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Why No Garage Could Solve a Blocked DPF on This Ford Transit Custom
You've spent time and money on multiple trips to the garage, but your vehicle's Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) issues are still not fixed. Sounds familiar? You’re not alone. Today, we're looking at a Ford Transit Custom 2.2 Euro 5 Diesel, where even after three garages and numerous attempts, the blocked DPF was still causing problems. Let's break down the journey, key findings, and the final solution for this persistent problem.
The story is all too common, and it typically boils down to not fully understanding the deeper issues behind DPF blockages, especially on vehicles like the Ford Transit Custom.
The Recurring Issue: Multiple Failed Repairs
The customer had already gone to three garages, each getting a crack at fixing the DPF. The first garage tried a DPF clean, and unsurprisingly, it didn’t work. After the second clean failed, you’d think there would be a more in-depth diagnosis, but no, the problem resurfaced yet again.
The second garage took off the DPF, sent it out for off-site cleaning, and put it back, replacing sensors along the way. Still, the ford continued to provide fault codes within hours.
The third garage? Their advice was to take the van on a motorway drive, around 50 miles, to force a regeneration cycle. But that didn’t help either.
Ever been told just to “take it for a long drive”? At this point, any seasoned mechanic would suspect there’s more to the story. And if you follow our channel, you can probably see what’s coming next.
Getting to the Bottom of the DPF Issue
It only took plugging in the diagnostics to understand the situation. The launch Euro Tab 3 scan tool provided some troubling information. The DPF pressure was reading at a staggering 860 millibars at 3,000 RPM, compared to the typical figure of 50 millibars.
This massive pressure buildup pointed to a very blocked DPF. Various faults showed themselves too, including:
* P2463:00-AF Particle filter pressure too high
* P244C:00-28 Exhaust temperature too low for regeneration
Both errors pointed us straight to the culprit: the DPF vaporiser. Let’s break down what was happening here.
What Is a DPF Vaporiser?
A DPF vaporiser is essential for maintaining the high temperatures required to burn off soot inside the filter. It injects diesel fuel into the exhaust, raising the temperature in the filter to enable regeneration. Without this process, soot continues to build up and the DPF blocks.
However, in this case, the vaporiser was clearly blocked, unable to do its job. Visual inspection confirmed it. The injector hole was clogged, meaning it couldn't inject diesel anymore. At this point, it was no longer fit for purpose.
Sure, you could attempt to unblock the vaporiser using a blowtorch (we’ve done this in previous videos), but this one was old and beyond saving. Time for a new part.
Replacing the Vaporiser and Cleaning the DPF
With a brand new vaporiser on hand, we set to work replacing the old one. After fitting it in place, we moved on to the cleaning process.
Out came a bottle of Launch UK DPF cleaner, mixed 50:50 with water, and attached to a compressor gun. It’s a simple but effective process – the fluid is forced through the DPF at high pressure, breaking down the soot and ash clogging everything up.
Once the DPF was fully treated, we moved on to clearing the fault codes and checking how the system was working.
Checking the Results: Is the Fix Working?
After the vaporiser replacement and DPF cleaning, the van was started up again. The immediate difference was clear. At 3,000 RPM, the DPF pressure dropped to less than half of what it was before.
At idle, pressure was reading a comfortable 2 millibars. If you’re wondering what that means, it’s a night-and-day difference – the sort of numbers you’d expect from a healthy van..
Lastly, we read the fault codes one more time. Nothing. Clean as a whistle.
Conclusion
So, what went wrong that none of the other garages could fix? It’s simple. They didn’t fully address the root cause. It wasn’t just a matter of cleaning the DPF or replacing sensors – the vaporiser was blocked, making regeneration impossible. Without a functioning vaporiser, any attempt at cleaning the DPF was doomed to fail.
If your van's DPF keeps throwing error codes despite multiple repairs, check the vaporiser. It’s often overlooked but can wreak havoc when blocked. As for this Ford Transit Custom, it’s now running smoothly, with no issues left on the board.
Remember, always get a thorough check done. Sometimes it’s not just the obvious sensor or quick fix – it’s something deeper within the system. Stay tuned for more tips and real-world solutions with us!