DPF

[Ernst]

Let's talk about the DP Filter. From what I read here and from what I was advised that Part should be removed as it can cause expensive failures. My curiosity lies to what actually causes the Filter to clog or block. Is it the wrong grade, contaminated Fuel, dodgy Filling Stations, short Trips all the Time and/or does the Filter Clog up eventually anyway? My G has covered 155k Km so far without any of those issues. I drive mainly long Trips and don't do City driving. Although I I try to fill up with Sasol 10 PPM when possible, otherwise I fill up with Shell. I am on the verge of removing the Filter but I am not 100% convinced. Ek luister.

 

[noyota]

Having read up quite a bit on this:

- DPF delete may render your car unroadworthy, therefore it also will then void insurance cover
- what I understand, is that Diesel fuel gets used to burn off soot. In two or three G350's, some of this fuel somehow ended up in the oil sump instead, thereby diluting the engine oil and leading to an overfill situation.
- as always, I stand corrected

Your use case seem ideal, as these engines are known to be gem quality, smooth, powerful and economical. I often talked to the driver of a Sprinter that was doing Sandton - Cape Town a few times per week, 900k km on the odo and usually doing 155km/h. Always on temperature, never had time to build up soot in the DPF, and neither did the engine build up carbon.

About two years ago, I told my wife of another G350 which, in my estimation, wouldn't last long. Over and above more than one turbo replacement at very low km, it also was being used as a Sunday newspaper trip car, and a short-ish weekend camping trip every few weeks. It ran its main bearings in November 2023. If driven Ms Daisy style, the oil would gel and block oil passages in the engine block, thereby starving the crankshaft of lubrication.

Cold starts and short trips will kill any modern engine really quickly. This is true also for petrol engines. Watch the videos on YouTube by Car Care Nut, a Toyota/Lexus specialist, about engine failures and/or excessive oil consumption on low mileage specimens of the otherwise reliable brand. Also I have had similar experiences, on certain models. My case studies file has grown obese.

I would suggest changing oil & filters before the service light comes on, and perhaps 10,000km already is a stretch. Avoid cold starts and short trips, keep that DPF but keep an eye on oil levels. Check oil in the morning, before starting the engine. The level should be halfway between the Full and Low markings. If the oil level rises without oil being added, immediately have the engine and also DPF checked.

Perhaps someone with technical know-how can give a more qualified opinion, as I am from a different vocation altogether.

Good luck, regardless.

 

[JJVDMZN]

"- DPF delete may render your car unroadworthy, therefore it also will then void insurance cover"

In Europe and USA but I don't think in here in South Africa.

J.J.

 

[GavO]

I've had to replace the DPF sensor twice on my 300cdi Professional. Whenever I've been tempted to delete the DPF or block the EGR I have been persuaded not to by the resident G Whisperer - Dirk.

 

[Ernst]

I've had to replace the DPF sensor twice on my 300cdi Professional. Whenever I've been tempted to delete the DPF or block the EGR I have been persuaded not to by the resident G Whisperer - Dirk.

Thank you, I am trying to figure this out. So you had to replace the Sensors twice, what about the Filter, how does it get cleaned? Do you think it was bad Fuel quality?

 

[Rolf Redecker]

I've had to replace the DPF sensor twice on my 300cdi Professional. Whenever I've been tempted to delete the DPF or block the EGR I have been persuaded not to by the resident G Whisperer - Dirk.

Very interesting, what argument did Dirk field?
I removed DPF and Cat (in fact there was a replacement exhaust section available from MB for the armoured G) on my 300CDI about ten years ago. MB agent also reset the software. The EGR I blocked soon after. No issues more than 100 000km down the line.
I opted to use the original MB exhaust section at a hefty price because the connections for the differential pressure sensor are in that section, assuming that the reduction in diameter would be critical for the correct functioning of the sensor.