DPF Issues? Black Smoke Plagues Astra Diesel

Hey there! I had a similar issue with my 2018 Vauxhall Insignia diesel last year (I've got some experience with diesel cars, nothing professional though). Those symptoms sound exactly like what I went through! My DPF was internally damaged and needed replacement. Tried forcing regeneration first, but that didn't help. Took it to my trusted workshop, and they confirmed the DPF was beyond repair. The whole thing, including labor, set me back about 1550€. Not cheap, but the car's running perfectly since then. What's your mileage and maintenance history like? Also, do you do mostly city driving? These details would help understand if we're dealing with the same issue. Stay in touch, happy to share more specific details if needed!

Hey guys, thanks for the replies! My mileage is currently at 124103 KM and I had my last service about 4 months ago. I do quite a bit of city driving, probably around 70% of my total driving time. The issues started showing up about two weeks ago. I appreciate the heads up about the potential DPF replacement cost. That's quite a hit to the wallet! Did you notice any warning signs before it got really bad? I'm wondering if I should try some preventive measures first or just head straight to the workshop. Also, has anyone tried using those DPF cleaning additives? Not sure if they're worth trying before going for the full replacement option.

Hey again! Yeah, looking at your driving pattern and mileage, it's really similar to what I experienced with my Insignia. Before my DPF completely failed, I actually noticed some early warning signs about a month before, occasional power loss during acceleration and the exhaust smell, but I kind of ignored them (big mistake!). About those DPF cleaning additives, I actually tried them before going for the replacement. Spent about 30€ on a highly rated one, but honestly, it was just a temporary fix. Worked for maybe a week, then the problems came back even worse. In retrospect, I wish I'd just gone straight to the workshop when I first noticed the issues. One thing I learned from my experience, these DPF issues usually don't fix themselves, and city driving really doesn't help. Since the replacement, I've made it a habit to take my car for a good motorway run at least once a week to help with regeneration. Haven't had any issues since! In your case, given the symptoms are so similar to what I had, I'd suggest getting it checked out by a professional ASAP. Better to catch it early than end up stranded somewhere. Let me know what you find out, really curious if it's the same issue!

Thanks so much for sharing your experience! You've really helped me make up my mind. After reading about your journey with the same issue, I'm going to skip the additives and book it into my local workshop tomorrow morning. No point throwing money at temporary fixes when it could just make things worse. The tip about regular motorway runs is really useful too, definitely something I'll keep in mind once this is sorted. I've probably been too focused on my city commutes without thinking about what the car needs. I'll update the thread once I get the diagnosis. Really appreciate everyone's help here, especially your detailed explanation of what to expect. Fingers crossed it won't hit my wallet quite as hard as yours did, but at least I'm going in prepared!