D4 VEA 'check engine' light / EGR fault thread

[harvsurrey]

premium diesels do sod all from what i have seen , and the premium petrol is debateable in petrol cars unless things are modified to suit .

[wimorrison]

There was a regular poster here, apologies I can't recall whom, but he did a few brim to brim comparisons over long distances on the same routes several times and he came to the objective conclusion that the benefit of the premium fuel was almost to small to measure but that the cost in the wallet was easily measurable.

I wish I could recall the exact detail as it was the only objective comparison that I have seen.

To my mind the belief in the advantages and consumption of these premium fuels only demonstrates the power of marketing.

[simonjedrake]

Originally Posted by AngloScot

I had my first service 2 weeks ago. The car drives the same if not better (could be my imagination) than before the service. There is still plenty of "poke" and cruises effortlessly to 90 on the motorway. Lets hope it stays that way as we are driving to Edinburgh in a couple of weeks time.

This thread has some great points which are to a certain extent subjective on the VEA performance levels..........which can only really be experienced in the flesh. So as Arianne lives in Edinburgh and AngloScot is heading that way in several weeks how about trying each others motors out for a quick blast up a long hill.

I posted a comment several weeks ago that my gut feeling with Arianne's problems was as superbly explained by "the Tinkerman" at that stage - that of a vacuum hose effecting the small turbo solenoid.

You two boys just need to resolve this "subjective" feeling on the Road before this thread becomes the longest (and most interesting) thread on the whole VOC forum - even if just to extend this thread.

What can we call this event - "Turtles at Dawn on the A90"

[007]

Here is a car to car comparison pre & post EGR mod, except it's the same car, on the same road, in the same conditions.

Pick up from idle in 4th gear (23 mph to 70 mph)

http://youtu.be/rEA2K0NemK4

In only 2 seconds the EGR mod has climbed 3mph, at the exact same point the pre mod car has doubled that and has increased by 6mph and it felt like double the punch too!

After 8 seconds: pre mod @ 60 mph & EGR mod only at 50 mph

After 10 seconds: pre mod @ 70 mph & EGR mod @ 57 mph

ps it's my Video and I was so blown away with pick up I taped it at 582 ODO miles, after the EGR mod I immediately knew it felt slower so I took it back and re ran the exact same test @ 6277 ODO Miles

It's the sort of thing us sad petrol heads do!

[wimorrison]

Originally Posted by 007

Here is a car to car comparison pre & post EGR mod, except it's the same car, on the same road, in the same conditions.

Pick up from idle in 4th gear (23 mph to 70 mph)

http://youtu.be/rEA2K0NemK4

Interesting comparison - but how did he know more than 4 weeks ago that this was going to become a problem and that he had to record a video showing the performance before it went in for service?

Surely not something that one would normally undertake?

[Flux]

I thought exactly the same thing.

Maybe he knows more than we do!

It would never have occurred to me but would probably want to do it myself now knowing what we now know ( or don't know).

[RoyMacDonald]

Originally Posted by harvsurrey

premium diesels do sod all from what i have seen , and the premium petrol is debateable in petrol cars unless things are modified to suit .

V+ petrol adds 7mph to the top speed of the Honda Pan European. (139 mph)

My D5's feel and sound better running on V+ diesel. I'm getting 40 mpg from the XC90 and 44 mpg from the XC60. I'm not worried about mpg, the issue that worries me most is bio growth in the fuel tank, and I like the idea of keeping the DPF cleaner. That's a lot of what the V+ additive package is about for me.

[RoyMacDonald]

Originally Posted by The Tinkerer

I will do the pics -- hopefully over this coming weekend.

Unfortunately, it's almost impossible to say if (or how) reshaping the low-rpm torque curve would affect EGR operation on this specific engine, there are so many variables involved, from boost pressure, to fuel requirement, to particulate output, to the actual NOx emissions target.

That said, it easily should be possible for Volvo to balance the various needs and still have good driveability and throttle response. That's why the small turbo is there, to spin up quickly and deliver relatively high boost at low rpm, for good response.

This might help when they have the maps ready. Not going to go slower is it. http://www.polestar.com/intl/product...e-e-optimised/

[007]

Have spoken to Polestar at length, they have very minimal power and torque gains for the D4 and they have stated their remap does not change the EGR in any way, I asked that given the sooting issues with the engine would they consider reducing or eliminating the EGR dosing and got a definitive 'NO'. My theory is that if you do get this map it may give you nearer the original performance but will also reinstate the sooting issue and reduce the time the EGR cooler will take to soot up again.

On the other hand I have also spoken to RICA at great length, they have had a D4 map out for some time with more palpable gains (I know someone running it who is very happy); but interestingly RICA are actively developing an EGR delete to enhance their offering in recognition of the sooting issues the D4 engine is having.

If Volvo do nothing, I think the only way to reinstate the original performance (or better) without clogging the engine/EGR cooler up will be with a map which reduces or eliminates the EGR usage (insurance & warranty considerations - ahem & environmental)

That's my thoughts & findings to date

ps I have also asked Volvo if they would give Polestar an EGR delete to at least give us a viable (in warranty) option - they declined to comment

[The Tinkerer]

@007 - at the weekend, whip off your engine cover and have a poke around as I've described here: http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=229612