Engine: D5: - Removed my DPF

morsing · Nov 17th, 2011, 16:50

It's gone! Took it out from under the car and with a mix of drilling, chiselling and crow barring, I got rid of most of the filter element. It's quite crumbly, so not difficult to break up although even a 400mm drill bit won't go all the way through it.

Pressure sensor fix was dead easy - fitted a potentiometer on the ECM connector and it took me almost 8 seconds to twiddle the knob to read 1 hPa! It's very, very sensitive to turning the knob though, so a bit fiddly hitting the right spot.

I do have one problem though, in that I'm now getting a failure from the DPF temperature sensor reading too high. Under fault tracing it says possible trapped ground wire or damaged sensor.

I did mildly hit the sensor drilling out the filter, could that really have damaged it?

I'll check if I've connected it properly tomorrow, if no luck, I'll fit another potentiometer on that as it's not needed anymore anyway...

Anyway, I'm very happy with the results and I've saved £600!

morsing · Nov 18th, 2011, 14:19

Just an update - I managed to remove the temp sensor and it is indeed battered. Lesson learnt, remove it before chiseling out the filter element! A new one is £75 from Volvo

morsing · Nov 21st, 2011, 16:15

And another update - took the car out for its first DPF-less drive today and...

It doesn't work!

The potentiometer trick that is. Basically, the ECM looks at engine load and expected pressure differential over the DPF and it can't be fooled by a fixed resistance...

Everytime I started the car, I could do one acceleration, after that, the car would have virtually no power and the ECM would read out "DPF sensor pressure too low".

Too bad - I've now booked it in to have the ECM DPF code removed for a tiny fortune.

As to being DPF-less, it smokes A LOT when cold but is fine once warmed up. Smells a little when standing next to it idling as well.

Andy · Nov 21st, 2011, 20:22

So.... you wouldn't recommend this route then?

Must have seriously p'd you off to go to such extreme lengths. Should have bought a Euro 3 163 D5 like mine :P

morsing · Nov 21st, 2011, 20:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andy

So.... you wouldn't recommend this route then?

Yes, I would - why wouldn't I?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andy

Must have seriously p'd you off to go to such extreme lengths. Should have bought a Euro 3 163 D5 like mine :P

Not really - in the scheme of £5500 for a pretty amazingly well kept car, adding £300 to remove the DPF is nothing. If the salesman had had an E3 for sale at £5800, I would have still bought this.

P.S. Please define "extreme lengths"?

Andy · Nov 21st, 2011, 20:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by morsing

Yes, I would - why wouldn't I?

Not really - in the scheme of £5500 for a pretty amazingly well kept car, adding £300 to remove the DPF is nothing. If the salesman had had an E3 for sale at £5800, I would have still bought this.

P.S. Please define "extreme lengths"?

Just a bit if light hearted banter morsing!

Drilling out you DPF, causing damage to a sensor and then requiring a software update costing 'a small fortune' sounds a little 'extreme' to me! That's all just my opinion of course, from the man who had a six paddle clutch fitted to his D5 to stop clutch slip after a re-map.

Why did you feel the need to remove the DPF? What had it done to incur your wrath? Serious question.

morsing · Nov 21st, 2011, 21:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andy

Just a bit if light hearted banter morsing!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andy

Drilling out you DPF, causing damage to a sensor and then requiring a software update costing 'a small fortune' sounds a little 'extreme' to me! That's all just my opinion of course, from the man who had a six paddle clutch fitted to his D5 to stop clutch slip after a re-map.

Well, having a company do the complete DPF removal is £600 (plus VAT I believe), so I'm still up hundreds of pounds for doing a DYI job.

Damaging the sensor was annoying and foolish, but I've done worse in my time

I have to weigh up every £10.000 saved on doing all the work on my cars myself against the odd broken thing or set-back. Over-all still worth it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andy

Why did you feel the need to remove the DPF? What had it done to incur your wrath? Serious question.

The impending problems more than anything. Having just bought the car I (my wife) hadn't had any problems (yet). However, the predicted use of the car pretty soon would have most likely caused issues.

Savings in fuel will eventually claw back the £350 this has cost.

Clan · Nov 21st, 2011, 22:18

you should have waited to see what would happen , these DPF's are remarkably trouble free .

chiptivo · Nov 21st, 2011, 22:43

May this now fail a MOT?

jp11 · Nov 21st, 2011, 22:52

But surely it's about saving fuel. I have back to back evidence that the 185 E4 is 4mpg worse than my old 163 E3. I do 25k per year and that works out at £300.

Nov 17th, 2011, 16:50	#1
morsing Premier Member Last Online: May 26th, 2024 13:10 Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Aylesbury View Photos By: morsing	Removed my DPF It's gone! Took it out from under the car and with a mix of drilling, chiselling and crow barring, I got rid of most of the filter element. It's quite crumbly, so not difficult to break up although even a 400mm drill bit won't go all the way through it. Pressure sensor fix was dead easy - fitted a potentiometer on the ECM connector and it took me almost 8 seconds to twiddle the knob to read 1 hPa! It's very, very sensitive to turning the knob though, so a bit fiddly hitting the right spot. I do have one problem though, in that I'm now getting a failure from the DPF temperature sensor reading too high. Under fault tracing it says possible trapped ground wire or damaged sensor. I did mildly hit the sensor drilling out the filter, could that really have damaged it? I'll check if I've connected it properly tomorrow, if no luck, I'll fit another potentiometer on that as it's not needed anymore anyway... Anyway, I'm very happy with the results and I've saved £600! __________________ --- '89 Volvo 240GLT B230E/AW70 '14 Volvo V70 SE D4/M66 FWD '70 Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu '95 Saab 9000 CSE 2.0 Turbo Auto

Nov 18th, 2011, 14:19	#2
morsing Premier Member Last Online: May 26th, 2024 13:10 Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Aylesbury View Photos By: morsing	Just an update - I managed to remove the temp sensor and it is indeed battered. Lesson learnt, remove it before chiseling out the filter element! A new one is £75 from Volvo __________________ --- '89 Volvo 240GLT B230E/AW70 '14 Volvo V70 SE D4/M66 FWD '70 Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu '95 Saab 9000 CSE 2.0 Turbo Auto

Nov 21st, 2011, 16:15	#3
morsing Premier Member Last Online: May 26th, 2024 13:10 Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Aylesbury View Photos By: morsing	And another update - took the car out for its first DPF-less drive today and... It doesn't work! The potentiometer trick that is. Basically, the ECM looks at engine load and expected pressure differential over the DPF and it can't be fooled by a fixed resistance... Everytime I started the car, I could do one acceleration, after that, the car would have virtually no power and the ECM would read out "DPF sensor pressure too low". Too bad - I've now booked it in to have the ECM DPF code removed for a tiny fortune. As to being DPF-less, it smokes A LOT when cold but is fine once warmed up. Smells a little when standing next to it idling as well. __________________ --- '89 Volvo 240GLT B230E/AW70 '14 Volvo V70 SE D4/M66 FWD '70 Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu '95 Saab 9000 CSE 2.0 Turbo Auto

Nov 21st, 2011, 22:18	#8
Clan Experienced Member Last Online: Today 15:57 Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: L/H side	you should have waited to see what would happen , these DPF's are remarkably trouble free . __________________ My comments are only based on my opinions and vast experience .

Nov 21st, 2011, 20:22	#4
Andy Master Member Last Online: Mar 12th, 2023 14:04 Join Date: Jan 1970 Location: Bath/Bristol/N. Wilts	So.... you wouldn't recommend this route then? Must have seriously p'd you off to go to such extreme lengths. Should have bought a Euro 3 163 D5 like mine :P

Nov 21st, 2011, 22:43	#9
chiptivo Premier Member Last Online: Jan 17th, 2022 13:13 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: wirral	May this now fail a MOT?

Nov 21st, 2011, 22:52	#10
jp11 Senior Member Last Online: Jul 22nd, 2017 23:24 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Londonderry	But surely it's about saving fuel. I have back to back evidence that the 185 E4 is 4mpg worse than my old 163 E3. I do 25k per year and that works out at £300.

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