Exhaust Catalysts And Particulate Filters On Diesels - Mot Changes

[paul.h]

The MOT has been changed to include a check that the exhaust catalyst and diesel particulate filter (dpf) are present if they were installed as standard when the car was built. If they are missing the car will fail the MOT. There is no mention about the engine having to meet any emission standards relevant when the car was built or meeting the smoke test, only if they were installed when the car was made. The wording in a recent VOSA MOT Special Note is as follows:

 

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Item 1: Presence of Catalysts and Particulate Filters on Diesel Powered Vehicles

On 16 February 2014 Section 7.1 of the inspection manual will be amended to include a check for the presence of catalysts and particulate filters on diesel powered vehicles. Any vehicle where a catalytic converter or particulate filter is missing where one was fitted as standard will fail the test.

 

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Many have had the dpf removed or knocked through when it has been giving problems or it was due for replacement. In these cases the dpf and its eolys system will need to be refitted and if the software was modified it will need to be reverted back. On an old car it may make the car worthless so beware of cheap diesels for sale where the dpf may have been removed.

 

This also raises other problems, with a dpf removed the car could not be classed as up to MOT standard and any insurance may no longer be valid.

[paul.h]

There is a good article on this in the March 2014 Car Mechanics. The need to keep the dpf in good working order is part of a European Directive 2010/48/EU which the UK government is obliged to enforce. Previously the UK had decided not to implement the directive but this has been raised in Parliament several times until VOSA stated in December 2013 the dpf check would become part of the MOT from February 2014.

 

Car Mechanics contacted insurance companies and the Direct Line group  stated they would decline insurance where a dpf had been removed and the Association of British Insurers said motorists would need to consider the consequences of not holding valid insurance where the dpf had been removed.

[paul.h]

A simple check to see if the dpf has been removed or its insides knocked out, is to look at the exhaust tailpipe. The inside of the pipe should be clean metal with no soot covering, based on the mark 1 and mark 2 2.2 hdi C5s I've had with dpfs.

[Rookie2]

Just to add my twopenneth to this discussion if I may.

The MOT inpsection is only an external visual one. The MOT tester (any MOT Tester) is not allowed to remove ANYTHING fro m the vehicle to aid their inspection. Now wheel covers, trims, sill covers, underbody plastic panels not even grease applied to brake pipes.

 

So the FAP inspection is merely an external visual, which shows them absolutely nothing.

Another observation worth noting is that the majority of cars on UK roads are used in driving situations which do not suit the DPF, ie, stop start town driving. Many of them have DPF which is not working because it is blocked up with unburnt soot, London I believe is one of the worst places in the UK for those conditions to exist.

 

In 2015, commercial airlines dumped 781 million tonnes of co2 onto this planet, yet we only hear about how the motorist is causing the problems, even when the production of the DPF and the disposal of it in itself causes serious ecological problems. Then of course there are the engine manufacturers who's computers have allowed their vehicle owners to avoid £Bns in emission penalties.

 

We have the military all over the world firing lord knows what inside their  munitions whenever it takes their fancy (Including the UK and Europe), yet it is alledged that it is little old Mr Jones driving his Mondeo that is the real threat to the world

 

Surely if we are to be ecology aware then it should be right across the board and in every boardroom and every country worldwide?

[coastline taxis]

Cant argue with any of that rookie other than if the cat/dpf shows signns of having been cut open/altered or removed then it can fail

[Rookie2]

Hi

Don't get me wrong, I am not against cleaning the planet up, but why is it always the fault and the duty of the man in the street,

The yanks are blowing the tops off the appalachian mountains to get at the coal beneath them.

The Chinese are openong the equivalent of 1 Drax Coal Fired Power Station every month.

The military around the world are firing depleted uranium shells and Lord knows what else in their munitions and landfill sites around the world are dumping all sorts of evil chemicals.

 

It just really gets under my skin when it is the average guy in the street who must shell out to adhere to rules made up which are ill thought through, unfair, unworkable and useless.

 

Cheers

[coastline taxis]

i can answer that very easily for you its calles TAXES or in simple terms blatant robbery

[paul.h]

Simple really, it is easy to get money out of the average man/woman in the street since you have no choice.

[paul.h]

The BBC have reported the MOT test is going to change again in May 2018 to better detect if a DPF has been removed so likely in a few months we will know what the changes will be. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-41761864 If it will detect if a DPF has been removed/drilled through then there could be a glut of diesels for sale before next May so people need to be careful if buying a car.

[paul.h]

Some details on the May 2018 MOT changes for diesels and exhaust smoke tests. The car will be smoke tested to its original design or default values if a value is not given on its weight plate https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mot-changes-from-may-2018-guidance-for-mot-testers/diesel-vehicle-emission-limits The car will fail if there is any smoke from the exhaust and also fail if there is any sign of a DPF being tampered with.

 

Beware if buying a diesel car that has not yet passed the MOT after 20th May 2018 since it might not pass later if the DPF has been removed.