Depollution System Warning Lights Up

[Johndouglas]

Guys is there any permanent solution for DPF, Like if i get rid off this filter what will happen?

That used to be a possibility to get rid of the particle filter, but even then the car's ecu needed to be over-written. In the last two years the practice has been made illegal for road-going cars. Also if your insurers discovered the absence of a filter, they would cancel your policy leaving you facing a charge of driving without insurance.

[arak81]

Arg....any solution then..may be better filter which will not be blocked too frequently...

[arak81]

And one more thing, what is eolys fluid suppose to do..it should prevent the dpf from blocking,isnt it? i have just topped it up recently, so i shoulnt get this warning every so often.

[Johndouglas]

The eolys fluid increases the temperature of the particle filter to help it burn off the collected soot. Over time the filter then gets blocked with ash. Using the wrong type of engine oil can lead to an increase in ash. It's the ash which needs to be removed either by fitting a new filter or removing the old one and cleaning it. DIY can be achieved by an overnight soak in an alkaline solution and then a wash through with a jet wash.

[paul.h]

You would have got the warning on the  motorway due to the higher engine speed and the filter is probably blocked. To understand this, the filter inlet and outlet pressures are measured and when the inlet pressure reaches a high value the warning is given. As the filter blocks up the inlet pressure will rise but at higher engine speeds the exhaust gases increase in volume giving a higher pressure, so the warning is more likely at higher speeds than at lower ones.

 

If you clean the filter you probably will not get the warnings for quite some time until the ash levels build up again. It is also possible the sensor that measures the pressures could be faulty but to check this would need a diagnostic check.

[arak81]

I was hopping that this morning when i will turn the engine off depolliyion sign will be gone off..thats exactly what happened last time..but still its there..so i am thinking to buy OBDII cable to read the code..does anyone know any good code reader cheaper in online like ma iscan ms300?

[paul.h]

If buying a code reader one that gives some live data will be more useful but it will not read data from other than engine sensors so would not read the dpf pressures - for that you would need a Lexia (have a look on the C8 section for info on the Lexia). This reader from Gendan seems good value at £38 https://www.gendan.co.uk/product_FXNT200.html

[arak81]

Has anyone here in this forum got their DPF removed and remapped? I have spoken to couple of mechanics and both of them suggested me to get rid of it and weld it so no one can notices..i know this is illegal practice but what else we can do!

[paul.h]

Before the MOT changes happened February 2014 requiring a check for the presence of the dpf where one was fitted when the car was built, it was common practice to have the dpf insides drilled through or removed and the casing put back on and there are old posts on this forum on this. Then the ecu would be changed so the car does not see the dpf or the eolys system. Since then this is not allowed for cars used on the roads but you may find some people offer to do it for off road cars and charge a few hundred pounds.

 

In your case if you are able, I would remove the dpf and clean it. If you do not have a jet wash then I am sure I read somewhere somebody took it to a garage car wash to do this. 

[arak81]

But this is temporry solution..this thing has to be cleaned every now and then and these will cost me lots of money.

[arak81]

when i turned the car on this evening, depollution signs disappeared...  thanks God...so now my understanding is this sign will automatically go off in due course of time..I don't need to bother too much about it, what does expert says about it? please guys share your views.

[Johndouglas]

I don't want to be a 'wet blanket' but your warning will be back in due course.   The thing to do is to get your filter cleaned or changed.   I believe that some 'new' ones are filters that have been recycled by cleaning.

[arak81]

can anyone advise me how to drive diesel car for not to get dpf blocked after cleaning. like i red somewhere it says driving 2000 - 2500 rpm for 15 minutes will keep this dpf unblocked. is this that easy?

[paul.h]

That may help, but you will be using a lot of fuel to do it if it is not a motorway trip that you need to do. We've had dpfs on a few cars now and not had any bother with them but the cars have been low mileage, up to about 50000 miles and they were used each month for long motorway trips of about 120 miles each way.

 

Once the dpf is cleaned, I would be considering long term to replace the car with a petrol or if you still want a diesel then get one without a dpf which should be possible up to about 2009 year. Our 2008 C4 did not have a dpf and was a 1.6 hdi 110 bhp, I also think the C4 2.0 hdi did not have a dpf. Only problem with the 1.6 hdi is they are prone to turbo failure but frequent oil/filter changes using the correct oil will help to prevent this.

[arak81]

Thank you so much for your advices paul.h. if i go to motorway once a week..what driving style do i have to follow?like how many miles in what gear and how long? I didnt know about DPF before buying this car..i spoke to a garage to change DPF...I need the part number to buy it from eurocarpart shop. Do you know the part number C4 VTR PLUS 1.6HDI 110BHP 2006. I also need to know the correct low saps oil as well..thank you.

[paul.h]

Motorway driving style should be normal at 70 mph, no need to have higher engine revs at this speed. Also check the cabin fan works at all settings and not just at a high speed and the rear window and mirror heaters work. I read on another forum that during a dpf forced regeneration these are used to increase the load on the engine, so if not working they may give a fault code or possibly prevent the regeneration. During a forced regeneration at a dealer the engine will be run at around 4000 rpm but I would not think this is needed when driving.

 

If you are going to remove the old dpf to fit a new one, why not just clean the old one and refit it to see if this works ?

The dpf seems to be Citroen part no. 1731JT but you should check this using the car VIN. A new one is about £160 from this supplier but this is not a recommendation since I have not used them http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DPF-Diesel-Particulate-Soot-Filter-Exhaust-OEM-BRAND-NEW-1731JT-/371317820026

 

The correct oil is listed in the car Warranty and Maintenance service record book but is likely to be Total INEO ECS 5w30. This can be bought on-line and also a Citroen dealer will sell it. It is a full synthetic low saps oil and is around £26 for 5 litres but will be more from the dealer.

[arak81]

Thanks again paul.h..what do you think about this guys? http://dpfspecialistlondon-px.rtrk.co.uk/

I am really convinced after reading their FAQ and seeing the photos.

By the way, I am always using supermarket fuel especially ASDA one.is it recommended or you think i should change it and go to some expensive fuel station?

[paul.h]

What that company is doing is not allowed and would invalidate your insurance as well as causing pollution which the dpf is supposed to reduce. They are removing the insides of the dpf but leaving the shell behind to fool the MOT tester into thinking the dpf is still there. Also at about £480 it is a lot dearer than the new dpf at about £160 or cleaning your existing dpf by jet washing/soaking in an alkaline solution. With the dpf insides removed you would find the exhaust tail pipe would get covered inside with soot whereas now it should be clean metal and is a clue if the insides are not there. Their pictures also show they cut a big hole in the dpf shell and then weld it back, this would be a good clue that the filter no longer has its insides present. Others have reported that the insides are drilled through so that the shell is not affected in any way. If you do decide to have the dpf filter removed, you will need to tell your insurance company of the modification but it may be worthwhile asking them before having it done to see what effect it would have on your insurance since they may no longer want to insure the car.

 

Supermarket fuels should be ok, I usually use Sainsburys since it is the local place. There are no longer BP or Shell refineries in this country so they buy their fuel like the supermarkets but possibly add a few additives.

[arak81]

So, there is no way other than learn to live with it. I don't mind it though. if it gives me serious trouble I will replace it from eurocarpart shop.. at the moment its not that bed. but still I am  looking for some one who can open and clean it in cheap price. my local guy is asking for £100 for the labour.

I am sure ,I have read somewhere that supermarket fuel is not as good as Shell. and it was recommended not to use supermarket fuel to prevent dpf from blocking.

[paul.h]

If you have to pay somebody to do the work for you then £100 does not seem too bad since it will take 1 hour or so to remove it, clean it and then fit it back. Only way to do it cheaper will be to do the work yourself.

[arak81]

I have been to Margate today (72.5miles) and when i was coming back to London that depollution error sign popped up again. I put my all effort to clear the dpf but the sign didn't go off yet. last time this error appeared when i was driving in motorway too and it went off after couple of days when i was driving locally. I am wondering why am I constantly getting this error? do you think i should change my dpf to new one or clean thoroughly? my cars mileage is 63k+ and performance is as usual.     

[paul.h]

Before doing anything I would check the fault code again, just in case it is a different problem. Then if it is the dpf, in your position, I would remove it myself and clean it, so the cost would just be an afternoon and possibly a gasket.

 

On one of the C5 sections there is a pinned topic of members able to help with diagnostic checks, so I would have look and see if any are near you. You might also double check the PAT fluid used was compatible with your car.

[arak81]

I didnt find anyone there from London but I left a message. I dont have any garage or even private driveway to do the job..moreover i dont know exactly where its located and where to start from..do you have any vido for this job?

[paul.h]

The Haynes manual has the details you need, if you do not want to buy a copy they are sometimes in libraries. The exhaust catalyst/dpf is at the front of the engine. http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0857335766/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1446400165&sr=8-1&keywords=c4+haynes

[arak81]

My depollution error message gone away now..so i guess this is coming from my DPF..and i don't want to pay £40 to get the mechanic run Diagnostic test and just to tell me that DPF needs cleaning. I have ordered one basic OBD2 tool which might be delivered tomorrow. I will change the DPF, found one in ebay which is around £134.