Black Smoke & DPF Issues in Infiniti QX: Urgent Help Needed

Hey there! I've had some experience with diesel cars and went through something really similar with my 2017 Infiniti Q50 diesel (also had a QX30 before). Had the exact same symptoms black smoke, engine light, sluggish performance, the works. Took it to my trusted workshop last summer and turns out the DPF was internally damaged beyond repair. The whole thing needed replacement, set me back about 1550€, but it fixed all the issues completely. No problems since then. What's your mileage and service history like? Also, do you do mostly city driving or highway? These details would help me share more specific advice from my experience.

Thanks for sharing your experience! I'm at 194137 KM and just had my service done recently. I do mostly city driving, probably 70-30 split between city and highway. That repair cost sounds painful, but I guess it's better than leaving it untreated. Did your workshop mention any preventive measures I should take to avoid a complete DPF replacement? I'm trying to avoid such a hefty bill if possible.

Hey again! Yeah, I totally get wanting to avoid that kind of expense trust me, I wasn't thrilled about it either! Actually, after my DPF replacement, my mechanic gave me some solid advice that I wish I'd known earlier. Since you're doing mostly city driving like I was (I had almost the same split), the main thing is to give your car a good highway run at least once every two weeks. I now make it a point to drive for about 20-30 minutes at steady highway speeds, which helps the DPF regenerate properly. In my case, my 2017 Q50 was showing similar mileage to yours when the issues started (around 190k), and city driving definitely didn't help. Since following my mechanic's advice, I've put another 40k on the clock with no DPF issues. One other thing I switched to premium diesel fuel after my replacement. My mechanic said it helps reduce soot buildup. It's a bit more expensive at the pump, but way cheaper than another DPF replacement! Have you noticed if the symptoms get any better after highway drives? That might tell you if regeneration is still possible before things get as bad as mine did.

Thanks so much for all this detailed info! Yeah, now that you mention it, I have noticed the car runs a bit smoother after longer highway trips. I'll definitely start doing those regular highway runs you suggested seems like a small effort to potentially save a huge repair bill! And good tip about the premium diesel too. I'll switch to that starting with my next fill-up. It's actually really helpful to hear from someone who's been through the exact same thing. I was worried I'd have to jump straight to a replacement, but I'll try these preventive measures first and see how it goes. Really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience. If things don't improve, at least I know what I'm potentially looking at cost-wise. Thanks again!