Black Smoke & DPF Issues: Colt Diesel Troubles

I had nearly identical issues with my 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer diesel last year. Black smoke, poor acceleration, and that annoying check engine light, sounds very familiar. Got it checked at my local diesel specialist, and it turned out the DPF was heavily clogged with soot. They tried forced regeneration first, but the DPF was too far gone. Had to get the DPF cleaned professionally and replace the pressure sensor since it was giving false readings, which prevented proper regeneration cycles. The whole thing took about two days to fix, but it was worth it. Car's running like new now, no more black smoke, proper power delivery, and fuel consumption is back to normal. My advice? Don't wait too long, a clogged DPF can cause more serious engine damage if left unchecked. Just make sure you find a garage that specializes in diesel engines and DPF systems. It's definitely not a quick roadside fix, but it's better than risking a complete DPF failure.

Thanks so much for sharing your experience! That sounds exactly like what I'm dealing with. It's really helpful to know that cleaning the DPF and replacing the sensor sorted it out for you. I'm gonna look for a diesel specialist near me. Do you remember roughly how much you paid for the whole job? Also, has everything been running smoothly since the repair, or have you had any other DPF-related issues pop up?

Hey there! Happy to help with an update about my Lancer's repair costs. The whole job came to 1325€, yeah, it wasn't cheap, but honestly, it was money well spent. The exhaust gas back pressure sensor error that was causing all that trouble is completely gone now, and they did a thorough job cleaning out the heavily loaded DPF. Since getting it fixed at the specialist, my car's been running like a dream, no more issues whatsoever! The black smoke's gone, power's back to normal, and fuel consumption is way better. It's been over a year now, and I haven't had a single DPF-related problem pop up. Just make sure you keep the revs up occasionally on longer drives to help with regular regeneration, and you should be good to go. I know it might seem like a steep price, but trust me, it's cheaper than having to replace the entire DPF unit. Plus, the peace of mind is worth it. Let me know if you need any recommendations for specialists in your area!

Thanks for all that detailed info! I actually just got back from the diesel specialist yesterday. You were spot on about everything, they found similar issues with my Colt. The DPF was super clogged, and the sensor was toast. The final bill was a bit higher than yours, around 1500 €, but they did a complete job, cleaned the DPF, replaced the sensor, and even did a thorough system check. Took them about three days total, but wow, what a difference! The car feels like new again. No more black smoke, got my power back, and the engine's running smooth as butter. Funny thing is, I was so nervous about getting ripped off after my last mechanic experience, but these guys really knew their stuff. They explained everything clearly and even showed me the clogged DPF, it was pretty shocking to see how bad it was! Just took it for a proper highway run this morning, and it's performing beautifully. Thanks again for sharing your experience, it really helped me make the right decision to get it fixed properly rather than trying to find a cheap quick fix. Definitely worth every euro spent!