DPF blues

[GolfWagon]

After almost 2 years with our MkVI tdi golf wagon, my wife is basically ready to throw in the towel.

She wants reliable, and we obviously don't do enough open road driving for the tdi with a DPF to clear itself. The regens are getting more common, and the way it drives through them is awful, stalling, lurching - less than ideal.

As it stands she won't accept a less than legal fix (dpf delete). So unless there is a practicable solution elsewhere I can see we are going to have to move beyond the tdi and presumably get the tsi version.

I think I know the answer, but is there a ready fix for the tdi beyond the delete?

And is the there anything wrong with moving to the 118tsi? And will they last?

We actually want a car to last for 10 years, it's what we've done in the past & hope at least to do in future - i.e we don't feel the need to change up. We just want a good reliable car for years to come.

[Transporter]

Did you take it to your dealer?
Maybe you have faulty DPF Pressure Sensor, it's a very common fault.

I'd like to also keep our TDI Tiguan for 10 years and am confident that the DPF will go the distance, despite only city driving.

[GolfWagon]

We haven't had the car serviced by the dealer, rather have used J & F MOTORS in Richmond Vic. It was recently serviced, but not sure if that was checked.

Is there a reason to go with the dealer for this query, or should I put it to J & F MOTORS?

My wife has booked the car in with them for this week to have them do a forced regen from the sounds of the conversation she had with them. Do I take it that I should get the pressure sensor checked prior to any forced regen?
Thanks

[getjet]

How do you force a regen? Drive on a freeway at like 4k rpm?

[Transporter]

For that you need VCDS or similar. The instructions are at Ross-tech.

[Transporter]

We haven't had the car serviced by the dealer, rather have used J & F MOTORS in Richmond Vic. It was recently serviced, but not sure if that was checked.

Is there a reason to go with the dealer for this query, or should I put it to J & F MOTORS?

My wife has booked the car in with them for this week to have them do a forced regen from the sounds of the conversation she had with them. Do I take it that I should get the pressure sensor checked prior to any forced regen?
Thanks

Yes, the pressure sensor has to be good in order to do a successful regeneration.

[Umai Naa!!]

Is your preferred workshop using the correct engine oil?

[Diesel_vert]

As it stands she won't accept a less than legal fix (dpf delete). So unless there is a practicable solution elsewhere I can see we are going to have to move beyond the tdi and presumably get the tsi version.

I think I know the answer, but is there a ready fix for the tdi beyond the delete?

And is the there anything wrong with moving to the 118tsi? And will they last?

We actually want a car to last for 10 years, it's what we've done in the past & hope at least to do in future - i.e we don't feel the need to change up. We just want a good reliable car for years to come.

The Euro 5 standard (01/09/2009 onwards) has stricter durability requirements for emissions devices, which has been increased to 160 000 km (up from 100 000 km for Euro 4 and 80 000 km for Euro 3).

In VW's European service schedule, the DPF in a Golf is to be checked at 150 000 km or 180 000 km (depending on the model year) and then every 30 000 km thereafter.

You can use this information as a general guide to the expected lifetimes of emissions devices when choosing your next car.

How do you force a regen? Drive on a freeway at like 4k rpm?

Vehicle speed: 60 km/h or above, held constant.

Engine speed: between 1800 and 2500 RPM.

Gear: 4th or 5th (manual) or sport mode (automatic).

Duration: 15 minutes, or until the DPF warning light goes out.

[GoLfMan]

Is your preferred workshop using the correct engine oil?

J&F Motors is quite a reputable workshop, I dare say they'd be using the correct oil!

Good luck with it.

[Umai Naa!!]

I've heard the same thing about other 'reputable workshops', who may or may not be sponsors of this very site.

But that's a matter for the individuals involved to chase up.

Anyways, modern diesel cars aren't for everyone. The salesman wont go down this path though, as theyd potentially miss out on a sale.

[GoLfMan]

I've heard the same thing about other 'reputable workshops', who may or may not be sponsors of this very site.

But that's a matter for the individuals involved to chase up.

Anyways, modern diesel cars aren't for everyone. The salesman wont go down this path though, as theyd potentially miss out on a sale.

Touche!

It is indeed up to the individual.

[GolfWagon]

Did you take it to your dealer?

Just for me to be clear, I understand the pressure sensor needs to be checked.
But are you saying that is better done by the dealer - i.e. is there warranty or other reason to go there for this matter?
Many thanks for a bit of hope too!

[GolfWagon]

so my wife took it to the local VW dealer service centre today. Told them to check the pressure sensor & the DPF generally.
The car happened to be going through it's manual regen on the way into the service center and stalled about 5 times.

They found no errors logged in the cars computer, and decided that meant there would not be an issue with the sensor & decided the best course of action was some re-programming suggested by their VW manual.

Does this sound right? Will the car magically run from their quick "program" tune?

The bloke did say when I called up to confirm what they'd done that it was known amongst a few tiguans to have the pressure sensor issue, but not golfs. Is there any difference in sensor between them?

[Transporter]

The sensor is the same for all 4 cylinder TDI's. Get the DPF checked for the soot loading by an independent or at least someone with VCDS cable who knows what he is doing. The last thing you want is to be replacing the DPF when the car is out of warranty.

[bluey]

if the sensor and dpf are fine, surely the engine needs a cetane improver - eg moreys diesel smoke killer. please report back if it works as intended....