Cleaning/Replacing Particulate Filter

[twinspin]

Hi guys, I'm new to the forum and hoping for a bit of advice regarding these dam particulate filters. I picked up a 406 2.2 HDI exec estate as a workhorse last year. Normally any problems and the car go's straight to the garage for a fix but on this occasion ive heard a few horror story's over the cost so iv been doing a bit of sniffing around.

Iv been told a few different options and looking for advise on which one I should go for, its time to get my hands dirty..

Option 1 - Use an additive to clean the filter, probably far too far gone for this option.
Option 2 - Take it to a dealer and have it forced into regeneration but my situation is probably far to gone for this option and I'm sure the fluid would need topped up and reset.
Option 3 - Strip out the filter, get it steam cleaned, have the fluid topped up and ECU reset. This option looks good for me but would it require full diagnostic kit to reset the ECU?
Option 4 - Strip out the internals of the filter and remap the ECU, this is tempting but what effect would this have on the MOT status?

Its been a while since Iv had to get my hands dirty, these days im more comfortable with a soldering iron than a ratchet but needs must!

[jonsowman]

(1) - agreed, won't help
(2) - agreed - can be done with dealer level diagnostic kit but it won't help
(3) - can be done, but fluid is expensive. Lots of people on here have the PP2000 (dealer diagnostic) kit, so could reset the additive level for you.
(4) - the preferred option.

The only issue with (4) is that the DPF will become MOT failure from Feb 2014 if not fitted when the car left the factory with one. The opinion seems to be that this will be a visual check only, and since the car will not look any different, nobody will ever know. These engines fly through the emissions (smoke) test even without the DPF, don't worry about that. Loads of people with these engines have done this modification, and nobody seems too worried (including me) about the MOT thing.

With the exception of the MOT issue, (4) is a tried and trusted method (including by myself) and the car really does feel so much better without the under-engineered and overcomplicated FAP system.

The choice is yours, but if it were me, I'd be taking the (very small) risk on (4), since otherwise the car is likely to become financially nonsensical to keep running.

[twinspin]

Thanks jonsowman, to be honest this is what I was swayed towards, its a bit crazy keeping an expensive power consuming, time consuming system running when common sense is telling me ill be messing around again in the near future. I just haven't had enough experience of them to be confident in my decision.

Ive ordered the Galletto 1260 and ill do a bit of swatting up whilst im waiting on that coming.

[Doggy]

I'd say Jon's summed up the situation perfectly. None of us can be certain there's no risk to gutting the dpf, as the new rules aren't in force yet, but I can't for the lfe of me see how they could sensibly do more than a visual check. Mine looks original.

Have you seen my howto? viewtopic.php?f=10&t=12487

Once you get your Galletto, I can do a 'defap' version of your ecu file if you want - drop me a PM.

[lozz]

[quote="Doggy"]I'd say Jon's summed up the situation perfectly. None of us can be certain there's no risk to gutting the dpf, as the new rules aren't in force yet, but I can't for the lfe of me see how they could sensibly do more than a visual check. Mine looks original.

Quote from a m.o.t tester.


At a recent MOT seminar, we were told that from next year any missing emissions equipment will be a failure, regardless of the emissions test result.

It will come under a section called Inappropriate Repairs and Modifications. I asked a question on this and was told that any missing catalysts or DPFs will fail.

What vehicle ages this will apply to, as yet we don't know.

As you're stating that the ceramic discs will be removed from the DPF, the exterior will look standard. The only way that we will be able to tell is to give the DPF a tap with a metallic/hard plastic tool and listen, we won't be allowed to do this if it's not written down in the manual as a method of inspection.

[twinspin]

Well i suppose there is a small risk but hey for the price of fittin another in the event of the worse case scenario. So its not the end of the world. Im happy with that!

[twinspin]

It was actually your 'how to' that landed me on the forum doggy, i was researching the different options I had. Before I seen your how too I had dismissed stripping it out as the scariest option but your guide gave me a bit more confidence in it. After the feedback from this thread its now the front runner!

[gumby6371]

In my opinion the safe option would be to drill a hole through the DPF rather than complete removal at least until the new regs are clearer. That way even if given a tap it wont sound hollow and the tester will be none the wiser.

[twinspin]

Good tip gumby, also any idea what the implications as as regards to the back-pressure of the exhaust, does the drop in pressure have any adverse effects?

[jonsowman]

It only has good effects
1) An extra 5bhp by many people's estimations. The turbo spools up slightly earlier as well which makes the car feel a lot nicer.
2) The lack of back pressure makes life for the turbo oil seals significantly less stressful.

The differential pressure sensor across the DPF and temperature sensors are mapped out of the ECU, so it no longer knows nor cares that they exist.

[Doggy]

In my opinion the safe option would be to drill a hole through the DPF rather than complete removal at least until the new regs are clearer. That way even if given a tap it wont sound hollow and the tester will be none the wiser.

I doubt this would work - the dpf element is made up of blocks of ceramic wall-flow filter, roughly 30 mm square, (see below),



I think once you put a hole through it big enough to equal the size of the pipework, you risk it falling apart and blocking the exhaust.

Also, the dpf housing has a wall thickness of about 4 mm, so probably won't sound 'tinny', even if empty.

[lozz]

just get asheet of metal, cut to right length,

roll it up like a carpet but leaving the middle the right diameter,

[twinspin]

This is all good stuff,thanks guys. Ill soon get a feel for the thing once its out of the car, 4mm thick then agree im pretty sure that will still sound solid enough when tapped.I may just whack the lot out and be done with it.

As for the backpressure, that sounds good to me! Ill be planning to get a start on it at the weekend, i read to map ECU first for a couple of days and if happy carry out the mechanical part to avoid problems so thats exactly what Ill do.

[lozz]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxSVsAMrY5c

[jonsowman]

i read to map ECU first for a couple of days and if happy carry out the mechanical part to avoid problems so thats exactly what Ill do.

Yep, we're talking not more than 50 or so miles of driving before the DPF will start to clog up and the backpressure begins to increase. Since it can't regen, it'll start causing problems.

Flashing the new map before doing the physical element removal is really just to verify that the new map is working properly - a quick drive around the block would do it!