VAG Particulate Filter
Discussion
Hello.
New to this forum, so apologies if this has been asked 100 times before.
Poped in to the Local Audi and VW dealerships a while back looking for an A3 or Golf and was told by both straight away that I should not buy a diesel as a low mileage run about.
I mainly do town driving mostly <3 miles, some 3-10 miles and every couple of months a 2x60 mile run.
What's the real issue with the filter? There's so many more diesels than petrols, around town they've got a bit more poke and as I'm possibly just about to bankrupt myself on a house purchace, any savings in fuel would be appreciated!
So what's the rule of thumb for keeping one running well? or do I just face the fact that VAG diesels don't suite me.
Cheers,
Virgil.
New to this forum, so apologies if this has been asked 100 times before.
Poped in to the Local Audi and VW dealerships a while back looking for an A3 or Golf and was told by both straight away that I should not buy a diesel as a low mileage run about.
I mainly do town driving mostly <3 miles, some 3-10 miles and every couple of months a 2x60 mile run.
What's the real issue with the filter? There's so many more diesels than petrols, around town they've got a bit more poke and as I'm possibly just about to bankrupt myself on a house purchace, any savings in fuel would be appreciated!
So what's the rule of thumb for keeping one running well? or do I just face the fact that VAG diesels don't suite me.
Cheers,
Virgil.
Edited by virgil on Tuesday 1st June 11:57
You 'might' just get away with it if its a brand new car with a "Comon rail" Diesel, but with 3 miles trips it could still be an issue.
If its a used car with any of the VAG PD engines that will definatly clog the filter and you will have no end of problems.
DPF's Diesel Particulate Filters have been forced upon manufactueres by the new Euro 4/5 emissions regs. What will happen if the car delects the filter is nearly gloged it puts a light on the dash at which time you MUST do a regeneration drive. Yypically 10 mins or so at a fixed 3000-3500rpm, 50mph in 3rd is how I do it. The manufaturer cant ask you to drive in an extream or odd way so customer instructions will say a short drive at 50-70mph. The point is it need to be fixed rpm and quite a bit of load, not an old fashioned thrash with lots of revs and gear changes, like you would do to clear the smoke out of an old diesel. This fixed rpm + load driving allows the filter to regen/clean its self, while regenerating the car will have naff throttle resonce and feel a bit flat + the engine bay will get very hot and might smell a bit plasticy, this is normal dont worry.
If you cant(trafic etc) or dont regen the filter when the light comes on, or within so many mins of running after the light comes on, the car will go into restricted performance mode and need to go to the dealer for an emergency regen + reset, if you keep taking it to the dealer to be reset they will charge you as they cant claim it back from the waranty and continual emergency regens will damage the filter which are £1500 and not warranty if the customer has damaged them in this way, is considered customer abuse of the car.
We had reall problem with the PD engines, especially the last run of A4 Cabs 2007-2009, so the sales dept are very honest about DPF issues, all manufactuers will have the same issues but posibly only the Audi centre staff are up front about it.
If its a used car with any of the VAG PD engines that will definatly clog the filter and you will have no end of problems.
DPF's Diesel Particulate Filters have been forced upon manufactueres by the new Euro 4/5 emissions regs. What will happen if the car delects the filter is nearly gloged it puts a light on the dash at which time you MUST do a regeneration drive. Yypically 10 mins or so at a fixed 3000-3500rpm, 50mph in 3rd is how I do it. The manufaturer cant ask you to drive in an extream or odd way so customer instructions will say a short drive at 50-70mph. The point is it need to be fixed rpm and quite a bit of load, not an old fashioned thrash with lots of revs and gear changes, like you would do to clear the smoke out of an old diesel. This fixed rpm + load driving allows the filter to regen/clean its self, while regenerating the car will have naff throttle resonce and feel a bit flat + the engine bay will get very hot and might smell a bit plasticy, this is normal dont worry.
If you cant(trafic etc) or dont regen the filter when the light comes on, or within so many mins of running after the light comes on, the car will go into restricted performance mode and need to go to the dealer for an emergency regen + reset, if you keep taking it to the dealer to be reset they will charge you as they cant claim it back from the waranty and continual emergency regens will damage the filter which are £1500 and not warranty if the customer has damaged them in this way, is considered customer abuse of the car.
We had reall problem with the PD engines, especially the last run of A4 Cabs 2007-2009, so the sales dept are very honest about DPF issues, all manufactuers will have the same issues but posibly only the Audi centre staff are up front about it.
cuprabob said:
There are issues with the 170bhp VAG diesels which have DPFs. Short journeys seem to clog them up.
The 140bhp diesels don't have DPFs so you would be OK with one of them.
That is true for the PD engines on cars upto about 2007-2008, But all the current Euro4/5 Diesel engine have DPFs.The 140bhp diesels don't have DPFs so you would be OK with one of them.
The one that is the worst in the single cam 2.0TDI in the 2008-2009 A4 cab (made up of 1,9TDI head on 2.0block) Think the code is BPW. Its a 103kW 140bhp engine.
Thanks guys, so basically the Euro4/5 regs have made new diesels obsolete for 'short journey man'. Fantastic.
Car will be a used one...so sounds like I may still have an option of an older Golf/Audi...is there any easy way to tell what to look for? Mate has an 07 140 and has had the problem...
2006 or older 140 Golf??
Audi??
Thanks,
Neil.
Car will be a used one...so sounds like I may still have an option of an older Golf/Audi...is there any easy way to tell what to look for? Mate has an 07 140 and has had the problem...
2006 or older 140 Golf??
Audi??
Thanks,
Neil.
Tame Technician said:
cuprabob said:
There are issues with the 170bhp VAG diesels which have DPFs. Short journeys seem to clog them up.
The 140bhp diesels don't have DPFs so you would be OK with one of them.
That is true for the PD engines on cars upto about 2007-2008, But all the current Euro4/5 Diesel engine have DPFs.The 140bhp diesels don't have DPFs so you would be OK with one of them.
The one that is the worst in the single cam 2.0TDI in the 2008-2009 A4 cab (made up of 1,9TDI head on 2.0block) Think the code is BPW. Its a 103kW 140bhp engine.
I've read of so many DPF issues on the VAG diesels (both the older PD sort and newer CR units) and they really are not a sensible buy for the low mileage driver. All the curent CR TDIs are DPF equipped. Most of the older PD TDIs won't have a DPF, but the 2.0 TDI 170 does and certain 1.9 TDI 105s and 2.0 TDI 140s will.
Why not look at the petrols? The older N/A VAG units are pretty rubbish, but the latest engines are really good. 1.4 TSI is a great all rounder and has won many awards. 2.0 TSI is also highly rated. The latest 1.2 TSI 105 in Golf/ A3 will do 40mpg urban/ 60mpg extra urban/ 50mpg combined, which makes you wonder why bother with a diesel.
Why not look at the petrols? The older N/A VAG units are pretty rubbish, but the latest engines are really good. 1.4 TSI is a great all rounder and has won many awards. 2.0 TSI is also highly rated. The latest 1.2 TSI 105 in Golf/ A3 will do 40mpg urban/ 60mpg extra urban/ 50mpg combined, which makes you wonder why bother with a diesel.
Edited by va1o on Tuesday 1st June 22:20
Tame Technician said:
What will happen if the car delects the filter is nearly gloged it puts a light on the dash at which time you MUST do a regeneration drive. Yypically 10 mins or so at a fixed 3000-3500rpm, 50mph in 3rd is how I do it. The manufaturer cant ask you to drive in an extream or odd way so customer instructions will say a short drive at 50-70mph. The point is it need to be fixed rpm and quite a bit of load, not an old fashioned thrash with lots of revs and gear changes, like you would do to clear the smoke out of an old diesel. This fixed rpm + load driving allows the filter to regen/clean its self, while regenerating the car will have naff throttle resonce and feel a bit flat + the engine bay will get very hot and might smell a bit plasticy, this is normal dont worry.
If you cant(trafic etc) or dont regen the filter when the light comes on, or within so many mins of running after the light comes on, the car will go into restricted performance mode and need to go to the dealer for an emergency regen + reset, if you keep taking it to the dealer to be reset they will charge you as they cant claim it back from the waranty and continual emergency regens will damage the filter which are £1500 and not warranty if the customer has damaged them in this way, is considered customer abuse of the car.
What a bloody pallaver.If you cant(trafic etc) or dont regen the filter when the light comes on, or within so many mins of running after the light comes on, the car will go into restricted performance mode and need to go to the dealer for an emergency regen + reset, if you keep taking it to the dealer to be reset they will charge you as they cant claim it back from the waranty and continual emergency regens will damage the filter which are £1500 and not warranty if the customer has damaged them in this way, is considered customer abuse of the car.
Why not look at the petrols? The older N/A VAG units are pretty rubbish, but the latest engines are really good. 1.4 TSI is a great all rounder and has won many awards. 2.0 TSI is also highly rated. The latest 1.2 TSI 105 in Golf/ A3 will do 40mpg urban/ 60mpg extra urban/ 50mpg combined, which makes you wonder why bother with a diesel.
Edited by va1o on Tuesday 1st June 22:20
[/quote]
The TSI's are good but in the Yeti the 1.2TSI on a 80MPH motorway run with cruise on managed about 30/31mpg over aprox 25 miles. They're great until the revs get highish.
Kevin VRs said:
said:
The TSI's are good but in the Yeti the 1.2TSI on a 80MPH motorway run with cruise on managed about 30/31mpg over aprox 25 miles. They're great until the revs get highish.
Problem there is the Yeti is quite heavy and not exactly aerodynamic.va1o said:
I've read of so many DPF issues on the VAG diesels (both the older PD sort and newer CR units) and they really are not a sensible buy for the low mileage driver. All the curent CR TDIs are DPF equipped. Most of the older PD TDIs won't have a DPF, but the 2.0 TDI 170 does and certain 1.9 TDI 105s and 2.0 TDI 140s will.
Why not look at the petrols? The older N/A VAG units are pretty rubbish, but the latest engines are really good. 1.4 TSI is a great all rounder and has won many awards. 2.0 TSI is also highly rated. The latest 1.2 TSI 105 in Golf/ A3 will do 40mpg urban/ 60mpg extra urban/ 50mpg combined, which makes you wonder why bother with a diesel.
Great idea...Didnt realise you could get those for such reasonable money now...look great little cars on paper...the 170 looks quite nippy too. 30/50/40mpg not far off the 40/60/50 for the diesel...according to Autotrader...Why not look at the petrols? The older N/A VAG units are pretty rubbish, but the latest engines are really good. 1.4 TSI is a great all rounder and has won many awards. 2.0 TSI is also highly rated. The latest 1.2 TSI 105 in Golf/ A3 will do 40mpg urban/ 60mpg extra urban/ 50mpg combined, which makes you wonder why bother with a diesel.
Edited by va1o on Tuesday 1st June 22:20
Anyone driven one?
Seem to hear a lot about DPF issues but we have a (56) 170hp PD Octavia and a (09) 170hp CR Superb both with dpf and neither have given us any issues and I only really do short trips, the Octy has 60,000 miles on now although my wife used it for work for a while hence the mileage I've only been doing short trips since Christmas
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