I borrowed this site's explanation of how the DPF system works and why it is an important research topic when
considering buying a newer model diesel powered vehicle. It is not just VWs that CAN (and not will definitely) have
this problem
... Note the "disconnected dpf lights" quip. I have found a few ....
http://www.dogandlemon.com/articles/ownership-issues/vw-diesel-particulate-filter-issues
VW Diesel Particulate Filter issues
The diesel particulate filter systems on these engines are poorly designed and prone to serious, ongoing problems.
The diesel particulate filter (DPF) is a device designed to remove soot from the exhaust gas of the diesel engine.
However, diesel particulate filters must be cleaned from time to time or they will block up.
Typical warning messages include: DPF light flashing or staying on and/or engine management light flashing or staying on.
When you first start the car these messages may display, which is okay as long as they go off again as soon as the engine starts. If the lights don’t go off, there’s a problem, quite possibly a big one.
If the lights don’t go on at all, chances are, some **bleep** has disconnected something to hide the problem.
The particulate filter needs to be regularly cleaned or it will clog and stop working. The more clogged the filter becomes, the more difficult it is to clean.
The cleaning of the filter is known as ‘regeneration.’ Regeneration is simply a fancy name for burning off the soot from the filter. This soot gets burnt off due to the fact that exhaust systems (which exist to carry the leftover gases from the engine’s exploding fuel) naturally get very hot when you drive the car continuously for any length of time.
This ‘passive’ regeneration occurs continually, and will generally go unnoticed by the driver.
However, many drivers don’t go on long, uninterrupted high-speed journeys. In certain circumstances (e.g. after frequent short journeys or slow driving in congested areas), automatic regeneration may not occur. Therefore, the filter begins to clog.
When the engine computer (ECU) detects that the filter is more than 45% clogged, a second process starts, called ‘active regeneration’.
Active regeneration means that the ECU tells the injectors to squirt more fuel into the engine. Because diesel engines are controlled by the amount of fuel being injected, the injection of more fuel makes the engine run faster and hotter. The ECU keeps the engine running faster and hotter for about 5 – 10 minutes. This process will normally clean the filter.
Please note that few of these problems were generally covered under warranty, because as far as Volkswagen is concerned, if your DPF system blocks up and fails, then you are the architect of your own misfortune.
Be aware, however, that Volkswagen’s DPF system doesn’t always work as claimed.
Many owners complain that the DPF light will come on even when they have faithfully performed all their duties of driving the car at least 60 km/h for about 10 minutes.
Or, these drivers often find that, although the DPF light may go out once they take a motorway trip, it will go back on again within a few days.
This has made some drivers’ lives a misery.
atheism is a non prophet organization
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