Technical DPF removal!

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Technical DPF removal!

Joined
Jan 5, 2010
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Location
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After much research and deliberation, I have finally decided to get my DPF removed and the Ecu remapped. I couldn't find any info on here about it, but it's a common modification on the the Alfa forums.

I had ordered a new DPF because mine was 69% clogged only 12 miles after a regen and the Ecu was trying to carry out a regen every 80 miles or so!! A cleaner had got the pressure readings down substantially but the clogging remained and I believe it to be the cause of my turbo problems. Hopefully this will be the end of my problems. For those who are interested the readings were:
before the cleaner: @800/2000/4000 revs 12/28/68
after the cleaner: 4/8/16 but with the clogging pretty much the same.

I had booked it in to have it cleaned, but general opinion is that it is only a short term fix. I just happened to ring a local tuning company (Celtic Tuning) that are very well respected and they now do DPF deleting on the Ecu. So after a chat with them and a couple of other people I am going to remove the innards and get the remap done next weekend. I will keep you informed on the outcome.
 
69% isnt too bad, remember 100% is not fully clogged.

I am still wary when it comes to MOT if the DPF has to be fitted? I would assume wih the widespread usage of DPF's it will become a MOT fail if not fitting in the future?

From what you describe I think you may well have a fault elsewhere that is affecting the DPF, have you monitored all other parameters at all temperature ranges and put on a 4 gas to see exactly whats coming out?
 
That's why I decided to leave the DPF in place and not use a replacement pipe. The remap can be be easily reversed and a new DPF installed if required. The problem I find with the Croma having a DPF, is that even at motorway speeds the revs are far too low for a decent regen to take place. At the moment the DPF isn't part of the MOT, even for post 2009 cars that are required to have them fitted.
 
No mine's a 2.4.
The DPF is the most ridiculous idea yet! The trouble they cause coupled with the extra fuel required to regenerate them must out-way any long term benefit they give. If I had know the Croma had one before I bought it, I would have seriously considered avoiding it. But now I have it I love it and I can't think of any other car I would rather have.
 
How long have you had the car?

I beg to differ on the benefits or lack of in respect of DPF's. Due to the environment I often work in and I have given lectures on DPF's/emissions I am all for them. However as I have mentioned elsewhere it's a moral choice down to the individual.

I take it you have diagnostic software to read the ECU, could you put up the parameters all relating to the DPF and I cam have a quick glance in case something is amiss?
 
Our DPF is an empty shell of what it once was.

A leak in the exhaust flexible meant the car was regenerating often, but with no impact on the clogging. Cost 2 turbos and a front pipe. Faced with needing to buy a new DPF it was gutted and the engine remapped.

Certainly for us, the DPF has been a very costly part.
 
Thanks T14086 but unfortunately I haven't got any saved data! I connected Fiatecuscan prior to putting the cleaner in, kept a mental note and then checked it again afterwards. Any help would be much appreciated, though I still intend to go ahead with the remap. What parameters do you need? I will save a graph this time (if I can work out how to).
 
I've never noticed mine regenerating in the three years I've had it, until last week. I'd done a cruise on an A road at 60mph in 6th, and stopped at a roundabout and got an awful burning smell - I guess the wind was blowing from behind.

A few minutes later I was reversing and saw the grey clouds puffing out from under the car.

I put it down to the DPF, but later started to wonder if the alternator had popped. A check with a meter confirmed that it's still working fine though.

I'm now wondering whether some fluid or other is dripping onto the DPF, especially after the Watchdog stories about Insignias bursting into flames as they drip power steering fluid onto the DPF.

It's a mystery, but I'm hoping that it was just that I happened to stop at the moment when the regen was in full flow.

Regarding the MOT, the Croma was a long time ahead of a DPF being a requirement. If any MOT check is only for cars registered after a certain date then you should be OK. I doubt the DVLA have any records of exactly which cars should/shouldn't have them.

At least the back end of the car stays clean with a DPF. I've seen diesels that are black at the back.
 
I've never noticed mine regenerating in the three years I've had it, until last week. I'd done a cruise on an A road at 60mph in 6th, and stopped at a roundabout and got an awful burning smell - I guess the wind was blowing from behind.

A few minutes later I was reversing and saw the grey clouds puffing out from under the car.

I put it down to the DPF, but later started to wonder if the alternator had popped. A check with a meter confirmed that it's still working fine though.

I'm now wondering whether some fluid or other is dripping onto the DPF, especially after the Watchdog stories about Insignias bursting into flames as they drip power steering fluid onto the DPF.

It's a mystery, but I'm hoping that it was just that I happened to stop at the moment when the regen was in full flow.

Regarding the MOT, the Croma was a long time ahead of a DPF being a requirement. If any MOT check is only for cars registered after a certain date then you should be OK. I doubt the DVLA have any records of exactly which cars should/shouldn't have them.

At least the back end of the car stays clean with a DPF. I've seen diesels that are black at the back.

Check your exhaust for leaks, especially the flexible. The only clue we might have had that it was leaking was occasionally there was a burning smell.
 
One problem maybe i can see of removing the DPF on the 2.4 is the gearbox getting confused regarding gear changing.Before i fitted the steinbauer to mine i thought of getting it remapped,only problem seemed to be the chance of the DPF blocking up with the extra fuel of the enhanced map.I enquired about removing the DPF.Not many fiat/alfa specialists were convinced it was a good idea.Refering to the autobox as being the problem.
It would seem the box is calibrated to take into account of the DPF being in place.Very interesting though,good to see what happens.
 
That is an interesting point. The gearbox is a very clever bit of kit and relies on several sensors to operate correctly, I have been extremely impressed with the way it works. If it does interfere with it's operation I have 14 days to fit a new DPF and have the remap reversed c/w full refund. I hope you are wrong though :D
 
Yeah so do i.When i fitted the steinbauer it immeditely altered the way the gearbox reacted.By this i mean it changed gear alot earlier,held on to gears longer uphill,and even started using 6th at 60mph solo or towing.I cant decide whether this is good or bad,it seems to load components up more and the sharpness has gone,mainly down to the fact it never wants to kickdown really.Its a bit like an elastic band.
 
Well the DPF is gutted and refitted and the Croma is going in tomorrow to have the remap. Thank you Hellcat, I checked the flexi and its starting to blow on top at the DPF end. It was completely hidden from the underneath. I will have to replace that soon, though it doesn't seem too bad at the moment.
 
I have done approximately 50 miles since the remap this morning - and I haven't stopped smiling yet! The car now behaves as it should have done from the beginning and the power delivery is fantastic.

What I like is that the power comes on tap when you want it too. The Croma still feels like a relaxing cruiser, but when you want to overtake it's so effortless and safe. No more warning lights and no more shuddering etc. It was an educated guess when I thought that the DPF was causing my Turbo problems, so I am glad that I was proven right.

A word of warning though to anyone who wants to remove their DPF, try and get it all done at the same place. I had to drive the car with the DPF removed and it wasn't happy at all ;O)
 
That is awesome news.Has the remap been done just to flash the dpf of the control unit or an increase in power too.Any black smoke?What about the gearbox performance?
 
Thanks Buster, the ECU was remapped for power as well as deleting the DPF function. The quoted figure is 250 Bhp! The first couple of times I accelerated hard, there was the usual black smoke that is normal with non DPF cars, but there hasn't been any further smoke. Just needed a good clear out. The gearbox hasn't been affected at all, I just need to sort out the manual side to make the most of the power ;O)
 
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