DPF pressure sensor - negative values

DPF pressure sensor - negative values

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aturnick54

Original Poster:

1,091 posts

28 months

Monday 15th April
quotequote all
Recently had a clogged DPF where soot levels were so high it would not force regen. Ended up having a company come and clean it, which worked and the car is currently functioning as expected. It has regened itself since it was cleaned.

They advised the pressure sensor is on its way out. Before they cleaned it, the pressure sensor was reading 0. After cleaning, it did start reading again, sitting at around 4-7. When the engine was shut off, this reading momentarily dropped to negative numbers before going back to 0. Is this normal or is this the sign of a faulty sensor? I assume that previously it had gotten so clogged that it was reading 0 and thus refused to regen.

I do have a replacement aftermarket sensor to fit, however A I would prefer to keep the original genuine part if it's working as expected, and B the hose clamps are a total pain to get to.

LordLoveLength

1,930 posts

130 months

Monday 15th April
quotequote all
aturnick54 said:
Recently had a clogged DPF where soot levels were so high it would not force regen. Ended up having a company come and clean it, which worked and the car is currently functioning as expected. It has regened itself since it was cleaned.

They advised the pressure sensor is on its way out. Before they cleaned it, the pressure sensor was reading 0. After cleaning, it did start reading again, sitting at around 4-7. When the engine was shut off, this reading momentarily dropped to negative numbers before going back to 0. Is this normal or is this the sign of a faulty sensor? I assume that previously it had gotten so clogged that it was reading 0 and thus refused to regen.

I do have a replacement aftermarket sensor to fit, however A I would prefer to keep the original genuine part if it's working as expected, and B the hose clamps are a total pain to get to.
They do fail and give strange readings. That would certainly cause the initial blocked DPF.

Is it possible the company put the pipes back on the wrong way round? One is usually bigger than the other to prevent this, but it can happen.
Also the pipes could also be blocked - you really need to remove them with the engine running to ensure they are free flowing.
Best place to fit the aftermarket sensor is the bin.

aturnick54

Original Poster:

1,091 posts

28 months

Monday 15th April
quotequote all
LordLoveLength said:
They do fail and give strange readings. That would certainly cause the initial blocked DPF.

Is it possible the company put the pipes back on the wrong way round? One is usually bigger than the other to prevent this, but it can happen.
Also the pipes could also be blocked - you really need to remove them with the engine running to ensure they are free flowing.
Best place to fit the aftermarket sensor is the bin.
They didn't remove the DPF or sensor to clean, simply injected cleaner in and somehow forced a regen.

I assumed if the sensor was dodgy, it would throw up an error code. The only errors I had were for blocked DPF which is now sorted and cleared

LordLoveLength

1,930 posts

130 months

Monday 15th April
quotequote all
They usually remove the pipes from the sensor to inject the cleaner. Sometimes they might remove an oxygen sensor but sensor pipes are easiest.
If the sensor is faulty the DPFt will soon block again.