50k Service, Dpf Replacement - Why?

[yugs]

At 50k service on my C5 I'm told that they no longer just top up eolys fluid but now also change the DPF. I baulked at this & they did not top up the fluid or change the DPF at the service. Does anyone know why it is necessary to change the DPF? I did not have to on my previous C5, all they did was to top up the additive. Why the change in the service policy? Are there field problems with the DPF's giving too higher pressure drop at high mileages?

Anyone know the reasons?

[kfk]

The eloys you put in the reservoir is added to the fuel tank everytime you fill up. The particle filter will over time become blocked with the eolys fluid which in turn will cause a lack of power and poor fuel economy.

 

All citroens equiped with particle filter have a schedule at some time in there service life that will include the replacement of the particle filter......even your old C5.

[citroeneddie]

I know that they have extended replacement of the DPF on the New Look C5 to 75k miles as opposed to 50k on the previous model.

 

Although I had my system regenerated at 51k as it was showing RISK OF BLOCKED PARTICULATE FILTER, it has started coming back again. May need a replacement quicker than 75k then.

 

I tend to let my fuel tank run nearly empty before filling, so the ELOYS fluid is topping up less often.

 

That's my tuppence worth on the subject then :huh:

[yugs]

:angry: The purpose of the EOLYS fluid (a Cerin-based additive) is to decrease the soot burn-off temperature, I appreciate that the fluid is added to the diesel during tank filling. Periodic filter regeneration is accomplished by post-injection in the expansion phase between 350km & 800km dependant on drive cycle.

My beef with Citroen is that the DPF is not supposed to be replaced at 50K miles, in fact the service book states that it should be "cleaned" every 50K miles & the EOLYS fluid level checked. I have a strong suspiscion that they have had a problem with the DPF's giving too larger a pressure drop as the regeneration system has not been working as it was supposed to. Citroeneddie's experience tends to suggest that I'm right.

I suspect that Citroen, if now replacing DPF's at the 50k service interval, are passing on the cost to the customer (i.e. me, & I'm not too pleased about it).

[citroeneddie]

The RISK OF BLOCKED PARTICULATE FILTER message came on again yesterday, and then I had a loss of power when accelerating a bit later in the day.

 

The car is booked in for November 17th, so I will let you know how I get on.

[citroeneddie]

RISK OF PARTICULATE FILTER BLOCKING is coming on twice a day. Do you think I should get it to a garage sooner than two weeks away?

[yugs]

Don't really know. If a DPF gets particularly blocked there is a small risk of a "thermal incident". I'd be tempted to get it in sooner rather than later.

When you do take it in why not quiz the dealer a bit about how many C5 DPF's they are replacing these days? Good luck, I hope it's not too expensive!

[yugs]

Don't really know. If a DPF gets particularly blocked there is a small risk of a "thermal incident". I'd be tempted to get it in sooner rather than later.

When you do take it in why not quiz the dealer a bit about how many C5 DPF's they are replacing these days? Good luck, I hope it's not too expensive!

[citroeneddie]

Thanks yugs.

 

I am popping to the delaer Wednesday, so they can have another look and see if they need to order anything. Should be carried out under warranty as car is under 2 years old.

[exclusive]

I would just like to say "thank you" for the earlier posts as it has helped me to understand a lot more about this subject. I have had the warning a couple of times on my 5 year old/75,000 C5 and at the service last week the garage said I would need a new filter and new fluid. They will give me a quote on Monday, but it sounded as if it would be around £400. It seems that I have been lucky to get to 75,000 miles before this needed doing.

 

If anyone has had this job done and could let me know what the cost was, I would be grateful.

[exclusive]

Just back from the garage (Citroen approved) with new particulate filter and all the trimmings fitted, including a new ECU ("they don't all re-boot on the earlier models" and, surprise, surprise - mine didn't!).

 

Total cost including VAT £454.09.

[citroeneddie]

Ouch! <_<

[yugs]

:D Blimey-O-Riley! That's painful.

I hope to goodness that when the time comes on my C5 (upto 57,000miles now) I really hope that it is just the "top up diesel additive fluid" warning message that comes on & then I can have a battle royal with the dealership to just top up the fluid & leave the DPF alone or clean it, not replace it.

[kfk]

The reason the particle filter isnt cleaned is because it isnt cleanable......at least not in the dealers.

 

The parts fitted are exchange units and your old unit is returned to Citroen for cleaning. As an additional note, your dealer is unlikely to hold a particle filter in stock due to Citroen imposing a surcharge of £500 per unit and there being so many different types.

 

So, in the event your dealer just tops up the fluid all they are doing is delaying the day you have to have the particle fluid replaced.....when a tankfull of fluid is used it is sufficient to block the filter....thats why both are done at the same time.

 

Should you choose to waste your time and have only the fluid topped up, you will have the aggravation of lack of power and engine management lights coming on together with other warning messages.

 

Of course, and this i my experience, the customer will tell us what they want done, regardless of the advice we give.......and then complain later that we were the ones who didnt do it properly!

 

With regard to the computer being replaced, i only know of one that has failed and that wasnt at particle filter replacement time.......it had done over 200,000 miles though.

[yugs]

Thanks for that information kfk.

Do you happen to know what the stated service life is for the DPF? I would have thought that if the regenerative system is doing its job properly then it should be keeping the DPF in working condition.

I cannot figure out from the service booklet what the stated service life ought to be for the DPF.

Again, I'm confused as to why the topping up of fluid would cause a problem if the regenerative system is doing its job. I have read that the fluid doses the fuel & this is to lower the soot burn off temp during regeneration, so why should topping up the additive effect anything if regeneration is taking place as and when it ought to as one is driving along?

[Guest plum]

Thanks for that information kfk.

Do you happen to know what the stated service life is for the DPF? I would have thought that if the regenerative system is doing its job properly then it should be keeping the DPF in working condition.

I cannot figure out from the service booklet what the stated service life ought to be for the DPF.

Again, I'm confused as to why the topping up of fluid would cause a problem if the regenerative system is doing its job. I have read that the fluid doses the fuel & this is to lower the soot burn off temp during regeneration, so why should topping up the additive effect anything if regeneration is taking place as and when it ought to as one is driving along?

 

Hi to all on this forum, I have been reading as much info as possible on DPF replacment and the oil that has to be fitted with the DPF, Its very clear from KFK that it must not be missed, My C5 is 5 years old, I have had it from new, and at 70,000 miles all my local dealer did was fill the oil and reset the counter as I understood it, ( Cost was around £100 ). Now I am at 130,000, the car diesel additive low sign has returned and my dealer has told me that both filter and oil must be changed together ( Cost will be £489 ) Just for the record the car is still running realy well on the original filter with just the oil change.

 

My Question is ????, where is this very expensive filter, If it is in the exhust where I believe it is, if I went to Quik fit for a new exhust would i be able to run the car without either the oil and the filter.

 

Finaly, I am a resonably capable fitter myself, Why can I not buy the filter and oil from Citroen and fit it myself, Then it would only need the engine managment computer to be reset.

 

I look forward to your reply, and must say I found this techky site very informative

 

Plum