Vauxhall combo

Basilpot · Post by **Basilpot** » Wed Jan 11, 2023 5:01 pm

Hello All, i am new to this forum.
I have a 65 reg vauxhall combo 1.3 diesel van, which failed the mot due to the emmisions too high.
I put some system cleaner in the fuel but the levels are still too high. I dont do very long journeys with the van.
Would it help to change the catherlitic convertor. What else can i do to get the immisions level down. The van has only done 45000 miles.
Advice appreciated

dewaltdisney · Post by **dewaltdisney** » Wed Jan 11, 2023 6:50 pm

Have you checked the DPF, these can get clogged and cause the emmsion rise. Very common issue

DWD

dewaltdisney · Post by **dewaltdisney** » Wed Jan 11, 2023 7:36 pm

Have a look at this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIrt8epMeks to give you an idea. There are lots of approaches such as a forced regeneration but you need a odp code reader for that.

DWD

Argyll · Post by **Argyll** » Wed Jan 11, 2023 11:55 pm

My old ford van used to fail every year. I used to put some stuff in called Forte and run it in 4th gear down the motorway for 20 mins getting the catalytic convertor red hot. Then drive it straight to the garage for a retest. It passed every retest. It showed 5.2 in emissions during the first test and then 1.6 on the second. I always remember those figures.

Basilpot · Post by **Basilpot** » Fri Jan 13, 2023 10:21 am

Thanks for replies. What is the best way to clean the DPF. I dont have any dash lights or warning lights at the moment. Can this filter be removed and cleaned manually, or does it have to be done with regen. Where is the DPF normally located on the vehicle. I have not heard my van doing a regen before, so not sure why its not happening.

Basilpot · Post by **Basilpot** » Fri Jan 13, 2023 10:25 am

The forte sounds a good option, but the chap doing the testing said it's going to need a bit more of a clean than using system cleaners. I'm not sure how he would know that.

dewaltdisney · Post by **dewaltdisney** » Fri Jan 13, 2023 11:00 am

They can get badly choked up and sometimes have to come out to be properly degunged. The auto regeneration comes in after the engine is hot and the ECU detects consistent high revs. It automatically drips fuel into the DPC in and it burns the soot out, lots of diesels never trigger the auto regen due to driving patterns and you can do a forced regen with a code reader, which is not always successful. The additives are best used as a preventative measure. Have a chat with a mechanic they do this all the time.

DWD

Argyll · Post by **Argyll** » Sat Jan 14, 2023 12:01 am

Pretty sure I saw Retro Restore doing this to a car when he was on holiday in Cyprus. He had limited tools.

You'll find it on YouTube.

aeromech3 · Post by **aeromech3** » Sat Jan 14, 2023 4:08 am

Low mileage so suspect short trips, my Son changed his on a VW 2ltr, but high mileage, s*d of a job to get to the special bolt heads undone, we thought after to clean it as a spare, but not easy to see if it is clear or not hence the video flow check is best way; in days of old a Trichoroethylene bath would do a good job, as Apprentices we would take our cylinder heads in for a de-coke, but very hazardous by today's standards.
As above I think it is worth a trundle down a motorway, but be sure you have a good oil and coolant level and tyre pressures as your driving seems otherwise limited.

Tom d'Angler · Post by **Tom d'Angler** » Sun Jan 15, 2023 10:46 am

I have a 67-plate combo and also do very few miles (less than 3,000 a year). My mechanic said to do a 70mph drive in 4th gear for about 20 miles once a month to keep it clean. He also said a new DPF is around £800 for the part alone so suggested I set a once-monthly alarm on my phone to remind me to do the run.