HI forum,

December 2018 bought a Fiat Ducato L2H2 model 115 multijet from 2015 with 75000km done.

The plan was to convert it into our dream campervan, which we have done.

We live in Holland, the part which this issue resolves around is called the Roetfilter, we think it is called sootfilter in English > its the filter which cleans the diesel fumes so that the engine is a ´ clean' one (euro 5 engine) (we think)

The previous owner, we found out on during the MOT in March 2020 , had disabled the sootfilter software and emptied the sootfilter. therefore we pumped out to much soot. This resulted in smelly exhaust (which already was happening from the beginning when we bought it).

The smell which came out of the exhaust seemed to get worse so we decided to reinstall the software and get a new sootfilter fitted.

This new sootfilter was filling up very quickly, so we had 4 new injectors fitted (3 of them were knackered) as well as a new EGR Valve as this was broken too.

We also become aware that we are 'losing' oil as we have had to fill it up numerous times even there are no oil leakages on the drive .

The sootfilter is getting saturated at a enormous pace (67% saturation on a new sootfiler) within only 390 km done.

All in all we have spent fortunes on this van already for the above (nearly 5k )

Now, the garage cannot find any other cause and is recommending replacing the engine at they think oil is leaking into the engine and into the filter itself.

They think that the oilleak is coming from the pistons.

It is a repair we cannot afford without any guarantees that this will be the final fix. The estimated amount it would cost is 6000

What would you guys do..

Thanks in advance from a very desperate british/dutch couple living in holland..

Hello Markalkmaar

My sympathies with this problem


Your Van has the relatively recent 115PS 2 Litre Fiat Engine.

In the UK, the exhaust filter is called the Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF). It traps the residual soot (carbon particles) in the exhaust gas, This collected soot is later removed by turning it into carbon dioxide during regeneration. Effectively it is burnt, which cleans out the DPF. The regeneration process should happen automatically from time to time if you drive fast enough and long enough, not easy in the Netherlands! There are sensors before and after the DPF so that the engine management knows what is happening to the DPF.

DPF removal is now illegal in the UK, and I expect the same is true in Holland.


If engine oil is leaking past the piston rings (which seal the piston in the cylinder), it is burnt in the engine along with the diesel fuel. This will produce additional soot, which will make the DPF fill up more quickly. From your description of smelly exhaust and rapid DPF filling you seem to have an extreme case of this problem.


Even an older Euro 4 engine with no DPF should produce no noticeable smoke or strong smell from the exhaust when warmed up.


Unfortunately, if the piston rings are at fault the only solution is an engine rebuild or replacement. It sounds as though the previous owner has simply masked the underlying problem.

It would be nice to think you could get some money back from the seller. Only you can judge if that is an avenue worth exploring, but I supect it's not worth the angst !

Thank you very much for your message and explanations Anthony,

The seller was actually a middleman and I doubt whether we can recover anything from them indeed.

The garage thinks that it is leaking from the pistons but cannot guarantee that it really is.

I guess we are wondering whether there is something else which could be causing these problems, or whether someone on here has experienced the same which was perhaps solved in a different manner..

I know, hopeful and clutching on straws but who knows..

Thanks again

May be irrelevant but I had a Ducato motorhome some years ago, and it was using oil despite really low mileage (25000km). Was a blockage in a breather hose which had got kinked and had collapsed internally.
Dealer missed it, local garage picked it up at MOT.
Had similar symptoms to worn piston rings, but a lot cheaper to fix.
Didn't have a DPF, but smoked a lot until fixed.
Worth checking.

Definitely worth checking, thank you so much for this suggestion IRC!!

Cheers

Mark & Fleur

Just to try and help.
Of you are burning oil excessively due to worn piston rings etc. You should see the oil level in the engine sump dropping.
You may also get difficult starting.

Has the garage done a 'compression test'. I am not sure if this can be done on a diesel engine, but if your rings are worn or broken your cylinder pressures will be reduced.
This test may not be possible on this engine, a glow plug perhaps is removed and replaced with a pressure sensor on each cylinder on turn.
Not expensive if it can be done.

Also you will have a low level of power from the engine.

A. Do not buy another engine yet.
Firstly, Monitor rate of oil loss.
Then change oil but use a thicker oil.
Monitor levels closely after and compare rate of loss.
....it may help?

Also...DPFs are bad news with issues like you described.
With many, you must allow it to finish a regeneration to burn off soot and clear it.
This uses a lot more fuel.
A good highway run for 1+ hour should complete it. It must complete regeneration.
Not sure how you set this on your model Ducato?

Worn piston rings cause blowby and compression loss.
There are simple tell tale signs.
A proper garage ....would be able to tell you for sure.

If it is sooting up, it could also be electronic sensors failed.
eg. Check your CTS.

Could be your turbo?

Seek another opinion away from original garage.

There are many simple things it could be.
Get another inspection from elsewhere.

I doubt it would be piston rings at 75k, its possible but I wouldn't expect that for at least another 100k wrong oil would be my first suspect. Get lots of opinions from different garages try to find a diesel specialist or a commercial vehicle workshop to have a look, diesel engines are very complex these days so someone that only works on diesel engines would be better at diagnosis.

Theres a good chance the dpf off came with a crappy remap also which would lead to lots of soot. But sticking egr or throttle valve would also create lots of soot.