Technical DPF query

[PJ674]

Hello,
I've got an emissions issue with my 60 plate, 1.6 multijet Doblo, and I'm hoping the extensive knowledge base on here can help me sort it out.
I bought the van with an MOT from a dealer in 2019, and its since gone through 6 MOT's at 2 depots without any emissions issues. This time - first time at a third depot, it has failed on emissions big time. Van is running fine with no noticeable smoke issue.
The repair garage have replaced the fuel filter and flushed through the diesel system, but this has apparently only made a small difference to the readings. Garage have said the problem could be anything, and it could soon be economically unviable to repair.
They also asked if the engine had been replaced or if I had removed the DPF, as it is not in place. I do work on my vehicle, but haven't touched either of those items - indeed, if it wasn't for this issue arising, I would have been none the wiser as to what a DPF is (or was in van 's case!).
Upon research, I see that it is an offence to remove such an item, and it is also an MOT failure to not have a DPF if one should be fitted. Looking at the engine briefly, I can see a small bore metal pipe coming from the area of the block, that looks like it should be connected to something.
So, I'm wondering several things.....

1/ Should my vehicle have a DPF, and where do I go to find out whether it should or not?
2/ If it should have one, is it feasible to retro fit one?
3/ Is the lack of a DPF likely to cause very high emissions readings?

 

[Greasytrucker]

Hello,
I've got an emissions issue with my 60 plate, 1.6 multijet Doblo, and I'm hoping the extensive knowledge base on here can help me sort it out.
I bought the van with an MOT from a dealer in 2019, and its since gone through 6 MOT's at 2 depots without any emissions issues. This time - first time at a third depot, it has failed on emissions big time. Van is running fine with no noticeable smoke issue.
The repair garage have replaced the fuel filter and flushed through the diesel system, but this has apparently only made a small difference to the readings. Garage have said the problem could be anything, and it could soon be economically unviable to repair.
They also asked if the engine had been replaced or if I had removed the DPF, as it is not in place. I do work on my vehicle, but haven't touched either of those items - indeed, if it wasn't for this issue arising, I would have been none the wiser as to what a DPF is (or was in van 's case!).
Upon research, I see that it is an offence to remove such an item, and it is also an MOT failure to not have a DPF if one should be fitted. Looking at the engine briefly, I can see a small bore metal pipe coming from the area of the block, that looks like it should be connected to something.
So, I'm wondering several things.....

1/ Should my vehicle have a DPF, and where do I go to find out whether it should or not?
2/ If it should have one, is it feasible to retro fit one?
3/ Is the lack of a DPF likely to cause very high emissions readings?

Something doesn’t add up because as far as i’m aware diesels only have a smoke test rather than an emissions test like a petrol engine. If the DPF has obviously been removed then yes it will fail on this point, but not on emissions, only for excessive smoke. Being a 60 plate I’m positive it would have had a DPF when it left the factory

 

[the green vanper]

Hello,

Sorry, I have to tell that:

diesels keep this forum alive

60 plate, what year is that? what is the EUR norm of the engine? it should be marked in the V5C (I hope) and on the identification plate under the bonnet.

 

[PJ674]

Something doesn’t add up because as far as i’m aware diesels only have a smoke test rather than an emissions test like a petrol engine. If the DPF has obviously been removed then yes it will fail on this point, but not on emissions, only for excessive smoke. Being a 60 plate I’m positive it would have had a DPF when it left the factory

Thanks for your reply.
I just nipped and got the fail sheet and it says 'Exhaust emissions exceed manufacturer's specified limit [8.2.2.2(a)]

 

[Greasytrucker]

Just found this, sorry my mistake as wasn’t aware of this. I’m guessing you may have too look into refitting a DPF if it’s been removed https://www.motester.co.uk/diesel-mot-test-limit-changes/amp/

 

[PJ674]

Hello,

Sorry, I have to tell that:

diesels keep this forum alive

60 plate, what year is that? what is the EUR norm of the engine? it should be marked in the V5C (I hope) and on the identification plate under the bonnet.

Thanks for your reply - I can see what you mean about diesels!
It was first registered in 2010. I've got the V5 in front of me - is that the type approval number?

 

[PJ674]

Just found this, sorry my mistake as wasn’t aware of this. I’m guessing you may have too look into refitting a DPF if it’s been removed https://www.motester.co.uk/diesel-mot-test-limit-changes/amp/

Hey - thanks for that. A great find. There was mention of a value of 0.3, so maybe that is marked on the plate somewhere.

 

[the green vanper]

Heh, 2010 is the year they changed the model.

Is it this one:

Or that one (EDIT: the one below is the 263 model)

 

[clayts450]

All of the 263 series of diesel Doblos will have DPFs.

The MOT rules are at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/mot-ins...nger-and-light-commercial-vehicles/8-nuisance under exhaust emissions (specifically opacity).

If there wasn't a DPF fitted that should have been a straight fail

 

[the green vanper]

263 series

FIAT messed up for the coding again?

 

[PJ674]

Heh, 2010 is the year they changed the model.

Is it this one:

View attachment 459351

Or that one:

View attachment 459352

The lower one - 152 with the small grill and long lights

 

[clayts450]

That's actually the 263 - not sure why that says 152

 

[the green vanper]

The lower one - 152 with the small grill and long lights

So I assume @clayts450 is right about the DPF. It's the newer model.

 

[the green vanper]

That's actually the 263 - not sure why that says 152

eLearn, as you can (probably) see. I was wondering why the newer model has a lower code... Nevermind

EDIT: God, even wikipedia knows better than the Italians.

 

[PJ674]

All of the 263 series of diesel Doblos will have DPFs.

The MOT rules are at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/mot-ins...nger-and-light-commercial-vehicles/8-nuisance under exhaust emissions (specifically opacity).

If there wasn't a DPF fitted that should have been a straight fail

Yes, so it would seem. It should also have been a fail when it was sold to me, and in each MOT it has had since 2019.

 

[clayts450]

1/ Should my vehicle have a DPF, and where do I go to find out whether it should or not?
2/ If it should have one, is it feasible to retro fit one?
3/ Is the lack of a DPF likely to cause very high emissions readings?

1. Actually, I'm rethinking my answer here - DPFs only became a mandatory thing in 2011. I'm pretty sure Fiat would have been ahead of the curve on this, as I know they fitted them on the older 223s (first photo). I'll do some searching for you.
2. I suspect what may have happened is that someone has cracked open the DPF canister, gutted it and re-welded it. If you didn't have the DPF fitted it would be a very noisy van, given it's a close-coupled system with the catalytic converter at the front - the cat and DPF sit in the same metal tube. You should be able to pick up a Euro 4 o.r 5 aftermarket DPF relatively cheap I would think (a Euro 6 aftermarket DPF doesn't seem to exist so would be very expensive)
3. Put simply, yes. More because it would likely fail the opacity test as more soot particles would come out of the exhaust - the DPF prevents this from happening.

 

[clayts450]

If it were me......? Bang some good quality diesel treatment (Forte, Archoil) in the tank, go for a long old drive and hoon it, get the van hot, and present it to a different MOT station in that 'freshly tuned' state.

Did they give you the emissions sheet ?

 

[PJ674]

If it were me......? Bang some good quality diesel treatment (Forte, Archoil) in the tank, go for a long old drive and hoon it, get the van hot, and present it to a different MOT station in that 'freshly tuned' state.

Did they give you the emissions sheet ?

No emissions sheet unfortunately. I'm wondering if there has been a communication breakdown between the garage and the MOT station and they've attempted to repair something (and charged a decent sum) that the station wouldn't pass anyway!
Am tempted to change the air filter, give it a filter and oil change, and a decent diesel treatment, and see what happens to the emissions value at least.

 

[clayts450]

No emissions sheet unfortunately. I'm wondering if there has been a communication breakdown between the garage and the MOT station and they've attempted to repair something (and charged a decent sum) that the station wouldn't pass anyway!
Am tempted to change the air filter, give it a filter and oil change, and a decent diesel treatment, and see what happens to the emissions value at least.

Sounds like a very good plan

 

[PJ674]

1. Actually, I'm rethinking my answer here - DPFs only became a mandatory thing in 2011. I'm pretty sure Fiat would have been ahead of the curve on this, as I know they fitted them on the older 223s (first photo). I'll do some searching for you.
2. I suspect what may have happened is that someone has cracked open the DPF canister, gutted it and re-welded it. If you didn't have the DPF fitted it would be a very noisy van, given it's a close-coupled system with the catalytic converter at the front - the cat and DPF sit in the same metal tube. You should be able to pick up a Euro 4 o.r 5 aftermarket DPF relatively cheap I would think (a Euro 6 aftermarket DPF doesn't seem to exist so would be very expensive)
3. Put simply, yes. More because it would likely fail the opacity test as more soot particles would come out of the exhaust - the DPF prevents this from happening.

1/ That's a very kind offer - thank you.
2/ I need to have a look to see exactly what has been removed/replaced etc. I've tried to find a decent set of pictures of the filter for reference but nothing good as yet - apart from pictures of removed ones.
3/ Is the Opacity test a quantitative test or a qualitative one?