MK7 Transit DPF Blue Smoke Problem

[seismicbob]

Hi.
Here's one for you!
I have a 2012 MK7 Transit 350/155HP with approximately 155,000 miles. Despite being fairly high mileage it drives really well and uses virtually no oil and no coolant. It is regularly serviced and maintained by a competent and reputable mechanic.
It has developed a problem: During the first journey each day, after roughly 6 to 10 miles it suddenly pukes out loads of blue/white smoke. This lasts for several miles/minutes and then stops. The smoke smells of smoldering diesel fuel.
It had a new DPF filter (sorry if I am being thick but I mean the chunky and expensive bit of the exhaust-not the catalyst) at about 110,000 miles. The problem started after that but was only occasionally. The mechanic plugged his diagnostic unit in but all was good.The problem became more frequent and the van was plugged in again. This time the gizmo that squirts diesel into the exhaust was found to be suspect. Again, apologies for my poor description but I mean the unit with a heater probe and diesel line.
I had to buy a genuine Ford part which the mechanic fitted back in the summer. The problem almost disappeared but is now back with anger. For the last few days, after about 8 miles each day or if it has been parked for several hours, it pumps out loads of blue/white smoke. Enough for other vehicles to beep/flash their lights and point at the back of the van. Then after a few minutes it stops. This seems to have coincided with the cold weather.
I do loads of dual carriageway/motorway journeys and am not a slow driver. Have owned many vans and often done more than 250,000 mile in them so I don't think it's "the nut behind the wheel" causing this.
The mechanic is struggling as the diagnostics show no fault and the van drives really well.
Any help or suggestions you can give me would be really appreciated.
Many thanks. Bob

[knobby1]

The DPF vapourizers are a known issue....very common for them to fail.

Lord Knobrot

[Jim Archer]

Sounds like the afterburn glowplug has failed or isn't igniting the vaporiser jet.

Jim

[seismicbob]

Thanks to Knobby 1 and Jim Archer for taking the time to reply. Much appreciated.

Guess I am gong to have to fit a second new vaporiser unit.

Will post when I have done it and let you know how it goes.

Thanks again

[B21gav]

Did you ever work out what was wrong with this transit? I have one with the exact same problem that all started after having a new DPF fitted

[knobby1]

Did you ever work out what was wrong with this transit? I have one with the exact same problem that all started after having a new DPF fitted

He hasn't been back here since April 2020....so we'll probably never know.

Most people just gut the DPF and get it mapped out....but this can cause issues at MOT time if you get an anal tester.

Lord Knobrot

[marcrbarker]

We all know DPFs increase carbon emissions overall by burning soot with more fuel to make it invisible. I reckon this whole general "DPF" thing may end up as an inverted 'dieselgate scandal' - to push diesels off the road for good - in order to create a market for electric vans. Anticompetition.
So mapping out the DPF/adblue and then poke a 2" hole through cat & dpf mesh is what goes on underground. It's a repeat of what happened when EGRs first came out, people were blanking them off whenever they went wrong. There was US government-led roadside random stop survey (anonymous reporting) done in California couple decades ago for bypassed EGR and they found higher than expected. After that EFI manufcturers like Bosch were ordered to put blanking-plate detection and limp-mode. That's why nowdays you have to get things mapped out as well as removing them.

I've got a theory on another topic (https://fordtransit.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=64&t=223076) the MK8 engine after an over-done DPF delete makes more smoke at idle speed (something to do with reversion, but I can't prove it yet)