Update---EML off after 2 days---but next day back on again but no loss of power this time. Fingers crossed is it going to give a result this time? Is it the EGR creating problems or the DPF causing problems or something else?

So off to the main dealer for a palm reading and £86 lighter-----
I am told the main fault P0401 EGR valve shown on the readout as the header.
Underneath---P1206 Particulate Filter ( 1st level of clogg. exceeded).

Repair needed----Replace EGR, regenerate PDF, retest. Cost £320

Will this work, is it the guaranteed fault?
Answer---will only know after retest

Then next in line is PDF replacement £1200 +? and what after that?

Welcome any recommendations as to what the next step should be. Thanks in anticipation.

Advice from local one man garage who think it's the DPF and would remove it and remap.
I spoke to local (National) retuning outfit, explained the situation and the technician recommended replacing the EGR first. Then if further problems they would remove the DPF.
At least they were not touting for business and sounded like an honest opinion, so I took this advice.

I looked at cleaning/replacing the EGR valve myself. Took one look at the access to the EGR and the external condition of the visible bolts, and thought no chance. So I the ordered the new part paid in advance, via the dealers for them to fit at £320 inc regen.

I have also noted a rise in my engine oil which is now a centimetre above full I think caused by diesel oil mixing with the engine oil. I will draw off a small amount via the dipstick access and park the car ready for the repair.

I have a Citroen 2CV which I have replaced the chassis, fitted and repaired loads of bits myself, air cooled so doesn't have any water problems. Can stand 6 months and still start first time, never uses a drop of oil, only sensors are for the water and fuel
I love it even more now :slayer::slayer::slayer::slayer:

I know what you mean.

We had two Dyanes and a 2CV.
The Dyanes had centrifugal clutches too - sheer genius.

Apart from rusting and the usual renewables NOTHING ever went wrong on those cars. Year in year out, they just started, and went and went and went.

If only modern cars could be so reliable ....

Had the EGR replaced at the main dealers, apparently very seized in and I think they had to remove starter motor and a housing? to get at it from a different angle.
I am pleased I didn't start that job.
Also did an oil/filter change as the oil was polluted with diesel, and regen.
All told including original Code reading/diagnosis, factory refurbished EGR, oil and filter change it came to £509. No guarantee that was the problem just fingers crossed.

I have to say there is now quite a difference in the responsiveness of the engine, time will tell:worship:

i have an 08 doblo and my egr stuck,,it is a common problem with fiats and opels,,i bought one here in a fiat delership for just over 100 euro here in ireland but the agreement was that i brought the old one back to them ,,got it fitted,light turned off and havent had a problem since

had all done for about 160 euro,,great little van,,great driver

best ive had to be honest

brian in ireland

jetjem said:

Had the EGR replaced at the main dealers, apparently very seized in and I think they had to remove starter motor and a housing? to get at it from a different angle.
I am pleased I didn't start that job.
Also did an oil/filter change as the oil was polluted with diesel, and regen.
All told including original Code reading/diagnosis, factory refurbished EGR, oil and filter change it came to £509. No guarantee that was the problem just fingers crossed.

I have to say there is now quite a difference in the responsiveness of the engine, time will tell:worship:

Click to expand...

Hi Brian,
IF I get another problem I think i'll book it in at your garage and still afford to have a holiday at the same time

When you've done your own maintenance all your life it comes as a shock once you start paying these sort of prices

94 miles later and it started to tick over slightly lumpy again just like before, but no other symtoms and no EM lights on. So I took it for a run and put my foot down and had lots of blue smoke behind me and then cleared. It now ticks over smoothly but I can foresee problems ahead but WHAT ????
Can anybody advise what the next step should be???

I checked my oil level and had previously took a photo of the oil level after the oil had been changed. Guess what, it had risen by at least half a litre So I visited the main dealer who repaired my Doblo EGR I spoke to the technician who did the repair and asked why have I still got a problem? after paying out £510 for a repair that hasn't worked.
Answer unfortunately the EGR is linked to the DPF and must have caused problems with the DPF. Which means a new DPF at minimum £1200 is also needed.:bang:
Which means you will head for the same problem of regenerating the filter and replacing engine oil every hundred???? odd miles.
The final comment from him was, " the system does work"


This is an abominable ill thought out system, designed by idiot/s who simply did not research the technology sufficiently and certainly forgot to finish the design.
Their quest since it's inception, seems to be lets try and improve an already flawed design.

I could almost fill this forum with complaints and adverse comments from the inception of this DPF system to the present day.

Some brave manufacturer needs to get their heads out of the sand or the DPF and have the balls to say enough is enough. There is a large fortune waiting for a manufacturer who can design a better system maybe, or find a way round the problem.

I now go back to an earlier part of this thread when I said this system just lines the pockets of the dealers who do the repairs, well they got £510 from me.
Ask any ordinary working man or woman if they are happy paying these ongoing prices for system that clearly does not work.


Read the comments on these threads below, one even from all people "The Salvation Army" hey, maybe we need some divine help.
http://www.fleetnews.co.uk/news/201...ters-may-push-companies-towards-petrol/42044/

Comments from the AA.
There's no evidence in AA breakdown data that the problem's going away – newer car models seem just as likely to suffer DPF problems if not driven 'correctly' as those built when DPF's were introduced.

Good guide for a how a DPF works.
http://uk-mkivs.net/forums/t/343695.aspx

Sorry to read about your expensive woes but just as a thought with oil level rising with traces of diesel present, are you sure you've not got a leaking fuel injector seal allowing diesel to contaminate your engine oil.
Guess you would need to drain your engine oil and try and judge how much diesel is present by measuring the liquid volume.
I'm guessing that DPF oil would smell different to diesel so perhaps that would give you a pointer as to what liquid is contaminating your engine oil.
If diesel contamination is the case, you would need to recitify urgently, because the diesel would dilute your oil and could result in all sorts of engine component damage - turbo, engine bearings etc.
Another train of thought is if there is a way of measuring the DPF oil in it's reservoir to be sure if your leaking DPF oil. That said, is it possible for DPF oil to seep into the engine oil?
Is the DPF inline with the exhaust system, which in turn is attached to the EGR? If that was the case, surely the DPF oil would travel up through the EGR and then inturn be blown through the induction system. Could well stand corrected on that point.

Hi Retro Pedro--thanks for your input.

My knowledge of the DPF system is very limited, so unfortunately I have to rely on so called experts.

I spoke to the technician at the main dealers about this. He thought most likely contamination is via regeneration because I do short journeys (7-15 urban miles at a time) and in his words "modern diesels are not meant for short journeys" (great advert from a main dealership), they need a long run at least once a week.
He said the regen process will run without you knowing it but will not complete because of the short journey and this causes the excess fuel to be dumped in the engine oil. IS HE CORRECT ?

I don't think this model has a DPF reservoir.

I thought about and discussed the possibility of a leaking injector but everything so far points to the regen process. When I bought the car I did a 220 mile journey with no problems. The problems started as soon as I did short journeys.

I have no idea if the DPF is inline with the EGR. Yes they must be linked but how ???? I have no idea.

Most of the advice I get is have the DPF removed and it's looking like the road to go down. Has anyone got firsthand knowledge of this??? I would love to hear from them

Can't really offer any help regarding DPF only earsay from talking to others.
I've got a mate that as worked all his life in Mazda and Ford main dealerships. Was talking to him regarding our 07 2 litre diesel Focus and the jist I was getting is that the DPF oil is very expensive and needs checking approx. 40k miles and if necessary topping up. So from that, I guess there must be a storage reservoir/tank.
Don't know how the Fiat system works, but if the DPF oil is in a self contained unit would have thought there is a reservoir of some description to hold the oil.
Regarding modern diesels, the same mate's son works in a Skoda main dearlership and was saying that there is a Skoda diesel model in their range that they have to strongly advise potential buyers not to consider buying unless they do a long distance run on a very regular basis. With all the considerations regarding DPF regeneration, I can quite believe that.

Again, thanks for the input.
As far as I know Fiat does not have a DPF fluid tank.

I am almost certain it's diesel in the oil, and have parked it just now until it has the DPF removed. Fingers crossed after that no more regen and no more diesel in engine oil.
If regen can cause diesel to get in the oil I am almost certain that's what is happening.
If that doesn't work:worship: I will be selling it as scrap:bang: