Keeping Diesels Happy

Since my wife retired I have been conscious of the need to keep her diesel 'supermini' in good order by using it for long runs whenever an opportunity arises to prevent the build up of deposits in the engine. Its 57 plate with no DPF so simple compared with modern machines.

Now what about preserved diesel loco's?

Clearly a 1960's diesel engine is much simpler to a modern car engine but I cannot imagine that most 'main line' preserved loco's - ie not shunters would rarely be required to get anywhere near full power let alone for any length of time.

So, does this cause any issues with the engine?

 

If the MINI is non DPF I wouldn't worry about it too much, change the oil at least once a year.

 

I think it’s been proven at least twice that 2 stroke Napier engines fitted to class 55’s need a good work out every now and then (55022 and more recently 55009 I’m looking at you)
From my own experiences recently with 37263 it’s owner was quite happy with it spending the summer down the road from Telford being opened up at the SVR because as he said ‘it needs it’

 

Correct - when I did my driver experience course with 55 019 I was told to pull away from a 10mph restriction at full power to blow the crap out of the exhaust collector drums.

 

David Maxey mentioned either in Traction Mag or in the ‘Unfinished Symphony’ Video about Deltic 22 coughing up a baked potato size lump of red hot carbon on one it’s first mainline trips and feeling some relief that it had happened.
As I say it really doesn’t hurt for diesels to be given a good work out now and then. Although it’s a bit different for say something like a 20 or 37 pottering about at 25mph to something like a Deltic that’s designed for high speed running.

 

I always thought DPF were compulsory from 2005 ? , from experience DPF don't cause much of a problem but EGR valves and associated pipework they block up and start to cause high fuel consumption and rough idling EGR valves are fitted to not DPF equipped diesels i have done mine loads of times you can tell when they are starting to block as the engine hunts on tick over

 

I'd be interested in hearing your experience that's got you to arrive at that. The DPF is the invention of the devil, lubricating oil dilution caused by the DPF has cost Jaguar, Volvo, and other car makers a small fortune in warranty claims, all caused by oil dilution, all down to the DPF.
Since 2005 you are the first and only person I've heard say DPF's don't cause much of a problem.

 

Depends on the vehicle use with regard to EGR and DPF.

We run 3 diesel vehicles, 2 of which have DPF and EGR, one has EGR only.

The Skoda has asked us to do a DPF regen on it twice in 82k miles, when it’s had longer periods of doing only short journeys- otherwise it’s been fine.

The Mitsubishi has never had any EGR or DPF issues, despite doing some very low speed work off road- it does do quite high mileage though generally.

Likewise our TD5 has had no EGR issues, and I do pull it off and inspect it once a year. It is very noticeable if then td5 has been doing low speed/minimal load work when you get back on the road and accelerate hard the first time it is quite sooty.

Basically, it depends on usage and generating enough heat to burn off residual carbon in the filter- if all it does is potter about with minimal load they will soot up.

We tend to only run Shell fuel, and about 4 times a year stick a tank of premium diesel through as it helps clean the system.

Chris

 

I have exclusively run diesels for the last 20 years in fact even longer , the issues with DPF s is the car / van needs to be maintained correctly and the engine needs to get hot enough for the DPF to regenerate correctly when a DPF goes into regen mode there is a small amount of diesel injected into it which is used to burn of the excess carbon if the regeneration cycle is not completed the this diesel get absorbedback in to the engine oil and cause a rise in oil level and dilution of the engine oil , therefore its imperative that a modern diesel is allowed to do the DPF regeneration cycle and the engine is not stopped most modern cars ( i have a suzuki scross diesel) have a display that says when regeneration is taking place and not to stop the engine Modern diesel are not suitable for stop start runs around town on a regular basis any more because of this they need good long runs otherwise DPF regeneration does not take place and the issues with oil contamination arise
the secret is good long runs, get it hot decent fuel and correct maintenance

 

I agree with that.

 

I've had my Škoda Octavia for six years now. I've never had a message to do a regen. And I've never had a message to not stop engine either.
Because of my volunteering at KESR, I usually do a long motorway/fast dual-carriageway journey at least once a month.

 

Not ever having run a diesel this is all new to me. I am wondering if running a road vehicle for long intervals at 20mph would have any impact on engine efficiency?

 

From what I've read, very new petrol engines have a similar filter, which can clog if used for short journeys. The Hyundai Tucson UK Facebook group is full of such tales of woe.

Looks like everyone is being encouraged towards EVs...

 

You wont get a message your Soda will automatically Regen on your long run most diesels do if you do a long run once a week , generally there are three conditions that need to be met for a diesel to regen,
1 you have to be going over 30mph for a sustained period this is to provide external cooling to keep the Dpf cool when it using the diesel to burn off the carbon
2 the engine has to be at correct operating temperature
3 there has to be sufficient diesel in the tank with my suzuki it has to be half a tank

during the regen cycle the car runs slightly hotter you may notice a rise on your temperature gauge


the issues arise when you stop the engine during the regen cycle but if your doing long runs once or twice a month you should have no problems