How to tell if your HDI is doing a DPF regen...

[Sol]

Hi folks,

If you want to know when your HDI 1.6 is doing a DPF regen (so you don't interrupt it by switching off) then get a 12v LED from eBay with trailing wires, hook it up to the Heated mirror terminals on the drivers side mirror (assuming you have heated mirrors or this is no use to you) and push the head through a small hole drilled in the side casing, nearest the window. Hold in place with glue / araldite / Duct tape etc (delete as appropriate) - the mirror pops off by hand to get in there, just tilt it and pull on one edge, tis a ball joint and pushes back on easily.

You can ensure the polarity is correct by switching on the heated mirrors and making sure the LED comes on when the mirrors are manually switched on.

Next time your ECU decides it needs to regen, it will turn all non-essential electrical loads on, including the heated mirrors (but it doesn't illuminate the inside tell-tale on the switch). The LED will come on, and if you haven't of course put the mirror heating on yourself, then you will know it is doing a regen - and to keep driving till the LED goes out again.

[Guanock]

Hi Zion
That's interesting. Often wondered if it would be obvious when regenerating, the Berlingo is my first car with DPF.
Would this work on my K9 1.5 Blue HDI?
Second question: I understand that there are two different modes of regen: Passive and Active. I guess your lamp would only illuminate during an Active regen, is that right?

Geoff

[Sol]

Yes, I think it could work on yours too. Passive regen is really just a mild version of the active one as far as I can tell. But if the ECU initiates it according to soot loading (usual routine) then according to the TIS it will put the heated mirrors on, so when mine was doing its last regen, and driving in town all the time, it does one every 140 miles, I checked and sure enough, the mirror glasses were now hot.

I know when mine is doing one as it hunts slightly while idling and I've gotten pretty tuned into it but also I use the diagnostic kit to check when it did the last one, and knew it was about to do it again.

I always thought they should have fitted an indication lamp so you know it is happening and not to switch off till it completes. At least with the LED, you know what to do when you see it come on and it wasn't you putting them on.

[Guanock]

Thanks for your reply.
I have never been aware of a regen taking place, I occasionally give the exhaust a bit of a blast, but like you, most of my use is at low revs in and around town.
I have only done about 2000 miles since owning the Berlingo, so am expecting the Adblue warning soon.
There is another thread running "DPF fluid and regen" where he has info displayed on his screen. Can I access that info on my K9, it looked quite comprehensive.
So, why does the ECU switch on non-essential elements is it to load the alternator?
You have chosen to wire the indicator lamp to the mirror wiring, are there no internal devices that would make wiring simpler?

Regards
Geoff

[Sol]

Nothing internal that I've found yet. The mirror is a good thing to use as it's guaranteed to go on during a regen. It adds all electrical consumers which load up the alternator and make it easier to ramp up the fuelling without increasing revs too far.

The info on display in that OPs thread, is just a warning is it not? There isn't a display available on the B9 to read the DPF status.

[Guanock]

I will pull the mirror and check to see if connection is simple.

Thanks

Geoff

[Mike]

What happens if you turn off whilst it is doing a regen?

[Sol]

Nothing internal that I've found yet. The mirror is a good thing to use as it's guaranteed to go on during a regen. It adds all electrical consumers which load up the alternator and make it easier to ramp up the fuelling without increasing revs too far.

The info on display in that OPs thread, is just a warning is it not? There isn't a display available on the B9 to read the DPF status.

It's a pair of brown wires, really easy to access, they plug onto male spades on the back of the mirror glass. The LED will have to be connected the right way round, hence test by turning on the mirror supply at the dash button and if the LED doesn't light, turn it around.

[Sol]

What happens if you turn off whilst it is doing a regen?

Hi Mike, if you stop the engine while it is the middle of a regen, for one thing the CAT and DPF are at 650-750 DegC so they can't cool easily, usually the schema is for the ECU to turn the fans on at max speed and run them for a good while to cool the combined CAT/DPF unit. Since there would be no airflow if that didn't happen, then its a fire risk. Bonnet soundproofing for example.

Then the soot is likely to set harder when part cooked and will need to be regenned immediately on the next start up once the coolant is over 60 Deg-C

The final and worst aspect is heat-soak from the CAT/DPF unit into the metalwork of the turbo. Now that the oil is no longer flowing through the cartridge unit, the 700 Deg-C CAT temp can just easily soak into the turbo body and cook the oil sitting in the cartridge bearings.

[Guanock]

Hi.

I do not have either Diagbox or Lexia, so can I force a regen?

Geoff