Excessive oil usage and the DPF

[CT]

Unaccustomed as I am to posting on this forum, but having read just about everything about DPF issues, I don't see anything like the problem I am seeing.

My '06 XC70 is drinking oil almost as fast as diesel. I have a DPF issue and am going to replace it (with an after market replacement - any recommendations? Any to avoid?) but on a 200 mile round trip that was last chance for the current DPF, hoping it would regen itself, thereby avoiding costly replacement, I used a litre of oil. From looking at the dipstick, it is being diluted.

I have just had the injectors replaced as they were almost certainly the cause of the DPF getting caked up to start with, but after that, i was surprised to still see such massively high oil consumption.

I have seen threads on the DPF regen process causing the oil to become diluted with diesel. On the above run, 'soot filter full' came up a number of times. Would multiple attempts by the car at a regen cause the oil to dilute and then burn? It is certainly not maxing.

I am running out of funds, the DPF taking the last of it, is there anything else that you have seen that could be the cause?

Is a DPF swap an easy job?

[sneakypenguin]

I do seem to remember volvo did a recall on dpf equipped vehicles that involved changing the dipstick ( to take into account a higher reading). I also seem to remember that it's an industry wide problem reguarding the the oil being diluted by diesel, it was rushed though without the normal extensive testing to meet the tighter european emissions regs. When a regen starts more fuel is put into the cylinders and the revs increase in order to get the temp up (around 600c i think) which will then burn off the soot in the dpf. If your cruising and you instant mpg goes down the toilet for no aparrant reason then this is why.

Before you spend mega money on a new dpf, maybe someone close to you with vida can force a regen and then see what happens? I also think with the excessive oil consumption you have an underlying problem and maybe the dpf is exposing it more?

Any visible leaks? any fresh oil deposits in the engine bay?

hope this helps

mick

[sparki1]

Do not replace the Dpf yet. The Dpf is not the cause of the fault. You will have to find a specialist ( this does not mean dealer) who can find out what is going on. After market dpfs are crap with one exception.
There is only one make of after market dpf that contains the correct elements to allow it to do a passive regen. Without which your car will be running active regens far more frequently than it should, which hammers fuel consumption, oil quality etc etc.
Your local scrappy will give you a fraction of what he pays for a genuine dpf for a very good reason! There is hardly anything in the things, they are crap!
But before anything is done you must find out why it is clogging up in the first place. Then and only then get your dpf cleaned out, on or probably off the car, or you will be paying for it all again within a year.

[Jetmech]

I agree with sparki1. The excessive oil consumption is probably causing the dpf issue, not the other way around.
Our V70 usually requires a litre of oil between annual oil changes, that's after roughly 10,000 miles, it does about 16,000 a year. I have always used 0W40 oil and now use esp oil, which was developed for dpf engines. Our car has done 141000 miles and so far we have never had a soot related message (I know I going to regret saying that!)

[CT]

Thanks all.

About this time last year, I went round a few local garages who couldn't find the issue when it started to have a problem. It isn't leaking any oil externally and i am not getting oil coloured or oil smelling exhaust. In the end, when the car was continually going into limp mode, I found a local volvo guy who had a look and identified the injectors as being worn, causing the oil dilution, and that having the knock on effect on the dpf.

The dpf has been off the car for a deep clean and refurb and had a forced regen but is still not clearing. car has done 150k, but about 5-8k while various garages tried to diagnose the issue. The considered opinion of my volvo guy is that the dpf is now beyond hope. Unless anyone has any suggestions. Clearly, with the tightening up of MOT regs, removal is no longer an option.

With new injectors in (at holiday cancelling expense, that made the family happy) the oil still seems to be getting diluted. I read somewhere that this happens when the car tries to do a regen itself. I suspect on my run yesterday it tried multiple times as the 'soot filter full' warning came up every 20 mins or so.

Any other suggestions how the diesel could be getting in before I thrash the car with a branch?

[sneakypenguin]

Could it be that the oil being burnt and then the oily residue is clogging up the dpf? As sparki1 said, it's pointless replacing it only to be in exactly the position in a few thousand miles.

You need to trace the source of the oil leak first. There's a big oil seal at the back of the engine, maybe worth a look. Also, as you can't see any leaks externally, if your car has one, take the undertray off and see if there's any evidence there. Failing that, you could be looking at an internal oil seal has gone. Any mayo on the oil cap? any oil in the coolant?

mick

[Chauffeurdude]

This is the exact fault my car has had for 2 years now on and off!! I had a new DPF 18 months ago at wallet busting expense and a new lambda sensor!! At the time car was using a lot of oil and fuel consumption in low 30's. Once done settled down again using reasonable amount of oil and fuel consumption good as in low 40's. All good thankfully!!

Fast forward to Easter 2014 and guess what? Fuel consumption down and oil consumption up again. This time the swirl flaps had seized and were causing trouble with the emissions which started all the problems. This then led to no regenerations and subsequent DPF problems! The dreaded Soot Filter Full message then appeared. Local dealer did the swirl flaps. Another new Lambda sensor! Had all new linkage and pipes etc. At least that cured the fortnightly putting the swirl arm lever back on as now we have a complete new linkage. Trouble is apparently the DPF is then becoming blocked. Car had forced regeneration and I had it back for about 10 days before Soot filter light back on!! They had it back last week and put a new pressure sensor and various pipes on it. Supposedly they tried to clean the DPF out having taken it off the car. Tuesday night had it back and Soot Filter light back on yesterday!! Been to dealer this morning who now say it needs another DPF!! Surprisingly enough they can get me one for tomorrow morning!! Soot filter light just come on and limp mode on 5 mile trip back from dealer!!

I am convinced that the DPF has knackered the engine. When regeneration fails the oil is diluted and burns more easily increasing the oil consumption. Also this contaminated oil is no good for the engine causing wear problems. I am sure that this has caused the engine wear and now the oil burning problem is causing DPF problems!! Priceless!! This is borne out in my opinion by the fact that when I change the oil the oil consumption immediately after that is far more acceptable!! After couple of thousand miles gets worse again as the oil gets diluted!! For this reason I have been using good quality oil and changing it every 8-9000 miles, half the official interval. I have had all the official Volvo updates done and it has never done the rising oil level problem encountered by many!!

Where to go from here. Car is a late P2 D5 SE Sport and is used for chauffeur work and has covered over 350,000 miles so I have no complaints anyway Car is till on the original clutch!! Just an awful shame that an ill thought out emissions system has most likely ruined a great car!! Over the last few days the car is still using oil and I think it will just get worse. A new DPF at £700 ish will only be a short term fix as the oil burning will clog it!!

I think it is time to call it a day and replace the car. Having recently spent nearly £2000 with the local dealer it is becoming apparent I am wasting my hard earned money!! Getting to the stage where cost of repairs will be more than the vehicle is worth!! I am loath to give up on it as the car is brilliant but there you go Shame!!

[CT]

Thanks for all the feedback so far.

There are no external oil leaks and the oil and water are not mixing.

It is likely that the dpf is currently blocked due to the last few months of oily soot getting in there and not burning off. The opinion was that the injectors were leaking diesel into the oil resulting in that consequence.

Now the injectors have been sorted, I still appear to be getting diluted oil.

What other routes can diesel take to get into the sump.

[Chauffeurdude]

Have you actually changed the oil since your injector problems? I always find oil consumption better when the oil is new! This will also give you a reference point to check for dilution in future. Cheers

[Chauffeurdude]

My engine also has no external oil leaks. It must be burning it as have been having problems for a month or so now and have topped up numerous times!! No oil and water mixing and water level doesn't move!