Also, I need to point out that when the oil was changed at the first service the oil warning hadn't come on and afterwards the service schedule was reset back to the 18000 mile countdown.
Would this have cleared any data held by the ECU regarding the number of regeneration cycles that had previously been carried out or is that a separate operation.
I can't talk for other Dealer's, but whenever we have a DPF vehicle in for a service, we print-off the data showing the "distance to next oil change" and contact the customer to discuss whether they wish to have the oil changed now or wait the 3/6/9 months that we estimate it will be due. This way you don't pay for unnecessary oil changes.
It
might be possible to look into the Examiner archive and see what the data was showing before the oil was changed, though I've never tried it, or needed to.
The ECU logs a variety of data regarding the DPF regen durations, temperatures, frequency, etc though this is an average of all the regens that have occured. It also stores the mileage at the last regen, and some ECU's list the total number of regens and the number of regens since the last oil change. This data is only reset if the Dealer has to fit a new Particulate filter.
Surely it's not regenerating after prolonged high speed driving!!! - is it?
When I stop during the growler periods the engine/exhaust is worrying hot and you can smell it when you get out of the car. You can also hear the exhaust system clicking and popping as it cools. My Vauxhall Zafira diesel used to do very similar and again stopping and re-starting would change the engine note.
It regenerates whenever the various sensors and data show it is required. Fiat state that although it is possible to get the exhaust temps high enough to naturally clear the filter by driving alone, the conditions required are hard to achieve- so it's easier to just drive normally and let the system do it itself.
The exhaust does get extremely hot during a regeneration. Fiat advise that any forced regens are performed outside the workshop and the area behind the vehicle is kept clear.
Grimwau, I'm sorry to hear you're still having problems, even after Fiat Technical have got involved. If every parameter is within spec then maybe it has got to the stage where replacing the DPF or other components is necessary to finally locate a cause that isn't showing-up under normal conditions.
The high oil level is definately a concern as Fiat insist it should be 2mm below max to prevent oil being drawn through the breathers and clogging the DPF quicker. I'd look into getting it drained slightly, and while your Dealer is there they can see roughly when the oil is likely to need replacing again.
