C5 x7 -> risk of clogging particle filter

[somethingSome]

2) On your vehicle the DPF should be replaced at 100k miles officially. The additive should be refilled at 75k miles. Some vehicles then specify a check every so many thousand miles if not topped up and reset, but yours just states to refill it at 75k.

I was under that impression too, that's why I argued with Citroen in the first place. But they insisted I should wash it.
After finding out that the soot levels are at 18% I can't understand why they choose to recommend that at all. I don't think the dpf is causing the warning, the car has no performance issues, so no reason to suspect that it could be a bad reading.

I much more inclined to suspect a sensor or the eolys levels, and since learning that the level is only an approximation, I'll start there. I booked to have it topped off on Monday.
Once have the lexia3 I'll know more and keep this thread updated for future references.

[GiveMeABreak]

Ok, a couple of things you need to be aware of:

1) The soot level percentage will go up during normal driving as you would expect, then after regeneration has taken place will fall to low figures and the cycle starts again. So that 18% means diddly squat - as it's only representative at the time the diagnostic was undertaken.

2) There are NO level sensors at all. Additive levels can only be accurately measured by removing the additive tank and physically measuring the amount of fluid that is removed. This is a service operation performed on some vehicles at certain mileages (although as said, this is not listed on the official service operations for your specific vehicle).

[somethingSome]

1) The soot level percentage will go up during normal driving as you would expect, then after regeneration has taken place will fall to low figures and the cycle starts again. So that 18% means diddly squat - as it's only representative at the time the diagnostic was undertaken.

Hi Marc, I appreciate your input.

Regarding point 1,

Yes I understand that. I mentioned it, because the Citroen dealer reading couldn't possibly been any higher than that, between me getting the car home from Citroen, and then driving it to my local garage, it's 4.5km total, I didn't drive the car anywhere else that day.
So, I really think that the suggestion to wash the dpf was premature on their part.
But then again, the warning is there and something is causing it, and maybe the car really isn't reporting any fault (no faults apart from the glow plugs, both on my scanner and my local garage scanner). So Citroen just went with the broad approach.

Once I get the lexia I'll be able to check for sure, and if there really isn't any fault I'll have to look what systems monitor the DFP, because maybe some sensor went bust and is giving an out of bounds reading.
I'm just speculating for now.

[GiveMeABreak]

Ok, so I think it's possible that we are over-thinking the whole situation.

The 'Risk of Particle Filter Clogging' warning can also just appear when the engine ECU has failed on multiple occasions to regenerate the particle filter.

1) This typically happens when the vehicle has been on lots of short journeys, where the vehicle never really gets a chance to regenerate.
2) The engine ECU employs various strategies to help achieve regeneration, however, if it cannot start or complete a cycle, then of course the filter will start to clog and trigger the warning.
3) When you get this warning on the dash, the advice is to go for a reasonable drive, out of slow traffic, allowing the engine temperature to raise enough to trigger regeneration. So at least 40 MPH if not more and keep the car in 4th gear to keep the engine revs high for a good 15-20 minutes.

That should allow a regeneration to complete and lower the soot levels.

It is mentioned int he owner handbook, so I would try this in future first. If the message doesn't clear then it needs further looking at.