe once a fortnight a longer stint of fairly fast - but obviously within speed limits (duh!) - motorway driving. This probably allows the system to clear itself as intended.

My mate meanwhile had a Jag XF, and had constant trouble with the DPF. He would mainly drive in the city, in just about the worst traffic imaginable so a lot of idling, and only once a week or so an hour on the motorway. In theory that should have been just about OK, but at least once a week the car went into limp mode, and then spent a day at Jag. When he got it back, sometimes it would be OK for a few days, but a couple of times it went back into limp mode on his way home! All the work was done under warranty of course, but because they just couldn't figure out what was wrong with it, it eventually became too much and he swapped it for a petrol version. (How he put up with it for 6 months, I'll never know! Ditto, why he chose a diesel in the first place!)

 

[gawdzinner]

I log my DPF regens and therefore I can forecast the next odometer reading that a DPF regen is scheduled to occur. I then normally do a highway drive and let the regen occur. For the last regen, I missed doing my trip and instead I was doing stop and go city driving for a few KMs. The regen does not occur during stop and go city driving. I finally did my highway trip and the scheduled regen started as expected, albeit 80KM after it was due.

 

[Davidgoose]

Calling all diesel owners whose cars have a Diesel Particulate Filter!

It looks like it may be some while before I can get rid of my DPF and, in fact, I am starting to wonder whether it is worth bothering anyway.

I would like to hear your personal experiences... good and bad.

Also if anyone can give me some idea of whether my DPF is likely to work as it should (regeneration etc) that would be very much appreciated.

Just to give you an idea of my pattern of driving: every week I do maybe four or five trips of 2-4 miles from start to stop engine; I also do about four motorway trips of 7-8 miles each incorporated in a total journey of approx 16 miles. Occasional longer trips. My annual mileage is about 8000.

 

[John Laidlaw]

^ is there anything youre trying to say? Are you trying to resurrect this thread or are you adding to it- it's 4+ years old. Welcome by the way !

 

[Davidgoose]

My 2014 e250 went into limp mode today and the engine warning light illuminated. I have a universal code reader, which read Vacuum leak.

I was of the opinion that it was the DPF, causing back pressure. I know that there is a huge about of information out there about DPF's and removal, but I don't think it's necessary and I fixed mine rather quickly and easily. I was a qualified technician admittedly some years ago, but the fix isn't a trip to the dealer. I simply purchased 2 Wynns Dpf cleaners. Poored one into the fuel tank which was 1/4 full. The second I poored into a used spray bottle. I then removed the top turbo induction pipe, (simply one jubilee clip and pulled it away from the intake) I then started the engine and held the revs at 2000 rpm with a stick against the drivers seat and Acc pedal. I then carefully squirted 3 sprays into the intake pipe, let the revs increase and when they returned to 2000 rpm, I squirted 3 more and so on. BEING CAREFUL not to squirt too much to cause the engine to over rev. This took 10 minutes or so to empty the contents of the DPF cleaner. On completion, I deleted the fault code and the car is now perfect. Seems to have increased performance too. This is an easy fix for the DPF issues on the e250 and as long as you don't spray more than 3 squirts before allowing the revs to settle, its a great cheap fix.

 

[Davidgoose]

I was trying

^ is there anything youre trying to say? Are you trying to resurrect this thread or are you adding to it- it's 4+ years old. Welcome by the way !

I was trying to add a post in relation to the DPF issues and offer a helpful fix

 

[John Laidlaw]

I was trying
I was trying to add a post in relation to the DPF issues and offer a helpful fix

Aha, get that now, thanks!