Diesel particulate filters can lead to car trouble
A UK fleet operator is warning drivers that particulate traps fitted to many modern diesel engines can lead the vehicle into limp-home mode or to breaking down. The diesel particulate traps store soot, which needs to be burned off periodically. This burning off of soot, called regeneration, happens when the car is driven at a steady speed of about 50 mph for 20 minutes. I wonder if there are warning lights for when the diesel particulate trap needs to be regenerated. For the US market, where folks aren't used to driving diesels, this might become even more of an issue when particulate traps become common place. [Source: Reuters UK]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
epilonious 9:47AM (6/15/2006)
Ahhh, so we are back to the days of having to occasionally take your car out for a highway drive to "blow the stuff out".
I'm going to opt for there be an electrolux "bag full" icon on the dash of filtered deisels to alert owners that it's time to burn off some crud.
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Glenn A. 9:48AM (6/15/2006)
I don't have to drive my Prius hybrid any particular way periodically on account of emission systems, and my Prius is 15-20 times less polluting than even these supposedly clean diesels.
Hey, diesel-philes, it's just the facts.
Signed, ex-diesel-phile
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FAA 12:48PM (6/15/2006)
Hey prius-phile, counting the energy needed to create, recycle, dispose and/or replace of your batteries your 15-20 less polluting figure is waaaay off.
My diesel fuel is made from beans grown a hundred or so miles away. How many thousands of miles did your gasoline travel? Oooooops...better knock even more off of your incorrect pollution score. Hey, aren't there wars and stuff being fought over that gasoline? Don't wars pollute a ton, rather, hundreds of millions of tons? Looks like diesel is coming out ahead...
And prius-phile, why so snarky? Sit down.
Signed, biodielsel-phile
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