Can I drive my car with DPF flashing

Can I drive my car with DPF flashing

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Discussion

ajdriver84

Original Poster:

5 posts

275 months

Sunday 25th November 2012
quotequote all
I haven't been on here in ages, so apologies for asking for some advice without contributing for the past few years.

Yesterday evening my Mazda 6 2.2d Sport 185 (2009) made a quiet beep then about a mile later, the DPF light started flashing. The handbook states its because the particle filter needs attention. I find this strange as it never had a constant DPF light which suggests you drive at 2,000 revs for 20 mins to clear it. Also, it is NOT in limp mode and performance seems normal. So I'm thinking it could just be telling me my service is due? It would be due about now but I had it done when I bout the car 5 months ago by an independent.
Is there easy way to tell if its a service reminder or the expensive diesel particle filter fault?

cheers

Alan

liner33

10,642 posts

201 months

Monday 26th November 2012
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On vag cars the light means the DPF needs to empty or regenerate and that you havent been driving in a way to allow that to happen normally so you need to make a special effort ie up a motorway for a couple of junctions etc


JuniorJet

417 posts

159 months

Saturday 1st December 2012
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on VAG cars;

yellow icon = warning, drive consistantly at above average revs until light goes out.

red icon = change the filter

Locknut

653 posts

136 months

Sunday 2nd December 2012
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liner33 said:
On vag cars the light means ...
Not very relevant to a Mazda.

So far as I'm aware, on Mazda diesels a continuous light means the DPF needs to regenerate and should be driven at more than 2000RPM for twenty minutes or more.

A flashing light means that the engine oil has become contaminated with diesel fuel and should have the oil changed urgently.

What Mazda don't tell you is that oil contaminated by fuel can cause a diesel "runaway" which will wreck the engine. This happens because the Mazda regeneration is brought on by injecting fuel on the exhaust stroke so that the raw fuel goes to the DPF and ignites, thereby purging the filter. The problem is that some of the fuel gets past the piston rings and contaminates the engine oil.

Some other makers also use this system but Mazda have developed a reputation for runaways and wrecked engines.

ajdriver84

Original Poster:

5 posts

275 months

Sunday 2nd December 2012
quotequote all
Thanks for the advice. Turns out it was "service due" warning. Its done 76k and should have had a major service at 75k,but I changed the oil, oil filter etc when I bought it 6 months ago.

thanks

GJG02

7 posts

131 months

Friday 5th April 2013
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Hello all, newbie here,great site here , have a problem with dpf on my Mazda 6 diesel sport 2.0 , 143 bhp,the light is continuously flashing! My car still pulls like a train no limp mode! Have read on site of other users of this being a service light? Is there any truth in this don't fancy going to the stealer to get stroked for several ££££££ s. would be very glad for any response from all on this matter , as concerned not to blow the motor , thanks again, GJG02.

Sir Fergie

795 posts

134 months

Friday 12th April 2013
quotequote all
Locknut said:
Not very relevant to a Mazda.

So far as I'm aware, on Mazda diesels a continuous light means the DPF needs to regenerate and should be driven at more than 2000RPM for twenty minutes or more.

A flashing light means that the engine oil has become contaminated with diesel fuel and should have the oil changed urgently.

What Mazda don't tell you is that oil contaminated by fuel can cause a diesel "runaway" which will wreck the engine. This happens because the Mazda regeneration is brought on by injecting fuel on the exhaust stroke so that the raw fuel goes to the DPF and ignites, thereby purging the filter. The problem is that some of the fuel gets past the piston rings and contaminates the engine oil.

Some other makers also use this system but Mazda have developed a reputation for runaways and wrecked engines.
which would all explain Mazdas apparent laziness in sorting out the issue - "the car must be operated in accordance with manufacturers recommendations" - meanwhile in the handbook - Mazda will no doubt highlight that the flashing light means diesel has got into the oil. So Mazda will no doubt say if you keep driving with the light on - you are no longer operating within Mazda recommendations.

What a mess of a situation for owners rage - the percentage of repeat business for Mazda diesels must make very interesting reading for all the wrong reasons.

Surely Mazda will have to consider outsourcing their diesel engine and DPF systems to another car maker - since they clearly aren't able to make a diesel engine that can be trouble free into high mileages.

Maybe the order with Mr PSA should be topped up to include bigger engines as well as the 1.6 HDI

Shame the new 6 looks fantastic - but with all this been spoken about - who would buy one

Sir Fergie

JonnyFive

29,387 posts

188 months

Friday 12th April 2013
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We've plenty of DPF Diesels past 100,000 miles.

Drive them right, service them right, they're fine.

People get their car serviced at Non-Mazda dealers who don't complete the service properly and end up fking their cars.

Sir Fergie

795 posts

134 months

Friday 12th April 2013
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JonnyFive said:
We've plenty of DPF Diesels past 100,000 miles.

Drive them right, service them right, they're fine.

People get their car serviced at Non-Mazda dealers who don't complete the service properly and end up fking their cars.
Well thats a reasonable point - but my counter argument to that is that other cars seem to get along a lot better - you don't hear of these kind of things with Mk 4 Mondeos for example.

Fairly sure theres a poster on here with a 3 2.2 whose had to change the oil every 7500 miles due to the oil levels raising due to contamination.

When you say "weve plenty DPF diesels past 100,000 - is that DPF diesels in general or Mazdas specifically".

They (Mazda diesels) do seem have a very bad reputation and in the most unreliable cars youve owned thread there was 2 Mazda 6 diesels nominated for the most unreliable list.

The other issue ive heard relating to DPF Mazdas is that the DPF doesn't always work even when the conditions are right - again another PHer (not one of the 3 mentioned earlier) put up a thread stating for people to beware of the Mazda diesels - apparently Mazda were trying to claim that the DPF issues on that persons sons car were due to it not been used in a suitable manner - ie too much short journeys.

Yet the car in question was used for regualar long drives up the motorway.

And in anycase - DPFs aren't the only issue Mazda 6 diesels suffer from - particularly the older 2 litre diesels - big end bearings, turbos, injectors etc etc.

I suggest going onto the Irish website Done Deal (an online website) - keying in Mazda 6 diesel and seeing how often you see the following comments in the advertisments "new engine", "new injectors, clutch, "needs engine work", "knocking from engine" - whats more - someones actually advertising DPF removals on the basis that the Mazda 6 diesel has one of the most troublesome DPFs on the market.

i doubt the Mazda DPF issues are down to owners "fcensoredking the cars up", i mean its a normal diesel car - what the fcensoredk is so special with the Mazda that all the other makes can be driven and serviced in a normal mannner yet - the Mazda throws a hissy fit if you don't service it to the supposed amazing standards a Mazda garage will.

And 100,000 miles isn't anything to get excited - when i start seeing them at 200,000 miles without issues - i will get a bit more excited.

Sir Fergie

Superhoop

4,676 posts

192 months

Saturday 13th April 2013
quotequote all
The first generation fitted with the 2.0 DPF (05-08) cars could be problematic, although if they're maintained well, less so. The problem arises when the repairs to them are attempted by people who don't know or understand the system, which leads to huge bills when they just throw parts at them unnecessarily. Looked after well, it's not as bad as the Internet would have you believe.

The 2.2 engine suffers virtually no issues at all with The DPF, and as for magic servicing, there's nothing special being done by Mazda dealers other than using the correct low ash oil, and resetting the oil data at service. The PCM monitors mileage, time and number of regenerations - when the limits are exceeded (approx 1000 miles over mileage on service, 13 months or a predetermined number of regenerations) the DPF light is illuminated. The biggest problems are independents either not resetting the oil data, or not having the ability to reset it, hence so many issues with the light coming on not long after being serviced by an indie.

It's funny though, because the same people who saved £50 having their car serviced at an indie are always the same people that complain when a Mazda dealer charges them for resetting the oil data. The argument is always the same too 'but it's just been serviced'. Yep, maybe it has, just not properly.

Mazda actually won a couple of awards for the DPF system used on the 2.2 diesel for advancements in DPF technology, so it can't be all that bad.

JonnyFive

29,387 posts

188 months

Saturday 13th April 2013
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Said it better than I could ^

Sir Fergie

795 posts

134 months

Saturday 13th April 2013
quotequote all
Superhoop said:
The first generation fitted with the 2.0 DPF (05-08) cars could be problematic, although if they're maintained well, less so. The problem arises when the repairs to them are attempted by people who don't know or understand the system, which leads to huge bills when they just throw parts at them unnecessarily. Looked after well, it's not as bad as the Internet would have you believe.

The 2.2 engine suffers virtually no issues at all with The DPF, and as for magic servicing, there's nothing special being done by Mazda dealers other than using the correct low ash oil, and resetting the oil data at service. The PCM monitors mileage, time and number of regenerations - when the limits are exceeded (approx 1000 miles over mileage on service, 13 months or a predetermined number of regenerations) the DPF light is illuminated. The biggest problems are independents either not resetting the oil data, or not having the ability to reset it, hence so many issues with the light coming on not long after being serviced by an indie.

It's funny though, because the same people who saved £50 having their car serviced at an indie are always the same people that complain when a Mazda dealer charges them for resetting the oil data. The argument is always the same too 'but it's just been serviced'. Yep, maybe it has, just not properly.

Mazda actually won a couple of awards for the DPF system used on the 2.2 diesel for advancements in DPF technology, so it can't be all that bad.
Very interesting stuff - like a lot of people i was under the impression that these Mazdas were very troublesome - and while im well aware that the Internet reports don't always reflect reality.

Nonetheless there seemed to be far too many people reporting issues with these cars - so one is inclined to arrive at the conclusion that whats been said is true.

Still won't be in a hurry to recommend one of these cars though - again i stand by a point i made earlier - other manufacturers cars appear less troublesome even allowing for the fact that the possibility of the Mazdas been less troublesome then i thought has been raised by people who seem to know what they are talking about.

I don't have a need "to be right" - in fact i would be happy for Jonny five and superhoop to be right - because i like the 6 as a car so if the two lads are right - it could be happy days for me in the future.

Perhaps i could use the internet Mazda diesels are "crap" perception to net a bargain in the future biggrin.

Sir Fergie

Edited by Sir Fergie on Saturday 13th April 15:00

Superhoop

4,676 posts

192 months

Saturday 13th April 2013
quotequote all
Well if it's the new 6 you like, I wouldn't worry too much about engine problems, as it was an all new unit for the CX-5 and so far is proving to be very reliable. The DPF system is in part carried over from the older 2.2 engine with a few new bits of tech thrown at it, and again is proving to be faultless.

The SkyActiv diesel is a cracking engine - it runs a very low compression ratio (for a diesel) meaning less stress on pistons, conrods, crank etc. meaning lighter components, giving a diesel that likes to rev, and doesn't actually sound too much like a diesel at all.

JonnyFive

29,387 posts

188 months

Sunday 14th April 2013
quotequote all
So quiet infact we had one running in the showroom (only big enough for 6 cars..) until we had to open the big doors from the fumes. We were complaining of headaches, then we realised it was sat there running hehe

Valmerk

1 posts

128 months

Tuesday 16th July 2013
quotequote all
GJG02 said:
Hello all, newbie here,great site here , have a problem with dpf on my Mazda 6 diesel sport 2.0 , 143 bhp,the light is continuously flashing! My car still pulls like a train no limp mode! Have read on site of other users of this being a service light? Is there any truth in this don't fancy going to the stealer to get stroked for several ££££££ s. would be very glad for any response from all on this matter , as concerned not to blow the motor , thanks again, GJG02.
The cheapest way is to service the car somewhere else and attend official Mazda dealership afterwards to reset the DPF light. Servicing the car per se, after the DPF flashing has gone off, will not eliminate flashing. They will charge you £85 for plugging your car to their machine.

To preclude this from happening in the future I would suggest, from my personal experience, monitoring oil level and canvassing driving style. The frequent start/stop driving pattern would lead to more frequent servicing. The inter-servicing interval should be around 8k miles, despite officials recommend 12k.

Some inter-service protraction measures would be appropriate. For instance, if you travel with somebody, and you need to stop briefly to buy a pack of cigarettes or smth in the morning, it may be essential to leave the engine running whilst you have briefly popped out and someone has remained in the vehicle. It will lead to less frequent servicing and saves you ££££.

In relation to authorized service stations, I know form my personal experience that it is not a big deal to change oil and filters in the car, given all tools are in situ and you are able to jack up the car. Considering this I believe that there is no point to go to official dealership and pay them £350 for servicing and listen to these smart speculations which are designed to leave you out of pocket. I am not suggesting going rough to some indie, but knowing someone dependable, who is able to undo the plug at the bottom of the engine and replace the oil filter, would be useful. I personally would have been doing this myself, had I had the required tools and gear. The service parts would cost you appr £50 if you buy online. Add up the charge for labour and retain the difference you would have been paying to the official dealer!



Edited by Valmerk on Tuesday 16th July 23:02

Darren1977

2 posts

116 months

Tuesday 1st July 2014
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My Mazda 5 had only done 60k with full Mazda service history and yet I am having DPF problems, so it doesn`t matter if you go independent or main dealer the result is the same. Mine is the 06 model 143BHP 2L engine. What really annoys me is that Mazda will only guarantee the DPF for 75k which is 2 and a half years motoring for me and they cannot guarantee changing it will even solve the problem as they are unsure as to what is causing it. My car has been cleaned out 4 times and had the EGR valve changed, already cost me £££`s and still the lights keep coming on, although limp mode only kicks in once the car has heated up and tries to perform a regeneration. wish I had known before I bought this car.... Don`t get me wrong I love my car but could really do without the aggro!!
Well car is off to Mazda for a 5th time today lets see what they have to say this time... no doubt it will be change the DPF!!

Darren1977

2 posts

116 months

Tuesday 1st July 2014
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I would just like to add to my last comment having just read something elsewhere about low mileage and low revs, if low revs are a cause of blocked DPF`s then why fit a six speed gearbox??? A five speed would be better then you would know you are always running the revs high enough to run a cycle when needed.

thatdude

2,654 posts

126 months

Thursday 3rd July 2014
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Darren1977 said:
I would just like to add to my last comment having just read something elsewhere about low mileage and low revs, if low revs are a cause of blocked DPF`s then why fit a six speed gearbox??? A five speed would be better then you would know you are always running the revs high enough to run a cycle when needed.
Do you do frequent short journeys (< 10 miles) and slower speed (non-NSL) driving? If so, that might be the cause of your troubles.

johnG28

1 posts

115 months

Tuesday 19th August 2014
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I had this problem a couple of days ago. DPF light had come on a few times before (not flashing) and i drove it to clear the DPF as instructed by the manual. When it started flashing i thought "oh great more bills!" but took it to my local garage (car maintenance centre, honiton) and they knew exactly what it was and how to fix it. they said the engine could no longer do any more regens with the existing oil so needed a oil and filter change, a forced regen and the system resetting. all in £128. they even knew it needed low-ash oil. now no flashing light! problem solved and i also know i can rely on this garage to service the car properly in future, something the garage i bought it from 3 months ago didnt do!

Brompty

153 posts

143 months

Monday 25th August 2014
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Please be very wary of the DPF light in the Mazda 6: it means many things.

It could be that the car needs a service.

It could be that the DPF needs clearing, although this is not the drive above 2,000 rpm type of clearing, but a job for the dealer.

It could be that three out of four injectors have stopped working, needing a fix of more than £4000 thereby writing the car off.

This car was my first and last Mazda and diesel engined car. It needs constant servicing due to the DPF clogging and sending oil through the filter to clear. Hence the light flashes. It drank oil almost at the same rate it used diesel and was less economical than the awful petrol Insignia I have had to hire while I do not have a car.

Treat the DPF with suspicion, and if it keeps coming on, get it cleared and off to 'we buy any car' pronto.