Particle Filter message

[Pug508sw]

Hi,

On my way to work this morning I had a service message "Risk of Particle Filter Clogging. Please see Handbook". 1 minute later the message and service light went away. I don't have my handbook on me at the moment (at home). Would this ring alarm bells that I would need to clean or look into removing/replacing the DPF filter, or possibly a chance that the sensor is on the blink? Any advice would be much appreciated.

FYI. the vehicle is Peugeot 508 SW 2.0 HDI 61reg 85k miles.

[Hell Razor5543]

What you may need to do is to take the car out for a decent long run at high speed. The DPF may be getting clogged with soot (and other particles), and the way the system clears it is by burning it off at high temperature. 20 - 30 minutes at motorway speeds is normally enough to do this.

[Pug508sw]

I will Try this over the weekend. Thank you for the advice.

[Hell Razor5543]

There are ways to clean the filter, but the way it is designed to be cleaned is by burning off the soot. It is considered that a good motorway run every month will do the job. There may also be a reservoir of some form of additive, that helps with this (AdBlue, Eolys, and so on).

The BBC did a program this week (Rip Off Britain, 21st Sept) when they discussed small Diesel cars with DPF issues. Drivers who did low yearly mileage had not been told about the issues with the DPF, in that it needs a regular motorway run to keep it clean.

[Pug508sw]

I had long Journey at the start of the month from Derby to Cleethorpes (holiday break). I'd imagine this would have cleared some of it out but not enough. Would it be beneficial to run a cleaner through it and take it down the motorway? Or would it be best to try and burn it out on a force regen?

[Stickyfinger]

On a long run (70mph/5th gear) your revs are quite low.

Leave it in 4th or lock down in an Auto, keep to 60-70 for as long as you can (up to/over 15 mins), keep the revs 3k-3.5k.

There does come a point where the ash build up is to much and cleaning/replacement is needed.

[jimmymarsbar]

I remember in the 307 handbook it says that you need to be in 4th at a minimum of 45mph. There's also a reference to a minimum of 2100rpm.

In practice, as the other guys said, you need to be doing the top end of 60 in 4th for a good half hour or more.

The engine also needs to be hot BEFORE the attempt of burning off the soot. It's useless driving for 30 mins at 60 if you started that half hour with a tepid engine.

And it must be a constant 2500rpm+ for the duration. If you drop below, the ECU may abort the regen attempt before it starts.