A work in progress.

[euromodder]

Originally Posted by Arragonis

Any updates on the regen issue ?

No.

Last time I asked - over 1 month ago - the dealership was waiting on word from Volvocars Belgium.
Sure looks like they've all gone mute there .

This hit UK TV last week with the BBC Watchdog program reporting issues with several Diesels - mainly FIAT 500s and Nissans but obviously not limited to those.

Issues with clogging or hyper-regenerating DPFs and EGR valves are fairly common. Bucking during regen is another issue.

Those who still think "clean" diesels are the solution, would better reconsider other options.

- A reprogram of the ECU to disable the DPF - not sure how this is done.

Can't be done, ultimately it'd clog the DPF.
Back-pressure would rise gradually, and so would FC.
Performance would drop off.

- An additive which cleans it out

How would they get it through the engine first ?

- A description on how to clear it out manually

That's pretty simple - at least in theory.
Disconnect the pressure differential tubing and (on mine) 1 connector and get the DPF out of the exhaust line.
Take a pressure washer and give it a good wash down.
Dry it out, and refit it.

Obviously, this releases the soot into the environment.
Equally obvious, it's a lot of work in a very confined engine bay.

In my case, it wouldn't help a bit : 2 new DPFs didn't solve the issue either.


Cleaning out the DPF is an alternative to having the DPF replaced - not to it's periodical regeneration.

[euromodder]

I'm reconsidering the wisdom of posting this thread in the Success Stories forum.
Obviously, it's hardly a success.
And neither is the car.

I'm also reconsidering the wisdom of referring to progress in the title.
There isn't much progress anymore, as my fuel consumption has reached a plateau.

Currently, the only progress is even more issues coming up.

Looking under the hood, I spotted a dirty, oily spot.
On closer inspection, the cap on the power steering fluid reservoir looked a bit weird. It's not the original, and it doesn't fit at all, spilling a good part of the fluid.

This is what it should look like :


The attachment shows what I found on my car.

[Arragonis]

Time to kick up more of a fuss at the stealers.

[euromodder]

I've ordered a new cap from another dealer and went to pick it up earlier today.
They also topped the hydraulic oil from a plastic 1L bottle.
Guess what, the cap of the oil bottle is identical to what was put on my reservoir.

Just confirmed by Shell : the oil on the invoice for my 120.000km service isn't a Low-SAPS ACEA C2 oil as required for my engine with DPF !

Guess when the DPF regenerating issues started !

[Arragonis]

Are they going to fix it ?

For free ?

Properly this time ?

[Piwoslaw]

Originally Posted by euromodder

I've ordered a new cap from another dealer and went to pick it up earlier today.
They also topped the hydraulic oil from a plastic 1L bottle.
Guess what, the cap of the oil bottle is identical to what was put on my reservoir.

Ha! Now all you have to do is find the bottle without a cap and you'll be on to something
Do you think that the wrong oil could have messed up the DPF? But you've replaced both theoil and the DPF since then, correct? And the issues haven't stopped?
Good luck...

[euromodder]

Originally Posted by Piwoslaw

Ha! Now all you have to do is find the bottle without a cap and you'll be on to something

Yeah.
As far as I'm concerned, the wrong cap was deliberately put on.
Trying to screw it on like anyone would normally do, it'd come undone again.

Do you think that the wrong oil could have messed up the DPF?

Absolutely.
It clogs up with sulphated and phosphated ashes that can't be burned off by the regenerating process.
Result : the filter is always partially blocked, and regeneration becomes more frequent, because it can never burn the DPF completely free.

That's why you need low SAPS oils with a DPF.

But you've replaced both the oil and the DPF since then, correct?

Twice, actually.

And the issues haven't stopped?

At the 120.000km service, I didn't have the DPF changed as it was still working OK.
Dealer changed the oil to an unsuitable Shell 5W40 according to the invoice - 5W40 is also out of the viscosity spec for the engine !

After that, the DPF issues started.
Driving to Germany late in August 2010, it regenerated 5 times in 1.000km.
I didn't keep a log back then, but I've mentioned in this thread.

Late September 2010, it developed issues while on holiday in the Czech Republic.
The DPF was changed, but not the oil.

At the 140.000km service, the by then 12% diluted oil was changed back to 0W30 at my request.
But the 0W30 specified on the invoice, isn't DPF rated either as I've just found out !

At around 143.000km, the oil level had rissen again, so I had it changed once more.
Again, they used the wrong specced Shell oil.

Around 146.000km, Hägar went to the main dealer of the group for a 3 week examination period. They changed the entire air intake tubing and the DPF once again, but as far as I know, they didn't change the oil.

I've given the dealer group a week to respond, and another 2 weeks to put it right.

If they don't , I have legal cover on the car which can be used for this kind of disputes, and it will go that way.

[Arragonis]

Have you looked for any Priui for sale in your area ?

If you do check for rattles...

[euromodder]

Originally Posted by Arragonis

Have you looked for any Priui for sale in your area ?
If you do check for rattles...

I don't like buying used cars, and I don't like the Prius much.

I'll keep the Volvo - using minimal maintenance & repair - until it falls apart.
It's a very practical, safe car, it seats 5 or takes a lot of cargo, it's paid for, and I have enough tyres to last another 100.000 km .
Ditching the expensive Volvo servicing will improve the cost/mile
I don't want to sell this piece of solidified misery to someone else, so it's going to the breakers when I'm done with it.

I'll likely get a fun car on the side.
Yes, I'm a sinner

[Piwoslaw]

So if you're keeping it will you go all out with aeromods?
And what with the unfortunate DPF, remove+emulator?