2.0L Diesel DPF issue

[mustard tab]

I have the above engine in my Skoda Superb, 140hp, 57 plate, 83K miles. I have been getting the glow plug warning light issue, which has been diagnosed as a DPF issue. I have been told that the DPF needs to be refilled, at a cost of around £400, this is from an independant. I am told that the MK1 Superb had this type of DPF, which was changed to a solid state type on the MK2.
Has anyone had this issue on a Superb, Octavia, Passat, Golf, Bora, A4, A6 etc etc, and is the only option to refill the unit, can it be swapped out with a used unit from a scrapper.
If anyone has had this done in the Staffs, North Midlands area, could they recommend a specialist who would be competent enough to do the work?
Thanks for reading.

[Nick1point9]

Refill? Think you might be confusing something with the DPF...

[cuprabob]

Some older generation DPFs used in some cars have a tank that needs refilled. I think some French manufacturers used these.

I wasn't aware of that VAG used this design at all.

Assuming you have tried regenerating the DPF by driving at a constant 2.500rpm for 20 mins on a motorway then you need to get a dealer rlto force a regeneration

[Nick1point9]

cuprabob said:

Some older generation DPFs used in some cars have a tank that needs refilled.

I stand corrected.

[cuprabob]

Courtesy of AA

DPF additives

The most commonly fitted type of DPF has an integrated oxidising catalytic converter and is located very close to the engine where exhaust gases will still be hot. This heat means that passive regeneration is possible.

There's not always space close to the engine so on some models, across a wide range of manufacturers, a different type of DPF has been used which can be located further from the engine. These rely on a fuel additive to lower the ignition temperature of the soot particles. Many newer models are managing without the fluid because the dpf has been relocated nearer to the engine.

The additive is stored in a separate tank and is automatically mixed with the fuel whenever you fill up. Only very small quantities are used though so a litre of additive should treat around 2800 litres of fuel – enough to cover 25,000 miles at 40mpg. No, lasts about 72000 miles and is replenished during a service – at extra cost

You will have to pay to get the additive tank refilled at some time in the car's life – expect to pay between £150 and £200 including fluid and labour

[mustard tab]

Cheers Cuprabob, what you are saying does ring true as my garage has said that the unit is located under the boot and is accessed though the spare wheel well, so not by the engine at all on this vehicle, and from what i have read elsewhere i see that around 80K is the cutt off point for this needing to be done, however your quote is substancially less than the quote i had from a non specialist garage, at £450, obviously shopping around is called for.

[s2boy4]

What you are discribing sounds like ad-blue. Normally the container has a blue cap and the liquid smells of pi-s. I wasnt aware the VW group cars used it!!!! Obviously depending whats wrong with it, £450 is very expensive if all it needs is more ad-blue.

[smileymikey]

It smells like piss...because it is indeed piss, pigs piss to be precise

[cuprabob]

As I said I still think your mechanic is wrong as I don't think VAG have that type of DPF on any cars. It's Ford and French stuff.

Take it a dealer and have them force a regen to see if that fixes it. Could also be a faulty pressure sensor.

[smileymikey]

"I have been getting the glow plug warning light issue"

Some VW Group vehicles flash up the glow plug warning light when there is a problem with the brake light switch ( no I dont know why they thought this was a good idea either)...has your mechanic plugged VAGCOM or an alternative reader into your cars system?? to read the fault codes. I wouldn't be spending hundreds until I knew precisely what the problem is!

[smileymikey]

I wouldn't rule out a fluid system because manufacturers swap engines and drive trains between each other so much now its hard to know what's what. Although I believe this system ( actually called eolys fluid, rather than the add blue HGV's use)was mainly used by the French. If it is indeed what you have you should be able to buy the fluid for sixty quid an hours filling time in the workshop max and the ECU generally needs to be reset to recognise the system as topped up. Any reputable indie should have the correct diagnostic kit to do this. I would be getting a bit angsty at anything over 150 quid

[super tech]

I haven't seen a fluid type DPF on any VAG and i work on them day in, day out.
some have ad blue, but this used after the DPF.

[mustard tab]

Cheers Guys for the input.
Today i took the car to a VAG specialist in Cannock, who plugged the car into their reader, and informed me that they had never seen this type of DPF filter on a VAG vehicle previously, the guy even looked on the net to find that the MK1 Superb is the only VAG group vehicle to be fitted with this type of system, apparently the system is pressurised, and can only be corrected by a Skoda dealer. so i am off to the dealer on thursday to find out how much i am in for

[xreyuk]

He's wrong about the superb being the only vag car to have it.

The touareg, Q7 and the passat appear to use this system according to this: http://www.myturbodiesel.com/1000q/vw-touareg-tdi-...

[cptsideways]

IIRC the Touran bluemotion does too, I would assume most VAG cars of this generation use it.

[liner33]

Pretty sure the Mk1 Superb is the only Skoda to have it , the Octavias of the same era didnt use it

I thought it was straightforward to diy

[super tech]

xreyuk said:

He's wrong about the superb being the only vag car to have it.

The touareg, Q7 and the passat appear to use this system according to this: http://www.myturbodiesel.com/1000q/vw-touareg-tdi-...

Thats adblue. like i said - a different system, still have normal dpf in place.