WHAT IS CHANGED TO A TODAY July 16, 2014???

Category: expert SicurAUTO | July 7, 2010

The contra-indications of the device still affect users with serious consequences for reliability and safety.

Motorists continue to pay too high a price for certain technical decisions resulting from the various emission regulations. The particulate filter continues to affect heavily the pockets of the user, unaware of having made a very costly but sometimes even dangerous. Let's go step by step.
In reduced engine performance

The first love surprises began soon after the introduction of the first particulate filters on diesel Euro 4: After a few days of use only citizen began to turn on the lights and messages appear on the display to indicate the engine in "low performance" and that it was necessary go to the workshop (or at best go to 100 km / h at least 50 km on the open road) for the forced regeneration of the filter by now clogged.

Inconvenience and expense aside, the astonishment and anger of users stemmed more from the fact that no one had informed them before this unfortunate event, and even the experts often fall from the clouds (or pretended). In fact, the side effects of the particle filter were known from the beginning to the car manufacturers but were routinely demeaned or underestimated for technical training courses for the service network. The deadlines for the regeneration theoretical predicted, on paper, and longer runs the risk of being after a few days of use with the engine in urban emergency was considered very remote. False optimism interested?
Changing the oil early

But mileage very limited here comes the second blow for the poor, unsuspecting users with Euro 4 diesel cars Dpf or FAP initially pleased to be able to move in the city even in the days of the block.

For the lucky ones, the usual display warns you that you must go to the workshop to replace the engine oil. But how! The periodic coupons are provided every 15 000 or 20 000 km and now we need to change the oil (for a fee of course) just after 3000 or 5000 Km But we are mad!

Of course, once again, no one in the dealership had taken the trouble to inform you in advance and is less than ever on the track manuals Use and maintenance of such a possibility. In the face of transparency, accurate information to the consumer, the Consumer Code, the EU Directive and so on and so forth.

In the workshop enraged explain to customers that the car is used too much in the city, the oil should be changed because now diluted by excess oil in the post-injections needed to heat the particulate filter that otherwise would not work. Customers innocent does not escape the paradox: they chose a diesel engine equipped with Dpf or FAP in order to move always in the city and then they are heavily penalized own urban use should be the ideal ground to take advantage of such a device. Wonders of technology ... In the meantime, many owners of diesel cars Euro 4 without filter (which thankfully) but regularly and legitimately on the market, you feel cheated, discriminated against and harmed by the various municipalities that prohibit the circulation areas urban areas, in open violation of the EU Directives.

But there's more: this is the third installment of the sad soap opera, the most dramatic. Several months ago I had heard rumors of some cases of diesel engines remained at the highest speeds without the driver could do nothing to turn them off. Nothing new, I thought; it will be those turbo-diesel very worn and exploited at the level of the turbocharger bearings on which the note occurs extraction of oil from the turbo motor that causes the unpleasant phenomenon dell'autoalimentazione engine to predictable failure for lack of oil. In fact, the phenomenon was the one just described, but it was new cars under warranty, with a few thousand Km: impossible that the cause was excessive bearing play of the turbocharger.
Too much oil in the sump and the engine goes crazy! Blame the FAP ...

It happens, as we saw in the previous article that the unburned diesel fuel in excess of post-injections percolating through the cylinder in the oil sump going to progressively increase the engine oil level, while altering its lubricating properties. When the percentage of oil dissolved in the oil reaches the threshold of risk of 7-10% should see a message on the display (on cars so equipped) that invites the user to replace the lubricant in advance. On some vehicles, there is a third notch on the dipstick oil, indicating the level max. guard but how many drivers today have the healthy habit to periodically check the engine oil level? However, it may happen that the car does not give any warning and a bad day, the driver suddenly find themselves with the engine speed to the stars without being able to do anything to get back to normal or off (turn the ignition key would be useless).

The only possible maneuver to try to stop the engine is to enter, the vehicle is stationary, the longest relationship (the fifth or sixth gear) and brake fully releasing the clutch. With automatic transmission this is not possible and we have to put in N waiting for events ...

The excess of oil mixed with diesel oil in the sump triggers the phenomenon of self-supply of the motor through the ventilation system / recirculating oil vapor from the engine block, normally connected to the air intake conduit direct to the turbocharger. On the other hand, the oil sucked from the turbocharger in excess air, is a good mixed with diesel fuel, and it is even more.

The phenomenon, however, is very serious and dangerous, both for the enormous damage caused, which almost always are not recognized by the manufacturer, either because the speed and unpredictability of the event or the road conditions and environmental factors, not always help prevent accidents and injury to the occupants or to third parties. Nor can it be legally acceptable and ethical convenient alibi of motorcycle manufacturers who consider themselves relieved of any liability just because the car is equipped with an indicator light or warning message to the user. The user must be properly informed, including by the documentation supplied with the vehicle, of the real risks associated with the use of the car or the postponement of certain maintenance tasks considered routine by the user common. If it is not explained in clear terms, a normal user with no special technical knowledge (ie the vast majority of users), it can not reasonably imagine that if you do not change the oil at 3000 km instead of the normal deadline, threatens to destroy the engine and the damage will not recognize anyone.

And 'these days the news of a major recall by Volvo that involves most of the range with a 5-cylinder diesel engine, just to avoid this potential problem. In Italy, the Volvo (Euro 4 with Dpf) involved in the recall are 14381.

In an article on the subject appeared in the July issue of the journal 4Ruote, here are also some cases that have occurred on the Fiat 500 MJT (born Euro 5) with Dpf but it is clear that the problem potentially affects other homes. Just at this time I am dealing with, as an expert in part, of a legal case concerning a similar car of high cost.

Bruno Pellegrini