DPF regen warning light

[Baxlin]

I’ve just been reading (on the Mercedes forum - forgive me for I have sinned) about installing a LED warning light to tell the driver when a regen is taking place while driving, so as to know not to stop the engine mid-regen, potentially causing damage.

Apparently on some cars - the example was a Vauxhall Insignia - to aid the regen, various electric loads are automatically switched on during a regen, such as heated rear screen and mirrors. The theory seems to be that this increases the workload and therefore the engine temp, speeding up the regen.

One member has tapped into the mirror circuit for the LED, so it comes on with the mirror heater, but of course the rear screen/mirror switches are off, thereby indicating a regen.

So, question: is this merely an exercise, ie meeting a need that isn’t there, or a good idea, to help avoid diesel fuel being dumped into the sump, which, reading various threads on here, isn’t unknown on Volvo engines, esp D5? I’m thinking, more short/fewer long journeys during lockdown.....

And if it’s a good idea, and Volvos switch these accessories on, where to tap into the circuit?

[Clan]

Originally Posted by Baxlin

I’ve just been reading (on the Mercedes forum - forgive me for I have sinned) about installing a LED warning light to tell the driver when a regen is taking place while driving, so as to know not to stop the engine mid-regen, potentially causing damage.

Apparently on some cars - the example was a Vauxhall Insignia - to aid the regen, various electric loads are automatically switched on during a regen, such as heated rear screen and mirrors. The theory seems to be that this increases the workload and therefore the engine temp, speeding up the regen.

One member has tapped into the mirror circuit for the LED, so it comes on with the mirror heater, but of course the rear screen/mirror switches are off, thereby indicating a regen.

So, question: is this merely an exercise, ie meeting a need that isn’t there, or a good idea, to help avoid diesel fuel being dumped into the sump, which, reading various threads on here, isn’t unknown on Volvo engines, esp D5? I’m thinking, more short/fewer long journeys during lockdown.....

And if it’s a good idea, and Volvos switch these accessories on, where to tap into the circuit?

Regeneration is designed to go on in the background without worrying you and if you stop it will carry on next time when the circumstances are right . You need not have any concerns unless the Engine warning light comes on which is not likely these days .

[Baxlin]

Originally Posted by Clan

Regeneration is designed to go on in the background without worrying you and if you stop it will carry on next time when the circumstances are right . You need not have any concerns unless the Engine warning light comes on which is not likely these days .

Thanks for this, but if it’s in the middle of a regen, presumably the regen was required at that point?

If it stops, and only carries on ‘when the circumstances are right’ ie when it’s hot enough, won’t running it while it’s heating up exacerbate the problem?

And when is ‘these days’? My D3 Volvo is 9 years old, and I’ve had significant DPF problems, which I was told caused the turbo damage the car suffered at the same time around 40k miles two years ago. Big bill, so I’m a bit jittery about DPF issues....

(I bought the car at 5 or 6 years old, with less than 29000 miles covered: too many short trips by previous owner?)

[Clan]

Originally Posted by Baxlin

Thanks for this, but if it’s in the middle of a regen, presumably the regen was required at that point?

If it stops, and only carries on ‘when the circumstances are right’ ie when it’s hot enough, won’t running it while it’s heating up exacerbate the problem?

And when is ‘these days’? My D3 Volvo is 9 years old, and I’ve had significant DPF problems, which I was told caused the turbo damage the car suffered at the same time around 40k miles two years ago. Big bill, so I’m a bit jittery about DPF issues....

(I bought the car at 5 or 6 years old, with less than 29000 miles covered: too many short trips by previous owner?)

it stops regenerating long before you stop and turn off , it is constantly analysing your driving conditions , It starts again next journey when conditions are right to finish off.
The large volvos have always had a very robust Particle filter and control system .. even with short trips ...

I can t see how any particle filter problem can damage a turbo which is about a foot upstream .. what failed with the turbo?

You have been very unlucky whatever happened ..

[Baxlin]

Not sure exactly what happened, but yes, I was unlucky, several large bills over six or eight months.

TBH, it’s too painful to try and remember the details, most of it is on the forum somewhere, but the bills approached £4K eventually. I was ready to drive the thing into the canal at times, especially as TBH I’d never been a Volvo fan, this being my first, and I only bought it because I wanted a full four seater folding hardtop convertible.....

Fortunately it does this bit of the job very well, although currently the roof’s “yellow button” is u/s.