- This topic has 33 replies, 6 voices, and was last updated 3 years, 3 months ago by
.
- Topic
Just wondered if anyone would share their thoughts on this. Apologies if it’s a daft query.
Our Kia Sportage is almost 2 years old and only done 6500 miles in that time. Probably the last year of covid with very few trips out has contributed to the low mileage.
In January the particulate filter light came on. Car went back to the dealership and they did a forced regen. Now two months later the same light has come back on. Is this reasonable? I get the principle that short journeys are not helping but should this be happening so soon again? It has probably done only over 150 miles since the same issue in January. Don’t really want to be dealing with this so regularly.
Many thanks
- Replies
Go on the motorway or fast road and stay above 2k revs or so.. The light should go off after a few minutes. My old golf used to do this too.
It’s really difficult to just go on a motorway given lockdown.
More interested if this should be happening or happening so frequently at all.
You are having this issue because the exhaust and particulate filter need to reach a certain temp to burn off the particulate particles.
As has already been suggested by Mmorton5. Just get on local motorway and give the car a good run at 70mph and if a manual gear box drop a gear. This will help reach temps needed.
Manual regeneration step-by-step guide
First check to see if there are any instructions in the owners manual regarding DPF regeneration. If there is no information in the handbook or if you don’t have access to one you can follow these five simple steps which will work on most vehicles.1. Make sure that the Engine Management Light is not on and that there is at least a quarter of a tank of fuel.
2. Turn on as many electrical items as possible; air conditioning, lights, heated seats, heated rear window, etc. This will make the engine work harder.
3. Find a stretch of road where you can maintain a constant speed for 30 miles without stopping, i.e. a motorway or a dual carriageway.
4. Make sure that the vehicle is at a normal temperature and then drive in any gear that you can maintain 2,000 RPM at a constant speed, automatics should be placed in sport mode where applicable and the gear should be selected manually.
5. Drive the vehicle at a constant 2,000 RPM for approximately 30 miles.
If you follow these simple instructions the vehicle should regenerate the DPF filter automatically without costing you any money.
However, if the DPF light remains illuminated after attempting a manual regeneration the filter will require professional cleaning.
Joss
Current car: BMW X2 sDrive 20i M Sport 5dr Step Auto In metallic Portimão Blue. 04:10:2025
Previous car:Peugeot 308 GT Premium 1.2 Pure tech Petrol.Like others have already said a good motorway blast will resolve any clogged DPF issues, most of the time…
Given the current gradual end of the lockdown I would say that it’s unlikely you’re going to be stopped for driving on the motorway.
And if you are…”Sir, may I ask where you going?”.
“Supermarket”
“Have a good day Sir”
I do get the motorway drive suggestion but as we live in London, it’s not that simple really. We also don’t do much motorway driving at all.
The post was more about should this issue be happening so regularly and is this likely just to keep happening every few months. We had about 18 months without this issue at all and now twice in two months
I do get the motorway drive suggestion but as we live in London, it’s not that simple really. We also don’t do much motorway driving at all. The post was more about should this issue be happening so regularly and is this likely just to keep happening every few months. We had about 18 months without this issue at all and now twice in two months
The fact is a diesel engined car was the wrong choice for London driving. You should have opted for Petrol.
And yes it will happen regularly with out good long runs. It is the nature of a diesel engine.
Joss
Current car: BMW X2 sDrive 20i M Sport 5dr Step Auto In metallic Portimão Blue. 04:10:2025
Previous car:Peugeot 308 GT Premium 1.2 Pure tech Petrol.John just wondering what engine you got in your KIA?
I have the 1.7 DCT (now discontinued) in my KIA Carens and never have any problems with the particulate filter and travel many short journeys.
If I do use the car for very very short journeys I let the engine warm up to normal operating temperature before turning off but other than that nothing special. 80% of my journeys in lockdown have been well under 5 miles with no high speed driving in-between like I would do in normal times.
The KIA’s PDF regeneration system seems to work in a different way from the VW’s I’ve had in the past as the re-gen happens every 250 miles doing a little by little clean as to prevent the filter suddenly becoming clogged and so preventing you having to do the 20 minute motorway drive to clear the filter in the next 20 minutes or else your doomed.
In the manual for the car it says not to do a journey of less than 5 miles, talk about a get out of jail free card, but thankfully having had this car for 29 months I only read that a couple of weeks ago. ?
The problem for you John and the same for me and other diesel drivers too had we had the problem is that “get out of jail free card” they will simply say its your fault because of the way you use the car but having had 3 Motability diesels I’ve never had PDF problems even with my many, many, many less than 5 miles journeys.
Yes joss that is correct,maybe it would be a good idea if Motability sent out an email to those who apply for a diesel , with the issues it can bring, asking for a reply before they approve the application,so all members know what can happen,sure not many do,i used to have a diesel,but now i am much older and only local trips back on petrol for this reason. These filters can cost around £1000.00 according to the RAC so not cheap
Hi all
Thanks for the replies …. should have said in my original post that the car is PETROL and not diesel. So don’t think I made a bad choice in that respect
Its a 1.6 Sportage 4
My last vehicle was a Renault kadjar diesel after 3 years handed back with 12K miles on clock not once did I do a journey over 20miles and never had a problem with dpf suppose it’s just your luck.
The car is 1.6 petrol and not diesel though
Petrol cars don,t have a particulate filter
Petrol cars don,t have a particulate filter
Yes they, or at least some do
Previous Motability Cars
2006 - 2009 Skoda Superb VR6 2.0tdi
2009 - 2012 Citroen C5 2.0tdi VTR Nav
2012 - 2015 Nissan Qashqai 1.5dci tekna
2015 - 2018 Ford Kuga 2.0tdi Titanium X
2018 - 2021 BMW 220d X drive 2 Series Active Luxury
2021 - 2023 Hyundai Kona Electric Premium SE
2023 - Hyundai Kona Electric UltimateYes, my recent petrol Sportage had a Petrol Particulate Filter – PPF.
I had the particulate filter light come on once, but after a spirited drive on the M6 it went out and never troubled me again.
Sorry,you learn something every day eh!
Petrol engine particulate filters are usually trouble free. Petrol exhaust gas has a much higher temperature so deposits burn off more readily and short journey running isn’t such a problem as diesels.
Little bit of interest for us all i hope, thanks Intranicity for the info
Thanks for sharing the article, though it makes me even more uncertain as it what is going on with my car,
‘petrol particulate filters shouldn’t need to regularly be driven at higher speeds for short periods to stop them getting clogged up with soot, unlike with diesels.
Petrol particulate filters aren’t prone to getting blocked up like diesel particulate filters because petrol engines heat up quicker and run hotter than Diesel engines”
No joy with the dealer,dont leave it,for your sake, i would discuss this with Motability,their car,and still in Kia warranty
When I spoke to dealer mid-January they said short journeys, engine not heating up was to blame and if I went on a long journey it would likely clear. I accepted this as the car had only completed a very small number of miles between March 2020-January 21. When I pointed out we were in lockdown and I did not think this was an essential journey, they took the car in and did a force regen.
Just surprised/disappointed that just under 2 months and about 150 miles later it has happened again.
Dont really want this issue every few months
John, what are your journeys? Are they so short that the engine doesn’t get up to temperature? If that’s the case, from time to time I would try leaving the engine idling for 15 minutes when you get home, (or until the cooling fans come on) to get it hot.
The car is probably used 3 or 4 times a week. I would say roughly a 6 mile round trip each time. Each journey tends to be start/stop with London traffic but the engine does heat up, though probably not for a prolonged period
I should have thought that was enough time unless there is something different about the Sportage. Our X1 is doing shorter journeys than that without problems. If the warning light is amber and the performance is unaffected, you might choose to ignore it until it turns red! Could be a pessimistic sensor. Or let the engine idle until it’s properly hot and see if the light goes out then. If your car has auto stop-start, you might turn that off to increase engine running time too.
Took the car out for a 30-40 minute drive on the motorway today and 30 minutes each way to get there. Still the same issue. Warning light has remained on!
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.