Will short journeys in a diesel car cause issues?

I have a 2014 Mercedes SLK diesel roadster. Will making multiple short journeys of 5-10 miles cause a problem with the exhaust system? If so, would some longer or faster journeys prevent the problem? If so, how long or fast and how frequent would these journeys need to be?

Asked on 3 August 2021 by John Dixie

Answered by Georgia Petrie
Yes, short journeys will inevitably cause issues as diesel cars aren't intended for this kind of use. Diesel engines produce a lot of soot - also called particulate matter (PM) - when they burn fuel. The job of the DPF is to filter and store this soot - which can cause harmful health issues - in order to reduce emissions from diesel cars. But because they have a limited capacity, this soot has to be regularly burned off to regenerate the DPF. If the soot blocks the filter, this can stop the engine from running and leave you with a hefty repair bill for either cleaning or replacing the DPF. Going for a 40-minute motorway drive should your DPF filter in good condition as it'll get hot enough to burn off this soot and prevent it getting blocked up, but I would also suggest reading this guide for a better overall understanding of how to keep your car and your DPF running well: heycar.co.uk/guides/what-is-a-diesel-particulate-f...f--
Similar questions
We have a BMW X3 diesel, which we have had for five years. It's a 2012 model with 65,000 miles on the clock. Understandably, we have only done 3000 miles this year, mostly short trips and are quite obviously...
I own a diesel 2015 BMW 5 Series estate with 51,000 miles - which I love. However, since retiring, my mileage is very low. A pre-owned 5 Series PHEV is frankly too expensive for me now. What would you...
I have a 2015 Vauxhall Insignia. I’ve only had the car just over a year, but a couple of weeks ago it broke down with white smoke belting out the back of the exhaust. The car is now at Arnold Clark. I...
Related models
High quality interior. Three roof options. Offered with 250 CDI diesel engine. Also available with 5.5 litre V8.