SM1

Beware: It seems that DPF removal is no longer a (legal) option

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-rules-for-mot-to-test-for-diesel-particulate-filter

I was seriously considering removing my DPF a couple of days ago when I suffered the Check VSC/engine light combination and went into limp mode for the second time in 18 months. Last time I had to pay £900 to a Lexus dealer to regenerate the DPF.

Wasn't prepared to pay that again, or the £2300 they quoted me for a new one. As a 'nothing to lose' option I tried a DFP cleaner instead and after a prolonged blast down the motorway the lights have now cleared.

I'm very glad I didn't remove it having just found this

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-rules-for-mot-to-test-for-diesel-particulate-filter

Is DPF removal illegal? Apparently it soon will be

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-rules-for-mot-to-test-for-diesel-particulate-filter

I had the same fault symptoms a couple of days ago - for the second time!! First time was about 18 months ago and Lexus dealer charged me £900 to regenerate the DPF.

I spent yesterday morning weighing up the available options and came across a post elsewhere on this forum suggesting a DPF clearner might do the trick. So yesterday I Invested £9 in a DPF cleaning fuel additive, chucked it in the tank and headed to the nearest motorway. Had to stop/start the engine a couple of times en route to get out of limp mode. Blasted down the motorway for an hour at 3000rpm and although the warning lights remained on, the car no longer reverted to limp mode. Was disappointed this morning when the lights were all still on but I set off on a 10 mile cross country journey. Maintained 2500+ revs wherever possible on the outbound journey and arrived with no problems. When I switched the engine on for the return journey the warning lights had disappeared. Time will tell if it's a long term solution. Fingers crossed. I'll update if it was a false dawn.

My strategy for prevention of similar occurrences is to keep the revs at 3000rpm+ on longer journeys once a month or so and use the DPF cleaner every 3 or 4 fill ups.

All adds extra expense but (hopefully!!) will save a lot of hassle.

But if you suffer these symptoms don't panic. Give it a try, No idea what the success rate is but it seems to have worked for me and at less than £10 it's got to be worth a shot. I just wish I'd known about it last year before I paid the dealer £900!! It might not have worked but it will certainly be my first option next time I see the dreaded Check VSC and engine light combination. The one I used is Wynns (Available at Halfords) but there are others avaialble online.

nams, Great advice, thanks you so much. Followed your suggestion and worked a treat.

2 days ago my 220d went into limp mode (with Check VSC in the display panel and the engine and VSC lights ON) an hour into a 2 hour motorway journey

Exact same thing happened about 18 months ago and Lexus Cheltenham quoted £2300 for a new DPF but ended up charging me £900 to clean it. I wasn't going to pay that amount again and was considering my options when I saw the post from nams. I'll bore you with the detail of exactly what I did below so that others can try the same solution. If you just want the short version - it worked a treat!!

Bought some of the DPF cleaner nams suggested from local Halfords for under £10 and took the car for a blast down the motorway. En route to the motorway car went into limp mode a couple of times. Stopped/started engine to clear this and finally got onto motorway where I kept the revs up at 3000rpm for about an hour. Didn't notice any smoke or any signs of anything happening and all the warning lights remained on for the whole journey but the car drove as normal with no sign of limp home mode.

This morning I took my son to work, 10 miles across country keeping revs over 2500rpm whenever possible. Car drove perfectly with no sign of limp mode but the lights remained on. Dropped my son at work and turned engine off for a couple of minutes. When I turned the engine back on the lights had gone.

This was only this morning and it may only be short-lived. I will add another update if that turns out to be the case. Fingers crossed!!

I'd love to know exactly what the dealer did for the £900 they charged me last year. They said that they used chemicals to clean the DPF. I wonder if it was the same chemicals that I bought for £9?!?!

What frustrates me is that the dealers stated last year that the odd blast up the motorway would prevent this sort of thing happening. This is simply not true. Both times this has happened to me has been an hour into a 2 hour motorway journey. The fact is that normal driving will not prevent this. You need to thrash the engine occasionally but you have no idea when this is necessary. if you drive like a boy racer all the time you'll probably never have any problem. But how many boy racers buy a diesel?

I find it rather pathetic that in order to optimise the function of a device designed to protect the environment you have to thrash the engine and burn more fuel. And the cost of cleaning (£900) and replacing (£2300) will send many cars to the scrap yard long before their time is up because it is simply not worth spending that kind of money on an older car. How is that good for the environment?