Month: May 2016

Mazda 3’s are known to suffer blocked DPF’s and if you are a proud owner of one, you may have experienced some of the negative effects of this, which include the DPF light coming on and a loss of power.

Modern Diesel Mazda’s come with a DPF integrated into the exhaust, and it is in place to trap and remove Diesel Particulate Matter or soot from the diesel exhaust gasses before they are released into the atmosphere. The process allows 80% of diesel particulate emissions to be removed, however, even with this process in place, when the DPF burns off this soot via regeneration, an ash residue is left in the DPF which cannot be burnt off, and the build up of this is what causes the DPF to become blocked. Once this occurs, it is no longer possible for the regeneration process of the filter cleaning itself to be carried out.

The following reasons may also contribute to premature blockage of the DPF filter, which include:

• Incorrect use of engine oil
• Lower Quality fuels
• Faulty Exhaust Sensors
• Faulty Components (on the vehicle which may increase the soot levels in exhaust gasses)
• Incorrect style of driving causing lack of regeneration of filter

These issues can go on to create further problems as mentioned above which include loss of power and when these problems are not dealt with immediately, they can go on to create further damage to other components. A prime example is when the pressure begins to build up in the exhaust due to trapped gasses, they try to escape from the next weakest point which in this case will be either the turbocharger or the EGR valve, causing damage eventually to these components.

Symptoms of a Blocked DPF on my Mazda
As mentioned above, the regeneration process is a vital part of the DPF running efficiently. It usually occurs whilst driving in optimum conditions which will occur on a 15-20 mile motorway journey at 40-50mph. Those that drive a Mazda in the city, however, will find it a lot harder to carry out this regeneration process at the optimum conditions, which can go on to cause the DPF to get blocked a lot quicker.

Some of the following symptoms are signs of a blocked DPF filter on your Mazda:

• Limp Mode / Loss Of Power
• DPF Warning Light On
• Engine Management Light On (EML / MIL)
• Poor Fuel Consumption
• Glow Plug Light Flashing

These faults can cost in the region on £1000+ to repair if not dealt with as soon as possible. We have had customers that have come in the past advising us that their garage has advised that replacing the vehicle would probably be more cost effective as the repairs cost so much! Therefore, we always advise that DPF’s are dealt with immediately to prevent any further damage to your car.

How Can Sinspeed Help With My Mazda 3 Blocked DPF Filter?

The 2 main options that are available to you if you have a blocked DPF are:

• DPF Replacement Filters – You can replace the filter with either a genuine DPF Filter which is usually quite expensive and only comes with a 12-month warranty which will not be covered if it gets blocked up again, or alternatively a cheap copy filter which although is a lot cheaper, are known to block up really quickly, therefore, are not normally recommended.
• Sinspeed Complete DPF Removal Session – We offer a complete bespoke 4 Stage DPF Removal Service which involves physically removing the filter from the exhaust system and deactivating the complete DPF system from the vehicle ECU. This ensures the Regeneration process is cancelled out, and we then go on to carry out a full smoke-correction service which is bespoke to Sinspeed, providing you with the most extensive and complete service nationwide. Finally, all Sinspeed DPF Removal Sessions come with a Lifetime Warranty for a complete peace of mind.

What are the benefits of a Sinspeed DPF Removal Session?

The effects of a Sinspeed DPF removal session are evident straight away which will be noticeable in the sharper throttle response and with the increase in power and performance!

Some of the further benefits which will be noticeable once you have had a complete Sinspeed DPF Removal Session includes:

• Increased Power & Performance
  
• No More Limp Mode / Loss Of Power
• Increased Fuel Efficiency
• Sharper Throttle Response
• No More Warning Lights On The Dashboard
• Increased Life Expectancy Of Turbocharger
• Increased Life Expectancy Of Engine
• Increased Life Expectancy Of Injectors
• No More Annoying Regenerations!!
• Lifetime Warranty

Also, along with the above-listed benefits, the turbocharger and engine will no longer feel any strain or pressure which will allow them to work more efficiently with improved power. With the Regeneration process cancelled out, the lifespan of the injectors is also increased as they are no longer required to squirt diesel at longer durations during the regeneration cycles.

Will DPF Removal Cause Me To Fail An MOT?
From February 2014, the law is changing to include the visual inspection of the Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) during your MOT inspection. Although our DPF Removals are very discreet and our smoke-correction ensures the vehicle won’t smoke come MOT time, we are offering our DPF Removal sessions as an “Off-Road Use Only” service.

For further information regarding a DPF removal for your Mazda 3, give us a call today on 0203 815 9441.