DPF CLEAN/REPLACE/RESET

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maverickmk
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DPF CLEAN/REPLACE/RESET

Post by maverickmk »

Hello Community.

Make Citroen C4 1.6 Hdi DV6C B7 mileage 140,000 miles ave
VIN: VF7**************[VIN obfuscated, can be read by forum staff]

I ran a scan using Diagbox v7.58 and got an engine ECU related fault: P1445: Additive adding: The quantity of additive injected into the particle emission filter has exceeded the maximum threshold. The particulate emission filter must be changed.

So I then ran another scan to capture the metrics of the DPF system. That scan showed the 'cinder count' was 100% and should be closer to 0 when new. I have attached both scan results.

My question is based, on the other metrics in the detailed DPF scan, like weight of soot on the DPF, does my DPF need replacing, cleaning or some sort of simple computer reset. The service light is off and I'm not experiencing any significant driving issues.

General scan
https://ufile.io/mi3v239w
DPF SCAN
https://ufile.io/90gv0cj2



Regards,
Mitch
Last edited by maverickmk on 13 Mar 2021, 13:05, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: DPF CLEAN/REPLACE/RESET

Post by Paul-R »

@maverickmk

Mitch, could you upload your photos directly to the forum? I'm getting a lot of warnings about the hosting site and even when I ignored them had a problem downloading.
Last edited by Paul-R on 13 Mar 2021, 12:14, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: DPF CLEAN/REPLACE/RESET

Post by Paul-R »

This was posted here in another thread (which I can't find!) and is relevant to you as it's very nearly the same engine albeit a different car



There some videos posted from another guy who did various tests cleaning pieces of blocked DPF. As a result I would caution against using a power washer and would also reverse flush first to drive ash and other solids out the way they go into the honeycombe matrix.
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Re: DPF CLEAN/REPLACE/RESET

Post by Paul-R »

maverickmk wrote: 13 Mar 2021, 11:21...mileage 140,000 miles...

The service light is off and I'm not experiencing any significant driving issues.
Have you had the vehicle for most of those 140,000 miles? If not, it's possible that the previous owner cleaned/replaced the DPF but didn't use a code reader to reset the engine ECU.
As I get older I think a lot about the hereafter - I go into a room and then wonder what I'm here after.

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Re: DPF CLEAN/REPLACE/RESET

Post by Paul-R »

Paul-R wrote: 13 Mar 2021, 12:10There some videos posted from another guy who did various tests cleaning pieces of blocked DPF. As a result I would caution against using a power washer and would also reverse flush first to drive ash and other solids out the way they go into the honeycombe matrix.
Found it!

viewtopic.php?t=67304&start=15 fourth post down on the second page.
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maverickmk
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Re: DPF CLEAN/REPLACE/RESET

Post by maverickmk »

Much appreciated Paul.

Is resetting the ECU for a replaced DPF different from resetting the DPF additive counter? I have v7.** Diagbox and could give it a try. I did the additive reset in the past, but I'm unsure how the DPF reset is done (if at all possible).

I also saw some videos where a pressure washer was used to clear a DPF. Your point about moving the particles out in their natural direction of flow seems sensible-I had not thought of that. Interestingly, I have also seen videos by 'DPF specialist' companies what push the particles out the way they came in-admitedly this method seems more intuitive and easier, albeit perhaps less sensible.

The scan reports are in pdf and I'll try adding them again.

DPF
https://anonfiles.com/f0z0871as3/DPF_VF ... 621988_pdf

GENERAL SCAN
https://anonfiles.com/f1s38c11s9/SCAN_R ... 621988_pdf

Regards,
Mitch
Last edited by maverickmk on 13 Mar 2021, 13:22, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: DPF CLEAN/REPLACE/RESET

Post by GiveMeABreak »

Your vehicle's particle filter is reporting that the maximum amount of additive deposits have entered the filter (these are the Cerine elements and engine deposits that can't be burned during regeneration). So you've done over 140k miles which is over the expected life of the filter, so time to change it or have it deep cleaned.
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Re: DPF CLEAN/REPLACE/RESET

Post by maverickmk »

Thanks Marc
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Re: DPF CLEAN/REPLACE/RESET

Post by Paul-R »

No. Upload them to the forum directly. Click on the Edit Post icon your post (pencil icon), I suggest one immediately before this. Modify the text and then go down to the tab marked Attachments and click on it. Click on the button Add files. It would be better if you have an image (GIF, PNG or JPG) as this will then display in the post. I think you can upload the PDFs but I'm pretty sure it won't display. There's also a file size limit but I don't know what that is.
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Re: DPF CLEAN/REPLACE/RESET

Post by Paul-R »

Paul-R wrote: 13 Mar 2021, 12:14
maverickmk wrote: 13 Mar 2021, 11:21...mileage 140,000 miles...

The service light is off and I'm not experiencing any significant driving issues.
Have you had the vehicle for most of those 140,000 miles? If not, it's possible that the previous owner cleaned/replaced the DPF but didn't use a code reader to reset the engine ECU.
As I said, it might not need cleaning or replacing. The weight of soot and additive is calculated and if not reset will simply keep adding up.
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Re: DPF CLEAN/REPLACE/RESET

Post by GiveMeABreak »

Of course, without further confirmation, one can only go on what Diagbox is reporting as per the reports.
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Re: DPF CLEAN/REPLACE/RESET

Post by maverickmk »

@Marc
Can we confirm then without physcially removing and checking the DPF. As at that point, we may as well clean it?
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Re: DPF CLEAN/REPLACE/RESET

Post by GiveMeABreak »

I can only go by what Diagbox is reporting. It takes the amount of additive it has injected into the tank over the years / mileage and keeps a record of this, from which it calculates the estimated amount of non-combustible elements that will have accumulated in the filter. You've already exceeded the general average lifetime of the filter, so that's pretty good going.

You already mentioned Halfords - did they actually attempt a clean or did you not bother with them as a matter of interest?
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Re: DPF CLEAN/REPLACE/RESET

Post by wheeler »

maverickmk wrote: 13 Mar 2021, 12:52 Much appreciated Paul.

Is resetting the ECU for a replaced DPF different from resetting the DPF additive counter? I have v7.** Diagbox and could give it a try. I did the additive reset in the past, but I'm unsure how the DPF reset is done (if at all possible).
Yes they are 2 different things, when you replace DPF (or have a proper clean done on it) you go in via diagbox in the engine ECU then the pack repair menu & select replacement of the particlate filter this will reset the DPF load back to zero.
On this engine its pretty easy to remove the DPF for cleaning, I always try not to disturb the metal pipe going into the DPF as they can snap off, instead I disconnect the pipe from the rubber hose that it attaches to & leave the metal pipe in situ.
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Re: DPF CLEAN/REPLACE/RESET

Post by maverickmk »

@Marc
As you may be aware, Halfords offers three types of DPF cleaning services. Given my readings I asked about their Deep clean, but they recommended a Complete clean--this made sense as it appears they actually remove the DPF to do the Complete clean. However it costs over £300. That seems too expensive a clean, for me, given I have a new DPF I got on Ebay for £124, but they only fit their parts.

Regards,
Mitch
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