DPF, fan running, warning etc.etc.

[John Bilko]

I had a warning notice come on

"Risk of filter clogging"

Then the engine warning light came on and a notice

"Engine fault".

On top of that the fan remained on even when I got home after I switched off.  

The fan has done this about 3  times over the few weeks I have owned it.

So I got home and did a bit of research on the forum and that's how I now reckon it to be the DPF.

I have only used the motor for short runs since I got it a few weeks ago though it did it on my first outing which was a 40 minute drive there and back.

My question is what to do next?  Also it has had the smell that I read about like a burning whiff!!

[Sol]

Either the DPF is actually clogged, the Eolys pouch is empty or both.

Chances are though, you just hit 100k miles, that's the lifespan (in Citroen world) of a DPF and Eolys additive pouch before all the warnings start coming up.

It will need checked out properly to determine exactly what has happened. Probably best to use a trusted garage.

The fans staying on and the burning smell is the ECU trying to do a regeneration on the DPF. If it fails, or you stop the engine while it was in progress, the fans run for ages after switch off to cool the DPF down from the 1000 degrees it was at.

It may need a forced regeneration done by a garage, but at least needs checked to see exactly what's up. Not usually a weekend tinkering task.

[John Bilko]

Either the DPF is actually clogged, the Eolys pouch is empty or both.

Chances are though, you just hit 100k miles, that's the lifespan (in Citroen world) of a DPF and Eolys additive pouch before all the warnings start coming up.

It will need checked out properly to determine exactly what has happened. Probably best to use a trusted garage.

The fans staying on and the burning smell is the ECU trying to do a regeneration on the DPF. If it fails, or you stop the engine while it was in progress, the fans run for ages after switch off to cool the DPF down from the 1000 degrees it was at.

It may need a forced regeneration done by a garage, but at least needs checked to see exactly what's up. Not usually a weekend tinkering task.

Unfortunately I did not know what was going on.

Citroen want £100/30 mins working on the car.

I am going to try Redex DPF additive and give the motor a bit of a run.  Generally I do about 20 miles a week which is anathema to diesels but automatics in this style vehicles only comes in diesel at my price range.

[Buki]

It's most likely the cooling fan resistor fault. The thermal fuse in it blows and the fan loses the low speed. As a result, the DPF regeneration process does not start, because the low speed required for the regeneration.

[Sol]

I'd never heard that one before @Buki. Good tip, worth checking if it's straight forward.

John, I'll look out the diagrams for the cooling fans tomorrow and post them up, if you fancy checking yours.

[John Bilko]

It's most likely the cooling fan resistor fault. The thermal fuse in it blows and the fan loses the low speed.  As a result, the DPF regeneration process does not start, because the low speed required for the regeneration.

I hear the fan drop to a lower speed after it has run for a while at top speed following switching off.

[Sol]

Unfortunately I did not know what was going on.

Citroen want £100/30 mins working on the car.

I am going to try Redex DPF additive and give the motor a bit of a run.  Generally I do about 20 miles a week which is anathema to diesels but automatics in this style vehicles only comes in diesel at my price range.

That is definitely worth a shot to see. Get it up to temp (90) and sit in 5th or 4th at 65-70  for a while, see if it starts, if you have heated mirrors you will kow when it starts a regen as it will heat them up, without you switching the rear screen on. You would have to feel the glass with the back of your hand. When not turned on but hot, its got a regeneration on the go.

Out of interest, what is the current mileage?

[John Bilko]

Unfortunately I did not know what was going on.

Citroen want £100/30 mins working on the car.

I am going to try Redex DPF additive and give the motor a bit of a run.  Generally I do about 20 miles a week which is anathema to diesels but automatics in this style vehicles only comes in diesel at my price range.

That is definitely worth a shot to see. Get it up to temp (90) and sit in 5th or 4th at 65-70  for a while, see if it starts, if you have heated mirrors you will know when it starts a regen as it will heat them up, without you switching the rear screen on. You would have to feel the glass with the back of your hand. When not turned on but hot, its got a regeneration on the go.

Out of interest, what is the current mileage?

Current mileage is around 75000.
Bodily it is in very good condition.  However, with the trouble I have had getting the undertray off, I am seriously concerned that the F.S.History is not accurate especially as it looks like the oil has been in it for all its ten years!
I have a gent coming tomorrow to run a diagnostic on the DPF so I'll be able to speak more after that.
When I lived in Brum I had access to all sorts of motorways and dual carriageways for a burn up but here in Lincs the roads are crawlers.

[jj9]

The oil in the 1.6 HDi always looks filthy & like it's been in for 10 years, even shortly after changing it and the EGR system makes this worse.

The best advice anyone could give you with this engine is to change the oil at 6K  (half of the recommended interval of 12K) and blank the EGR valve if it doesn't cause the EML (engine management light) to come on, of course that's illegal so I can't advise such activity  


I believe that a defective glow plug(s) can stop the engine performing a DPF regen also.



.

[joefollington]

It's most likely the cooling fan resistor fault. The thermal fuse in it blows and the fan loses the low speed.  As a result, the DPF regeneration process does not start, because the low speed required for the regeneration.

Hi mate, I have had dpf issues since I bought the van 3 months ago. My dpf has clogged three times so had a new one fitted last week. I have checked my fuse board for the MF3 fuse that feeds the cooling fan however it wasn’t there!? However when I turn van off occasionally the fan runs for about 5 mins. Would you suggest putting this fuse back in? Would the fuse being removed indicated there is a problem with the cooling fan module?