Symptoms of a Faulty or Blocked Diesel Particular Filter (DPF)

The blog this week is based around the symptoms that indicate that your Volvo or Toyota may have a faulty or blocked DPF. Pretending that this issue will go away if you ignore it will not happen folks. You must get your Volvo or Toyota to your local independent garage for inspection straight away. Catching the issue early will save a ton of money and time. Read on to find out more:
1. Engine Management Light
The first sign that your DPF isn't working properly is when the engine management light comes on, on the dashboard. The temperature and pressure before and after the DPF filter are measured by sensors inside the diesel particulate filter. If the check engine light appears on your dashboard, take your Volvo or Toyota to your local independent garage so they can investigate the fault code and further advise. Do not ignore this warning light - it is there to warn you of an issue so will not go away!
2. Reduced Engine Performance
The exhaust system is severely impacted when your DPF is blocked. The engine in your Volvo or Toyota will become sluggish and you will not be unable to accelerate properly as new fuel can only be injected into the engine at a reduced pace as exhaust gas accumulation increases. In addition, the engine will require more power to expel the extra gases.
3. Unusual Smells
When exhaust gases build up inside the engine, an unpleasant scent may be produced which can also be hazardous. A fire could start since exhaust gases can be flammable and dangerous to breathe. Open your windows when driving your Volvo or Toyota to your local independent garage for investigation.
4. Poor Fuel Efficiency
You will use more fuel than usual since the engine is not operating efficiently.
5. Starting issues
It will get more challenging to start the engine of your Volvo or Toyota until it won’t start at all. If you have left it this long before seeking the expertise of your local independent garage you could end up without the use of a car and towing fees to get your car to the garage! Don’t ignore the warning light like we said in point 1!!!!
6. Damaged Turbo
Damage to the turbocharger may also happen because temperatures can quickly increase when the gas flow is impeded or slowed down. All because you ignored your engine warning light right at the beginning! All this will do is end up costing you more and more money. Don’t stick your head in the sand and ignore this issue. A DPF filter needs to re generate - this is done often when the car is travelling at speed down the motorway - if you are driving around town on short journeys this is not going to happen and the DPF will become blocked - make sure that you allow your car to regenerate on a regular basis and then you will have no issues with a blocked DPF Filter. Happy Safe Motoring Folks!
Here at ACC UK Ltd, Winners of The Motor Trader Independent Garage of The Year 2015, 2019 & 2020, The IGA Big Awards 2022, The Inspire Customer Service Excellence 2016 Award, The Eagle Radio Customer Focus 2017 Business Award, The Workshop Magazine Workshop Manager of the Year 2017 Award, The LiveWire Excellence In Vehicle Servicing 2019 Award and The Aftermarket Excellence Award for Best Website 2019, The Eagle Radio Biz Award – Entrepreneur of the Year 2020 & the SME News Magazine Most Trusted Car Servicing Provider 2020, we pride ourselves on offering an outstanding customer experience for a fraction of the cost of a dealership. Give us a call and let us quote you for your next service or repair on your Volvo or Toyota. We service all areas around Farnborough, Fleet, Aldershot, Farnham, Guildford, Frimley, Camberley, Hook, Sandhurst, Crowthorne, Yateley, Hampshire and Surrey. We offer free collection and drop off services. We also have a fleet of courtesy cars to allow you to get on with your schedule whilst your Volvo or Toyota is with us. Happy Motoring from all at ACC UK Ltd – Independent Volvo & Toyota servicing, repair and MOT specialists based in the heart of Farnborough, Hampshire.