Infiniti EX Diesel: DPF Issues & Power Loss Mystery

Hey there! I've got some experience with cars , and I had a similar issue with my 2010 Infiniti FX Diesel last year. The symptoms were pretty much identical to what you're describing. Turned out I had some serious exhaust leaks that were messing with the sensors and DPF system. Took it to my regular workshop (Mike's Auto), and they found multiple spots where the exhaust was leaking badly. Ended up costing me about 265€ to fix, including parts and labor. Since then, no more issues with the DPF or power loss. Could you share more details about your car's mileage and if you're hearing any unusual noises? Also, when was the last time you had the DPF cleaned? This info would help me give you more specific advice based on my experience.

Thanks for sharing your experience! Mine's at 234978 KM and I just had it serviced last month. I was actually worried it might be something more serious like what you described, but your post is really helpful. I haven't noticed any unusual noises yet, thankfully. Did you have any warning signs before the exhaust leaks became a serious problem? Also, how long did the repair take at Mike's? Might check them out if my local guy can't sort it.

Hey again! Thanks for the follow-up. Yeah, looking at your mileage (234978 KM), it's pretty close to what mine was when I had the issues (around 225000 KM). Actually, before the exhaust leaks became really obvious, I did notice a few warning signs that I initially ignored there was a slight ticking noise when the engine was cold, and the exhaust smell would get stronger when accelerating. The power loss came gradually too, not all at once. I just kept thinking it was normal aging of the car until the check engine light came on. Mike's took about 4-5 hours to fix mine. They had to replace a couple of gaskets and repair a crack in the exhaust manifold. I got lucky because they had the parts in stock sometimes you have to wait a few days for Infiniti parts. But honestly, your symptoms sound really similar to what I experienced. If you're not hearing any unusual noises yet, that's good might mean you caught it earlier than I did. My advice would be to get it checked soon though, because these issues tend to get worse (and more expensive) if you leave them too long. Mike's is good, but any decent mechanic who knows Infinitis should be able to diagnose and fix it. Let me know how it goes with your local guy I'm curious to hear what they find!

Thanks so much for all the detailed info! That ticking noise you mentioned I'll definitely keep an ear out for that. Actually, now that you mention it, I have noticed the exhaust smell getting stronger during acceleration, but I thought I was just being paranoid. I'm going to book it in with my local mechanic tomorrow morning don't want to risk it getting worse like yours did. Really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience and all those specifics about the repair time and what to look out for. It's actually made me feel a lot better knowing it might just be exhaust leaks rather than something more serious with the engine itself. I'll definitely update you once I get it checked out. Thanks again for the help!