Seeking Advice for Troubleshooting Black Smoke and Jerking Acceleration in 2005 Lexus IS Diesel

Hey there! I faced a somewhat similar experience with my 2007 Lexus IS diesel. Just your everyday Joe when it comes to car mechanics, so it was a bit of a hassle till I pinpointed the issue. Took my car to a local workshop and they ran a thorough diagnostic. Turned out my DPF was internally defective too. Ended up dishing out about 1550 Euro, which stung a bit but less than the black puff my car was churning out. Can you share more about your car's history? That will help me get more specific with potential fixes. Mileage, service history and previous issues could help us nail down the problem better.

Hey! Thanks for your sharing! My Lexus IS has clocked 125454 KM and the last service was pretty recent. Besides regular check-ups, there was one incident with a fuel injector but it was swiftly replaced. Hope this helps in zeroing down on the issue. Cheers!

Hey! Thanks for getting back. From what I can tell, your Lexus has definitely clocked a decent run. The recent service and injector replacement are good signs so that’s probably not the issue here. You commonly see black smoke and other symptoms you described due to a failing DPF. Since your DPF isn't regenerating properly, we can safely say it's probably clogged. You might get away with just a 'forced regeneration' or cleaning it, but given the age of your Lexus, the DPF might be due for replacement too. Since we aren't equipped to manually clean the DPF on our own, I strongly recommend taking your car to a reliable workshop. They'll conduct a proper deep diagnosis, and inform you whether it's possible to clean it or it's time for a replacement. Considering my own bitter-sweet experience with my Lexus IS bit the dust, I'd suggest preparing yourself for a bit of an investment (like my 1550 Euro adventure 🥴). It's expensive, I know, but ignoring it could bring even costlier problems down the line. Hope this nudges you in the right direction! Let me know how it goes.

Hey, cheers for the detailed reply! I think you're spot on with your diagnosis. The signs are leading towards a problematic DPF indeed. The 'forced regeneration' solution sounds like a possibility; I'll make sure to ask the workshop to give it a try first. Biting the bullet for a pricey DPF replacement might hurt my wallet, but not as much as the thought of escalating vehicle problems, so I'm prepared. I'll be taking the car in for a check tomorrow. I'll certainly keep you updated with how things unfold. Thanks again for your help and sharing your experience, it's been really reassuring! Stay safe!