DPF questions

[Lucas_R]

DPF questions

Update on the DPF Monitor app for iOS Apple devices as discussed in my previous post above. It appears to look and work in an almost identical way that VAGDPF does - which is a good thing. So for those people who are on Apple devices, this is a good option and definitely worth the $10 cost for the app. It also works on Carplay which is great.

Only downside is that you cannot trigger a regen using this app - you can only monitor the DPF behaviour and health.

I will use a combination of this app and Carista going forward, with Carista being able to manually trigger a regen at a time that suits me (eg not when im 5 mins away from home after just spending an hour on the freeway at 100kph).

[Lucas_R]

Questions for those using the VAG DPF app,

1. Anyone noticed -ve mg/km during normal travel? If so, under what conditions? (Excluding a regen cycle)

2. Any difference between measured soot mass vs calculated soot mass over the course of fill/regen cycle?


@Lucas_R: Do you swap back to VAG DPF when enabling a regen via Carista? I noticed Carista only monitors soot mass.

No I dont use VAGDPF anymore because its for Android only and my little cheapy Andriod phone stopped working. I have an Apple phone, so using Carista exclusively for the past few years and just monitoring soot mass and triggering regens when necessary.

I did have a look last night on the App store and noticed an app similar to VAGDPF called DPF monitor for VAG and its $10. So just out of interest I might buy that app and see if it works on my SQ5. Apparently works on CarPlay as well so if thats true it will be quite a handy tool to have.

DPF Monitor for VAG on the App Store

[GreyWolf]

Questions for those using the VAG DPF app,

1. Anyone noticed -ve mg/km during normal travel? If so, under what conditions? (Excluding a regen cycle)

2. Any difference between measured soot mass vs calculated soot mass over the course of fill/regen cycle?


@Lucas_R: Do you swap back to VAG DPF when enabling a regen via Carista? I noticed Carista only monitors soot mass.

[Lucas_R]

Thanks Lucas for finding the link. I knew it was here somewhere. Good (or maybe not so good) to know that I am not the only person with unexpected DPF functions.

Do you use the Carista app with any OBDII Bluetooth connector? E.g OBDLink MX+

Apparently you can use it with a bunch of OBDII bluetooth connectors (such as OBDLink) but I use it with the Carista OBDII dongle.

I recently purchased the newly released "EVO" version which is faster to connect and just faster overall, but I also have the original Carista dongle (actually I have 2x original Carista dongles so if you wanted one you could buy one off me).

Full access to the Carista app is about $85 AUD per year, but you can purchase lesser timeframes if you want (like 1x day, 1x week, 1x month). But, honestly for $85 a year its worth it - even using it once or twice it will pay for itself.

Original dongle: Carista OBD2 Diagnostic Scanner – Android and iOS | AutoInstruct

Newly released EVO version: Carista EVO OBD2 Diagnostic Scanner '-' Android and iOS | AutoInstruct

[GreyWolf]

Thanks Lucas for finding the link. I knew it was here somewhere. Good (or maybe not so good) to know that I am not the only person with unexpected DPF functions.

Do you use the Carista app with any OBDII Bluetooth connector? E.g OBDLink MX+

[Lucas_R]

I can not see any difference between a forced regen or an active regen as it would be the same process. I imagine the only difference for a forced regen would be because the soot % is too high & requires monitoring during the burn.

I was thinking it might be better to enable an active regen based on drivers awareness of the system & known travel route (for burn requirements) as opposed to blindly hoping your next drive matches the burn requirements.

I agree with this entirely. Before I had access to Carista and the ability to trigger a regen at my convenience, I found that if the car was left to its own devices (simply monitoring with VAGDPF) that it would always do a regen when I was 5 mins from home even though I had just spent 90 minutes on the freeway at 110kph coming back from Sydney. It was ALWAYS doing a regen when I was about to stop the car.

[Lucas_R]

In my treasure hunt for other DPF victims, there was someone else on this forum that was towing a trailer on holidays near Hay & had issues clearing the alarm. Wish I had saved it or could find it again.

I think this is what you are referring to: https://www.vwwatercooled.com/forums...ml#post1345971

[GreyWolf]

In my treasure hunt for other DPF victims, there was someone else on this forum that was towing a trailer on holidays near Hay & had issues clearing the alarm. Wish I had saved it or could find it again.

[GreyWolf]

Hi Lloyd,

I suspect you may have noticed the idle rpm raised to approx 1000rpm when sitting at traffic lights. That's about the only indicator you get unfortunately. I have also noticed the fans as Lucas mentions if interrupting a burn cycle.

I am also aware of the requirement to drive with load & longer distances as it is indented to be. I have also had a trailer on driving consistent 3hrs (multiple times) & received the DPF light of death. I think it is possible (unlucky) that you end up doing a few short trips & interrupt the burn cycle.

In my experience, consistently monitoring the DPF sequence, there is minimal passive burn as it does not enter the required EG temps required to complete an efficient burn. (650C) approx 280-300km cycle

I can not see any difference between a forced regen or an active regen as it would be the same process. I imagine the only difference for a forced regen would be because the soot % is too high & requires monitoring during the burn.

I was thinking it might be better to enable an active regen based on drivers awareness of the system & known travel route (for burn requirements) as opposed to blindly hoping your next drive matches the burn requirements.

The system to protect itself is supposed to warn via the dpf light to go for a drive but I have seen it go into limp even before this warning.

[Lucas_R]

Hi Greywolf
During the 140,000 klms that I had my Dpf in my V6 Amarok, I didn’t notice it do a burn at all. However I do a lot of towing and highway mileage.

The thing is that you never know the car is doing a DPF regen unless you happen to switch the engine off while one is in progress - as the engine fans will be running like crazy which I believe is a safety feature to blow air over the engine/exhaust to help keep the termperature from getting too hot. If you do a lot of highway driving then chances are that 90% of the time, you are doing a regen while doing 80-110kph which are perfect conditions.

The only telltale sign on my car is the instant fuel consumption readout which you can only notice if you are idling, it goes from 0.8L/100kph to 1.1L/100KPH which the the additional fuel being injected to heat up the exhaust to get it hot enough to burn off the soot. The exhaust note also changes a bit and there is a bit of a different smell from the exhaust, but once again you can only notice it if you are idling.

As you mentioned, I know Toyota Landcruisers has a DPF burn button fitted to some of the 200 series models for a period of time - but they are the only manufacturer that I am aware of who has done this. Im not sure if Hilux's and Prado's also had this feature, or if it was just the Landcruisers.

[lloydus67]

Hi Greywolf
During the 140,000 klms that I had my Dpf in my V6 Amarok, I didn’t notice it do a burn at all. However I do a lot of towing and highway mileage. Many apps allow you to do a manual burn, however forced burns are likely to shorten the life of your Dpf before you need to replace it.
In answer to your question, no Amarok’s do not have a manual burn button. As you said Toyota only put them in for a limited number of years after a class action against them. Manufacturers don’t want you doing manual burns as it reduces DPF lifespan.
Lloyd


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[Lucas_R]

Yes Carista is the app i use most often and it allows you to trigger a regen while driving. After you press the regen button it takes about 5 minutes before the regen process actually begins.

[GreyWolf]

With the Carista app does it allow a manual DPF regen while driving? This would allow better operation of the dpf as opposed to rolling in the driveway when it is ready to burn. It's surprising while monitoring how often this happens.

Unfortunately it is difficult to get the exact function/initiation of the DPF. I still believe there are software issues similar to below thread.
Newbie Amarok V6

For anyone interested

https://www.vwaudiforum.co.uk/forum/attachment/1/3/2/9/1/0/14956.attach

Not sure if other car brands have the following button. I am led to believe this button was a result of the class action.
Just a moment...


It would be interesting to know what other brands have as standard for monitoring or controlling the DPF without a 3rd party addition.

[Lucas_R]

The apps I use (VAGDPF and Carista) just shows the Soot Mass Calculation value, the Soot Mass Measured value does not populate for my car. So I can only assume it uses the Soot Mass Calculation to determine when a regen is needed.

When the Soot Mass Calculation reaches about 21-22grams the DPF is full and it will trigger a regen. On the Audi it has 2x DPF's that are under the car next to the gearbox which makes them nice and easy to access/remove. There is a cat just after the 2nd turbo, and then the 2x DPF's under the car.

Watch this video which might give you some tips on locating the pressure sensor - skip to about the 4 minure mark:

[GreyWolf]

Hi Lucas_R, thanks for the reply.

In preparation I will find out genuine part numbers. In researching I noticed that the sensor may require calibration (adaption) to the DPF.

Do you happen to know difference between the calculated soot mass vs measured & which one is used to activate the burn?

Out of curiosity does the Audi 3.0L have the DPF after the cat or the combo DPF/Cat?

Cheers.