DPF Valve Blocked 159 1.9 150bhp

[Llanrads]

Engine light came on today and an immediate loss of power , struggled to rev. plugged it in to a diagnostics machine and it said blocked dpf valve.

Where is this valve that i read about?
And how do i unblock it

EGR valve is a recent reconditioned unit.

Thanks

[Maximus84]

The DPF is the Diesel Particulate Filter, and is located underneath the car and is part of your exhaust system. It looks a bit like an exhaust back-box and is in the middle of the car. It traps soot particles then burns them off when it gets full. It's a piece of useless crap, and I had mine taken out today!

The EGR (Exhaust-gas recirculation) valve is (on the 2.4 at least) located at the back of the engine bay, on the right, back side of the engine block (I think!). It is also useless, and is prone to sticking, causing various problems, and can also be blocked off. It can be taken off and cleaned periodically if (when) it gets too sooted up.

[Llanrads]

Was removing it an easy job or a job for the specialist ?

[Redmatt75]

It's a specialist job, and will require a remap to remove the 'regen' part of the ECU code. To get you going in the mean time, you'll need to perform a procedure called a 'forced regen', using FiatECU Scan (or similar) software. It basically does a regen whilst stationary, and blows the crap out the back

[alfamoment]

can't you force a regen by driving for 20+ miles in low gear and keepin revs over 2K or this bullcrap I've been told?

[Alfadisiac]

That's not a forced regen, the exhaust just gets so hot it burns all the soot off anyway. Driving at motorway speed in 5th should do the trick, maybe 4th, can't remember off top of my head what the revs are in them gears at 70mph. Keep it at around 3k for 10 mile should be fine...
It worked on mine anyway a while back...

[Llanrads]

Originally Posted by Alfadisiac

That's not a forced regen, the exhaust just gets so hot it burns all the soot off anyway. Driving at motorway speed in 5th should do the trick, maybe 4th, can't remember off top of my head what the revs are in them gears at 70mph. Keep it at around 3k for 10 mile should be fine...
It worked on mine anyway a while back...

Thanks for that mate , mine sits on the motorway everyday at 70 mph in 6th just short of 2k revs and for about 20 miles each way on commute. So i'll give that a go what you said

[159_kid]

You really should make sure that you keep the revs above 2k when cruising on the motorway so its able to carry out regens.

[Llanrads]

As my car is locked at my local garage till wed now, i will give it a go as soon as

[Alfa.Romeo]

Originally Posted by 159_kid

You really should make sure that you keep the revs above 2k when cruising on the motorway so its able to carry out regens.

No you dont. Even if the revs were at 1300Rpm it can regen fine. At 2K it will inject a smaller amount of fuel on the exhaust stroke compared to 1300rpm.

[Llanrads]

Now i#m confused

[Alfa.Romeo]

If the DPF is blocked and isn't successfully regening under normal driving (assuming you have the odd longer run here and there and not pootling back n forth to the shops) there will be something wrong. The recommendation from manufacturers to run at higher revs when blocked is to insure the high temperatures are kept above 600'c and not interrupted. This is not required in normal circumstances. The DPF wont get near to 600c on motorway speeds without a regen, even if the revs are high. The reason people on regular motorway runs experience less regens is because a diesel engine running at a constant speed will produce far less soot than one repeatedly accelerating up and down the rev range.

[Llanrads]

Well i do a 64 mile daily commute 20 miles each way on motorway sat in 6th gear st just under 2k revs. So it is well used with me with 119k on the clock

[Alfa.Romeo]

Originally Posted by Llanrads

Well i do a 64 mile daily commute 20 miles each way on motorway sat in 6th gear st just under 2k revs. So it is well used with me with 119k on the clock

Sounds like the DPF is worn out. Perhaps full of Ash with those miles, so i'd be looking at a new DPF or getting it removed.

But, this is all speculation so let a specialist take a look and let us know how you got on

[159_kid]

Originally Posted by Alfa.Romeo

No you dont. Even if the revs were at 1300Rpm it can regen fine. At 2K it will inject a smaller amount of fuel on the exhaust stroke compared to 1300rpm.

I thought In order for the regen to inialise the revs have to be above 2k and engine had to be up to temp.

[Alfa.Romeo]

Originally Posted by 159_kid

I thought In order for the regen to inialise the revs have to be above 2k and engine had to be up to temp.

The engine has to be up to temperature but it doesnt have to be above 2K or else if on a huge motorway stretch it could just keep going until it blocked solid. Now that would be a crap bit of software

[jasons]

the car will try and regen whenever it needs to, more important to be constant whilst this happens.

you can force a regen, fiatscan or dealer plug in.

Dealer told me that the dpf can read up to 170% blocked - yes, work that one out.

my 163k dpf was 70% blocked at the time, 80 miles later it did a regen itself so would be less.

You can remove the dpf and clean with a jetwash according to the dealer.
hardly a surprise if its a filter that cleans itself with fuel igniting in it - it must be fairly robust?

[jim hazell]

Dpfs are a nightmare. I had great fun unsuccessfully trying to sort out an Audi 2.0 litre dpf an 06 plate on its third dpf ( type Audi dpf faults into google!!) . I know of several mechanics that have renewed dpfs on the same cars regularly, its no laughing matter when some cost £680 even from eurocarparts. The issue has resulted in companies springing up to eradicate the problem by "emptying the dpf" and reprograming the ecu.

[alfamoment]

so with a 26 ml commute 23 of which are Mway would it be beneficial to chuck the odd run in 5th at legal Mway speeds? Think mine did a regen today as was down on power and when took foot off loud pedal to slow for a roundabout the turbo needle dropped like it had been shot ! few miles up the road power came back and needle dancing like a cat on a hot tin roof! perhaps not that much but...
Also what is the case for diesel addidtives as opposed to coaxing a regen once a month? anyone know? I always use Shell no supermarket crap so thinking should be a bit cleaner anyway?

[gwsheppard]

Hello all. I've read many people mention shell fuel on here. My car has always ran terrible on the v-power diesel. I find standard esso with some redex or texaco's premium diesel to work but not shell. The car becomes like a tractor with that in.

Getting back on track here, I believe the original poster queried the egr and not the DPF. So just to clarify for that poster (i need to post 10 times before I can advertise,, )

EGR valve 1.9 16v and 2.4 20v JTD - Autolusso New Parts Shop

This is the part for you to find. This part is easily accessible by yourself and not a specialist job.

Gaz

[Alfa.Romeo]

Originally Posted by gwsheppard

I've read many people mention shell fuel on here. My car has always ran terrible on the v-power diesel. I find standard esso with some redex or texaco's premium diesel to work but not shell. The car becomes like a tractor with that in.

To be honest i dont think there is much better fuel than V power.

Originally Posted by gwsheppard

Getting back on track here, I believe the original poster queried the egr and not the DPF.

And the OP refered to a DPF valve, so neither EGR or DPF

[gwsheppard]

oh also try this

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/WYNNS-DIES...#ht_944wt_1037

[Maverick Styles]

My regen only seems to kick in at around 75 in 5th gear after some consistent (non cruise control) driving say 4 mins into motorway at that constant.

I'd be interested actually how others tend to try and coax a regen. Mind wars - this driver 0, Alfa 1.......... Or not? Is there an official line on this?

[Alfa.Romeo]

As mines a Qtronic, it sits at low revs all the time when on longer cruises. Always regens fine, never needs coaxing. It is designed to regen without the driver knowing, and to be honest if you take away the fuel trip computer & boost gauge im sure most times you wouldnt even know it was doing it. Are people making this out to be worse than it is? Placebo effect?

[Daniel350]

Mine just Regens as I need it to. Sometimes I catch it if I'm looking at the Range remaining as it drops though the floor but as Alfa.Romeo says without the Trip I wouldn't notice. Don't even notice a change in the Boost. Mine happily last did one going up the M23 on Tuesday sat on Cruise Control at 70. As far as I can tell happily continued as i went through the towns up to purley as well without me noticing other that 10mpg at steady 30mph!!!