Definitive DPF/MOT answer, any testers?

[veevee]

The DPF on my car has failed. I have it booked in tomorrow to get the DPF removed (part will still be in place).

Is this going to pass an MOT in future? Is the test purely visual, or will there be an emissions test to determine whether the DPF is functioning.

Anyone able to provide a definite answer, would be much appreciated before I spend several hundred pounds!

Thanks!

[Disco_Biscuit]

If the reading is below 1.5 and it visually looks like it's there, then yes it will pass

[Athlon]

In December 2013, Roads Minister Robert Goodwill announced that the MOT test will be amended to include an inspection of the diesel particulate filter (DPF). Since the announcement, we have had many queries about the type of inspection that will take place.

Following discussions with the Department for Transport, the inspection will initially be restricted to a visual examination for the presence of a DPF or any diesel catalytic converter (DCAT), in addition to the metered smoke check.

Testers will have to make sure that every vehicle with a DPF and/or DCAT fitted by the manufacturer as standard is still present on the vehicle. If a DPF/and or DCAT has been removed, then the vehicle will fail the test. This is regardless of the result of the metered smoke check.

[windy1]

So just knock the innards out, keep the original housing in place so it doesn't look it is any different, fool the sensors into thinking the brick is still present inside then it'll pass, right?

Can't see what the problem is unless they are going to put an endoscope all the way up the exhaust to view it or scan it with an infra red thermometer thingy!!!!

[anonymous-user]

smoke Test based on 25 year old buses, am i right?

[GTRmad]

Athlon said:

In December 2013, Roads Minister Robert Goodwill announced that the MOT test will be amended to include an inspection of the diesel particulate filter (DPF). Since the announcement, we have had many queries about the type of inspection that will take place.

Following discussions with the Department for Transport, the inspection will initially be restricted to a visual examination for the presence of a DPF or any diesel catalytic converter (DCAT), in addition to the metered smoke check.

Testers will have to make sure that every vehicle with a DPF and/or DCAT fitted by the manufacturer as standard is still present on the vehicle. If a DPF/and or DCAT has been removed, then the vehicle will fail the test. This is regardless of the result of the metered smoke check.

But what if DPF is still on car but has been gutted.Will it fail if soot is present in tailpipe
As any DPF working properly will have a very clean tailpipe.That's a give away if sooted up.

[lexusboy]

If it looks like it's there, regardless of any soot buildup anywhere, it will pass on the visual inspection. The smoke test may be a different problem

[veevee]

Have read tens of pages of speculation. Does anyone actually know? Rather save myself what will probably run into £000s!

[Disco_Biscuit]

veevee said:

Have read tens of pages of speculation. Does anyone actually know? Rather save myself what will probably run into £000s!

I've told you the answer, I'm a tester and this is what vosa have said.

[Simes205]

Mine was fitted as an option before they were mandatory, I'm assuming I can remove it as it wasn't standard?

[Monty Python]

Simes205 said:

Mine was fitted as an option before they were mandatory, I'm assuming I can remove it as it wasn't standard?

If it was part of the car's original specification when it was built then it has to be present at the time of testing.

[Athlon]

Disco_Biscuit said:

veevee said:

Have read tens of pages of speculation. Does anyone actually know? Rather save myself what will probably run into £000s!

I've told you the answer, I'm a tester and this is what vosa have said.

As am I and the text I posted was the official line from VOSA.

So yes we know but you seem to be unable to grasp the answer.

[Monty Python]

I wrote to Mr Goodwill on this subject, and his response was that initially the MOT test would simply be a visual inspection. However he did say that they were already in the process of looking for other ways to check that the internals of the filter hadn't been removed.

[TooMany2cvs]

Athlon said:

As am I and the text I posted was the official line from VOSA.

Since the tester's handbook doesn't actually give the official reasons for rejection yet, it's all a bit academic at the moment.

[TA14]

veevee said:

Have read tens of pages of speculation. Does anyone actually know? Rather save myself what will probably run into £000s!

In simple terms: you can probably take the inside out of various bits, 'fool' the tester and pass the smoke tests however if you want to be sure then you need the bits that the car was manufactured with.

[veevee]

Athlon said:

Disco_Biscuit said:

veevee said:

Have read tens of pages of speculation. Does anyone actually know? Rather save myself what will probably run into £000s!

I've told you the answer, I'm a tester and this is what vosa have said.

As am I and the text I posted was the official line from VOSA.

So yes we know but you seem to be unable to grasp the answer.

Sorry, you did both answer the question. I think I went a bit blind after reading so many posts. Cheers, much appreciated.

I wonder how long the 'initially' visual test will last for, once they realise that quite a few people have just gutted the existing DPF.

[Simes205]

Monty Python said:

Simes205 said:

Mine was fitted as an option before they were mandatory, I'm assuming I can remove it as it wasn't standard?

If it was part of the car's original specification when it was built then it has to be present at the time of testing.

How can they tell? as it will be 'mapped' out. Will they really look at the VIN then go to BMW and check my build spec?


I've seen cars go through with CAt's as options, (pre '92) removed with no issues.

[Athlon]

There is a vehicle specific info area on the scheme, it would not be difficult to add the details to this area.

[jagracer]

Athlon said:

Disco_Biscuit said:

I've told you the answer, I'm a tester and this is what vosa have said.

As am I and the text I posted was the official line from VOSA.

So yes we know but you seem to be unable to grasp the answer.

Have you had a special notice about it yet? There's a new red one waiting for me at work but I've not been in to open it yet.

[Superhoop]

Simes205 said:

Mine was fitted as an option before they were mandatory, I'm assuming I can remove it as it wasn't standard?

A DPF isn't mandatory full stop

Most diesels have them, and in fact need them to meet Euro 5 regs, but there are still a few small diesel engines that meet Euro 5 without the need for a DPF, one that springs to mind is the Mazda2 1.4 diesel (the 1.6 diesel does though)