Someday smut

I thought you might be interested to hear about my DPF experience. I drive a 2010 VW Golf 2.0 TDI GT, which I love. The mileage to date is less than 3,000. I always use BP Ultimate diesel despite the extra cost, as I believe it has advantages.

Last October, low on fuel, I filled up at a motorway service station where only standard diesel was available. Shortly afterwards I resumed shorter journeys mostly in speed restricted areas. At standstill the engine fan would activate for a good ten minutes. Heritage Volkswagen checked the car and could find no fault. The fan is activated, apparently, to clear the diesel particulate filter, caused by short journeys. Since returning to BP Ultimate diesel I have had no problems whatsoever and none before using standard diesel.

Asked on 25 January 2010 by AP, Salisbury

Answered by Honest John
Happily, the diesel particulate filter was working properly to burn off the smuts from the cheap fuel. That created enormous heat, which is the reason why the radiator fans were operating. When I ran a Focus ECOnetic I ran it exclusively on BP Ultimate and never had any trouble with the DPF, which echoes your experience.
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