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KoehlHorst

2008 Volvo S40 Diesel Experiencing Issues: Black Smoke, Poor Engine Performance, High Fuel Consumption, and Possible DPF Failure

Check engine light on

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Unsteady engine

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Poor fuel economy

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Loss of engine power

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Black smoke from exhaust on acceleration

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DPF regeneration failure

Hey folks! I've got a bit of a pickle with my 2008 Volvo S40, Diesel engine, just crossed the 108,149 KM mark. Black smoke's been belching out when I hit the gas, my check engine light's been glowing like a Christmas tree, and the engine's acting like a bucking bronco. Not to mention, it's been gulping down fuel like there's no tomorrow. My engine power's taken a hit too and I suspect the DPF's failed to regenerate, could be a defect I reckon. Last ride to the mechanic's was a disaster, don't even get me started on that! So yeah, I'm a tad anxious. Anyone out there had something similar happen? How did your mechanic handle things? Any advice or experiences would be great. Thank you!

(Translated from German)

4 comment(s)


FrankMey

Hey there! Had a near similar experience with my 2011 Volvo V70 . Black smoke, excessive fuel consumption, the whole lot. The prickly issue was indeed in the DPF. It failed to regenerate properly, ya' see. Now, not to spook ya, but this situation can get nasty if ignored. The mechanic team I found dove deeper into it last time. Turns out, the Diesel Particulate Filter was packed internally with soot, becoming defective. They had to clean it thoroughly and reset the system. Afterward, the regeneration process kicked back in properly and the problems eased up. Now the ride's smooth as butter. So, you might wanna dive into that DPF and check it out. Best of luck!

(Translated from German)

KoehlHorst (Author)

Hey, really appreciate you sharing your experience, it's spot on with what I'm facing with my S40. I'm definitely gonna have my mechanic get a good look at the DPF. Out of curiosity, do you remember how much the repair set you back? And has anything else cropped up related to the same issue since the repair?

(Translated from German)

FrankMey

Hey! Glad to know my experience resonated! As for the repair update on the Diesel particulate filter, yep, that little adventure did cost me a pretty penny, around 1550€ to be exact. They had to go in-depth to fix the internal defect of the DPF. But hey, since this grand expedition to the mechanics, I've had no problems related to that Diesel particulate filter at all. No more black smoke, no more guzzling fuel like a thirsty camel, and my Volvo's been running smoother than ever. Knock on wood, it seems like fixing that DPF defect did the trick!

(Translated from German)

KoehlHorst (Author)

Cheers for sharing all that! That does sound like a costly escapade but it's relieving to hear that your V70's been running well post the repair. Seems like my next stop is the mechanic's. Hoping for a similar outcome with my S40 too, fingers crossed. Your words have definitely eased some of the anxiety. Appreciate your help! Time to hit the road.

(Translated from German)

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