TDCI DEFENDER NEEDS REGULAR RE-GEN
My husband and I both have Defenders. Mine is a 2012 TDCI and I am frequently having to take it to the dealer to get the exhaust filter cleared. Is it a common problem with the newer Defenders?
I must admit I don’t do long journeys, only once a year which normally results in having to limp all the way home doing about 45mph.
By the way, I have just been driven in my friend’s Grenadier – it’s a beautiful motor, but my heart still belongs to Land Rover. Jenny Ashpole
MARTIN DOMONEY ADVISES: What you’re describing is fairly common on vehicles that don’t do long journeys, as the filter doesn’t get hot enough to burn the particulates off. There are two types of DPF regeneration – passive and active, and both require the DPF filter in the exhaust to reach a certain temperature (around 600°C) and maintain that temperature for a set length of time in order for the accumulated particulates (or soot) to be burned off either naturally (passive regen) or with help from increased fuelling and engine timing adjustments by the powertrain control module (active regen).
If the DPF never reaches this temperature threshold – which is common on vehicles that are only used for short journeys and aren’t driven on faster roads regularly – then the DPF never gets a chance to burn the soot off, and so the PCM trips into a safe mode before the filter becomes completely full to prevent damage. This is more than likely what you are experiencing when you take the Defender for a longer drive – the filter is already too full for a passive or active regeneration, and must be forced manually using diagnostic software, which is more than likely what your dealer will be doing.
It’s also worth noting that diesel particulate filter issues can be caused by a problem elsewhere in the emissions system, so it’s worth having a full health check done to rule out temperature and pressure sensor problems, exhaust gas recirculation hiccups, boost leaks and other potential issues. But, by the sounds of things, your Land Rover needs to stretch its legs more regularly, then the dealer visits will be cut down dramatically.