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• Ford Grand C-MAX - 1.6TDCi Loss of power, no fault codes. 12 Jun 2013 (Forum)
  There were no fault codes logged and they didn't see any obvious issues with the turbo. The car has done over 17,000 miles, and gets plenty of long runs so the DPF shouldn't be getting clogged. I also let the turbo cool down properly after long trips. The car's not used a drop of oil, and I've only ever fueled it with premium diesel too. It has been running a little rougher and noisier than normal over the last few months, but nothing severe enough to say it's running badly.
• Ford Focus - Best car to buy? 13 Apr 2013 (Forum)
  Focus seems to win on MPG,space speed price looks and just about everything,the car will come from a dealer with a 3 month warranty although not a ford dealer,is this really just a bad choice of car,as its to my understanding that the focus was the best selling car in britain so common faults are more often talked about than other cars. Is it innevitable that the turbo and dpf filter will go,or is it one of those cars where you can just get unlucky and buy a bad one,as we have a Mercedes M class thats apparently plagued with a tonne of common faults but nothings ever gone wrong in the 7 years we've owned it Could anybody reccomend another car?
• Modern diesel engines - looking after one to get the best out of it 20 Mar 2013 (Forum)
  , and using a Bosch filter and low ash oil (to spec mb229.5).  Even though the car does not have a DPF fitted, I've been told that the low ash oil is the best to use/more refined (correct  ?).  I'm also planning to use Comma oil Syner Z, as it meets the MB spec and I can get it cheaper, and am told it's Esso rebranded!
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  Is the Honda CR-V any good? 6 Dec 2012 (Ask HJ)
  I'm thinking of buying a Honda CR-V 2.2 i-CTDi ES 5-door on a 57-plate. I'm just wondering how long should these cars run for on average, as this car has...
• Any - Most reliable car/cheapest to run to high mileage? 4 Apr 2012 (Forum)
  I'm currently running a 2006 Focus TDCi, which although fairly fuel-efficient (50+mpg), running from 60 to 150k miles has so far cost, apart from usual service, tyres etc: £1,000 - DMF/Clutch £600 - turbo £500 - injector service So the idea that diesel's are great & cheap to run is nonsense - great on a company car/3 years, not for private use over an extended time. And I'm lucky I don't have a DPF, and my EGR valve is OK. So, any recommendations from back-roomers for a reliable, low cost car to run to 250k - all my journeys are motorway so low-stress on the car. Thinking 3 years/30k miles old, £8k-ish.
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  Mazda 5 Diesel; 2007 Reg started using oil and poor fuel consumption 28 Dec 2011 (Ask HJ)
  Just passed 51k miles and now using oil at a guess of about 1 litre/500 miles. Poor fuel consumption - and when in second gear (as in going around a corner,...
• You tell me! - Another what car thread! 17 Aug 2011 (Forum)
    I'm currently driving an '03 Focus TDCI, lowered and remapped, but after 5 years I'm considering a change and would like something a bit sportier and more responsive to drive BUT also want decent fuel economy (i.e: 40mpg+), a car with enough space to put my bike in or which can take a towbar for a proper bike rack, with a high enough top gear for relaxed motorway cruising.  I also don't fancy a diesel with a DPF, so have been looking at older diesels pre-05 and those without filters.  I can spend up to £7k. So far I've considered: Seat Leon FR old shape 1.9TDI 150hp Skoda Fabia Mk1 vRS Seat Ibiza old shape FR TDI 130hp Renaultsport Clio 172 & 182 (but won't take towbars) Alfa 156 2.4 JTD 20V estate Suzuki Swift Sport (too low-geared - 4000rpm at 80mph!)
• Diesel TS2 2005 - Mazda 6 -Limp Mode at idle constantly 1 Sep 2010 (Forum)
  Would be very grateful for an help or info into a problem that has persisted for the last year or more and cannot be solved. Mazda 6 diesel, common rail, no dpf. Car will start up, no lights and runs for about 30 seconds at idle, then it will suddenly throw itself into limp mode, running very roughly with the EML illuminated. Light can be put off with scanner, but will do the same thing again almost imediately.
• Golf or Octavia ? 23 Nov 2009 (Forum)
  Now logic says that the Octavia is ostensibly the same car, for the money we're prepared to spend we could get a Petrol VRS with a few options (like curtain airbags) or a Golf VI 122 SE with options so they're about the same spec, probably decided to avoid diesels due to DPFs and the fact this car will be low mileage (5K pa). The 1.8 L&K Octavia is also a contender. The sort of questions I have are: Is the updated Octavia more akin to the Golf V than the Golf VI ? Having driven both of the Golfs the VI is a big improvement imho - a lot less rattly / plasticy and that's our concern with the Octavia.
• Mazda 6 Tourer - Please help.. Mazda 6 2.2 diesel mpg mega issue 18 Feb 2022 (Forum)
  I purchased it 2-3months  ago with 71k on the clock and I have already got it up to 76k. Before I go into my issue I will say that I was aware of the dpf needing regeneration and I am aware that these engines are not designed for short trips. I am also aware that mazda likes to mis-sell these dpf vehicles to unsuspecting people that will not drive it the way its intended, only drive it to the shops or around town and wonder why the dpf breaks.
• 2yrs on from buying a 9yr old dpf-equipped diesel 10 Sep 2019 (Forum)
  The purpose of raising this thread is invite comparison with PCP/new cash purchases, or newer 2nd hand purchases etc. It's also to throw some actual data at the DPF-equipped used car minefield. Over to you forum members SM
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  Should we use a diesel additive? 16 Jun 2024 (Ask HJ)
  I bought VW Tiguan 2.0 TDI 2015 but we do not do a lot of miles as we used to. We hardly do 2000 miles a year and mainly short journeys. We are aware of...
• Volkswagen Golf - MK6 Golf - Purchasing Query 30 Oct 2021 (Forum)
    Fuel costs are about £400.00 more a year on the 1.4 TSI petrol, based on current costs and HJ real world MPG figures (10K miles a year).   This is however offset by DPF concerns, based on my driving habits. There is also however concerns over the 1.4 TSI engine and its 'fragility' based on the timing chain/perceived issues with it. I believe the 2.0 TDI is generally perceived as a much more reliable unit.
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  My car needs £12k+ worth of repairs and I've only owned it for a few months - what should I do? 18 Mar 2020 (Ask HJ)
  I have a 2014 Mazda CX-5, which I have owned for seven months. I purchased from a car trader. Last week, it failed very suddenly with loss of power and...
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  Can you recommend a petrol crossover or SUV with some guts to get me up the hills where I live? 5 Mar 2020 (Ask HJ)
  I bought a 2010 Honda CR-V last year. This was my first purchase after many years of loaning a car. However, I’m a single mum and only do short school...
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  What was the best car before cars became complicated? 9 Feb 2017 (Ask HJ)
  In these days of emissions, DPFs, DMFs, ESP, ABS, complicated gearboxes and keyless entry I'm considering a forray into buying something simple to keep...
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  Is it a common problem for diesel fuel to get into the engine oil while regenerating the car? 31 Dec 2016 (Ask HJ)
  My 2016 Volvo V70 with 7000 miles, three months post first annual service, put up a message saying it was due an oil change and at next start up showed...
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  Vauxhall Corsa diesel problems 4 Jul 2016 (Ask HJ)
  I have a 2004 Vauxhall Corsa 1.3 diesel that i'm a bit worried about. The car suffers from occasional stutter on acceleration in second and third gears....
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  Petrol or diesel used estate for outdoor lifestyle? 29 Nov 2015 (Ask HJ)
  I'm looking for a 2-3 year old estate. I live in Cumbria and do about 18k miles per year so the car needs to be good on hills. I have a 12 mile (each way)...
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  New car for my in-laws 29 Aug 2014 (Ask HJ)
  I have been asked by my father in-law for advice in buying a replacement car. Both my in-laws are retired and are moving to a smaller house. They will...