EGR Replace or delete

[Namya86]

Hi all, looking for a bit of advice.

I’ve got a 2012 VW Caddy 1.6 TDI that’s currently showing an EGR fault. I’m assuming the EGR valve will likely need replacing.

The van only does very short journeys and averages around 3–4k miles a year, so I’m also guessing the DPF probably isn’t in the best condition either.

Just wondering what people would recommend in this situation —
Is it best to replace the EGR (and possibly address the DPF if needed), or would it be worth considering an EGR delete along with a DPF delete and then getting it remapped?

Interested to hear from anyone who’s been in a similar situation with these engines.

Thanks in advance

[STP]

I have the same vehicle, a bit later year but identical engine etc, I am thinking of getting the EGR mapped out with a remap but would leave the DPF alone, as it could fail the MOT for smoke test, with the DPF in there is never any smoke and there will be if you gut it.

I do mostly short journeys too and hit up to 8k a year, but daily journeys to work are 5 miles each way and the DPF regens fine on its own. Every 150 miles before using Wynns Gold fuel system and injector cleaner, now after putting a bottle of that in, its closer to 190 miles between regens and it runs like a Swiss watch.

[BenT]

Short journeys won't do your DPF any harm at all in the long run - the only thing that'll really harm it is oil ash build up if the engine's burning oil. Even then, you can just take it off and flush it out. Regardless of how you drive it, it collects soot all the time the engine's running and it needs time and heat periodically to burn it off. Normally they can hold a few hundred miles' worth of soot before they regen. Repeated short journeys can sometimes mean that soot collects faster than it burns off, and if enough soot accumulates, the DPF light will come on. Then all you need to do is drive normally without switching the engine off until it goes out.

Up to you on the EGR - NOx emissions aren't currently tested on the MOT. The benefit of it is lower soot production so less DPF regens needed (and cheaper), the downside is higher NOx (about a 5 fold increase I think!).