DPFs and the future of diesel autos: Discuss

[Anomaly]

So, the French chick's 1.9 diesel Fiat is nearing the end of life-- motor is still going strong but lots of other things are wearing out after 20 years of good service. Thus, we're shopping for a replacement. Used. Was looking at newer diesels but then ran across all the horror stories DPF (diesel particulate filter-- mandatory in EU diesel powered cars since 2009) failures (perhaps that should read DPF-induced failures since much more than the DPF is at risk). The repair bills are staggering (at least to this country boy). It has me considering buying older just to avoid a DPF altogether. Or, perhaps exploring the benzine/GPL or benzine/metano offerings in the newer cars (that is gas/LPG and gas/CNG translated into N. American). I suppose that statistically, the DPF problems are still rare (they sell millions of diesels here after all) but the reading is chilling. Anybody here have a calmer, wiser, analysis?

[TheOffice]

20 years from a Fiat? Is that a record?

diesel car sales in the US were .5% of total sales in 2018. I doubt you will get any meaningful data here.

Joel

[H B]

My buddy just sold his house and bought a diesel Jeep Wrangler, to match his diesel powered RV that he now lives in. Said he didn't want to accidentally go to the wrong pump so he wanted the same fuel in all his vehicles.

[TheOffice]

My buddy just sold his house and bought a diesel Jeep Wrangler, to match his diesel powered RV that he now lives in. Said he didn't want to accidentally go to the wrong pump so he wanted the same fuel in all his vehicles. :wtf:

Not stupid! I hate the BP pumps that have the green plastic on GAS pumps because it is the company color scheme. Luckily, the diesel nozzle is bigger than my fuel fill.

[Jamie]

So, the French chick's 1.9 diesel Fiat is nearing the end of life-- motor is still going strong but lots of other things are wearing out after 20 years of good service. Thus, we're shopping for a replacement. Used. Was looking at newer diesels but then ran across all the horror stories DPF (diesel particulate filter-- mandatory in EU diesel powered cars since 2009) failures (perhaps that should read DPF-induced failures since much more than the DPF is at risk). The repair bills are staggering (at least to this country boy). It has me considering buying older just to avoid a DPF altogether. Or, perhaps exploring the benzine/GPL or benzine/metano offerings in the newer cars (that is gas/LPG and gas/CNG translated into N. American). I suppose that statistically, the DPF problems are still rare (they sell millions of diesels here after all) but the reading is chilling. Anybody here have a calmer, wiser, analysis?

I wouldn't own a DPF car out of warranty. And I hate the horse-piss smell. Lease?

[Olaf Hart]

We run two diesels, the pre DPF 2004 ute you borrowed, and a 2007 DPF VW van, which now has a new DPF but remains a PITA.

Not too sure diesel is an improvement over petrol, will go back to it if the ute packs up. It’s not just the fuel, it’s all the other electronics newer diesels need to meet pollution requirements.

Last time we visited Italy, (sigh),we hired a small manual Ford Fiesta, you had to row the gearshift but it was an absolute delight on country roads, reminded me of an old Cooper S...

[Anomaly]

20 years from a Fiat? Is that a record?

diesel car sales in the US were .5% of total sales in 2018. I doubt you will get any meaningful data here.

Joel

Hang on, we DO have a few folks on here with experience in other parts of the world... thanks Olaf and Jamie for your comments. Lease? you have me confused with someone with a bank account... I'm headed towards a fixed income soon, don't want no stinkin' lease payments. Olaf, you're probably right on the diesel vs petrol verdict but the grunt of these little diesels grows on you after you climb all these cobblestone streets in low gear.

On Fiats, yeah, I know all the jokes. Click and Clack said "FIAT" meant "fix it again Tony." I probably shared those thoughts and Fiat's history in the US bears them out. Then, I met the French chick. Early on, she picked me up at Malpensa airport in Milan and started driving back to Bra (near Turin). She's driving at 140+ kph..., The little Fiat diesel is turning about 2400 rpms but still I'm wondering about things and ask "have you checked the oil lately?" she replies "oh, I have it checked when they do the inspection". The inspection? "How often do you get it inspected?" "Every two years." This was back when the car was only 15 years old. It never uses oil. Never. Best engine I have ever known and that is counting cars, boats, and motorcycles. So, I don't laugh at Fiat anymore. Besides, they did the Nuovo Campagnola...

[Jamie]

We had a Peugeot diesel station wagon that did 300+k km, was generally treated horribly until my father forgot it at the repair shop and the river flooded, killing it. I’m not sure why these cars had such poor reliability when they came to the US.

Anyway, life in the EU without a bank account can be tough. Even in rural France, many entities including many government services, don’t take cash. So I assumed. You know what happens when you do that....

Last time I was there I rented a gas 208. It was a great little car.

[kimbottles]

We had a Peugeot diesel. Great engine, terrible electrics.

[Anomaly]

Ah the PSA (Peugeot) XUD engine. The 1.9 naturally aspirated is one of the best engines ever in terms of just dogged reliability and it really revolutionized putting small diesels in cars. Jamie, I have a bank account, just not much in it...