DPF Stats 0 - 120,000Kms

[RPP Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close RPP]

DPF stats after 100,000Km on 2018 GXL Prado:
ECU firmware updated early 2019. Both Custom Modes enabled. New DPF installed at 80,000 service (didn't need it, but got it anyway plus 10 year unconditional warranty). Kerb Mass = 2,740Kg+.







Mileage Breakdown:
a. ~72,000Kms open highway (100-110Kms/hr (120 in NT)),.
b. ~18,500Kms tracks, gravel highways, sand dunes etc
c. The rest city driving.
d. Average economy after 120,000km = 10.2L/100Km


Fuel economy scenarios, tyres & rims:
a. City driving = 8.6 Ltrs/100Km
b. Highway driving (Wt ~3,050Kg max) = 12-14 L/100Km,
c. On Dunlop AT20 265/65 R17 = 8.5 L/100Km, city driving
d. On Toyo AT II, 265/70 R17 = 9.7 L/100Km, city driving
e. On Toyo RT, 265/70 R17 > 12 L/100Km, hwy driving fully loaded
f. factory alloy rims weigh about the same as steel rims but cost 15x more!
g. tyre weights (the rubber): Dunlop AT20 265/65 R17 = 16.5Kg, Toyo AT II 265/70 R17 = 22.1Kg, Toyo RT 265/70 R17 = 25.5Kg

Notes:
a. trips < 5-8Km won't produce the conditions for DPF to start a burn in winter. This is how long it takes to warm the engine to start/resume a regen.
b. 2019 ECU update significantly reduced the Kms between regens at highway speeds, and significantly reduced the time to complete a regen.
c. DPF burn quits at 8%, the residual energy carries the burn to 6%, and at times 4%, 2% or 0%.

DPF Manual button has Custom Mode enabled, used 6 times.

[404pug Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close 404pug]

Looks to be similar to mine with the variation between different driving regimes. I too have both custom modes but despite 5 attempts to get custom mode 2 (the switch) to work it never has. They insist that it will only work when the dpf is totally clogged which ,they say, happens at 180%! Fortunately it has never gone beyond the 100%. 2 months ago I got a new dpf no questions asked as it was getting erratic after a burn. It was going up 1% per km to about 48 or 50%, dropping 4 or5% then working normally until the regular 270 ish km. The new dpf installed in May looks totally different to the old one with the 5th injector in a different place. The car is smoother, quieter and appears to have a little more go but the burns are coming at a about 250 km in. 20 Km less but are quicker. Glad we have a 10 year warranty on the dpf now.

[404pug Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close 404pug]

The new dpf apparrently has different software. Allegedly since about 2019 the dpf issues have been solved. Fingers crossed. If your dpf is pre 2019 it may be worth taking it in for replacement because it is "playing up" and showing a bit of white smoke. Mine had done a out 58000km and rarely does very short 3-5 km trips.

[GeeWhizz Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close GeeWhizz]

... when the dpf is totally clogged which ,they say, happens at 180%!

180% is correct - my MY2016 GX went into limp-home mode after eaching 180% - not a pleasant experience!! After getting a firmware update in 2019 due to periodic white smoke clouds, it lasted a year before the DPF light came on.

The documentation I had been given after the firmware change said that, if the DPF light came on, to drive to Prado at over 80km/h for at least half an hour. So I drove the length of Perth's Mitchell Freeway at 90 to 100km/h, with an OBD analyser logging the reported soot level. From memory, when the soot level reached about 160% the DPF light went from steady to flashing. The soot level continued to climb and when it reached 180%, where the car switched to limp-mode. Luckily, I was not very far from home at that point.

The DPF, 5th injector and injector housing were all replaced, as well as new software. Apparently, the 5th injector had become blocked, so nothing was going to save it. The Prado has run as good as gold ever since.

[RPP Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close RPP]

Looks to be similar to mine with the variation between different driving regimes. I too have both custom modes but despite 5 attempts to get custom mode 2 (the switch) to work it never has. They insist that it will only work when the dpf is totally clogged which ,they say, happens at 180%! .

I too went to a Dealer in Adelaide to get Custom Mode 2 enabled 4 times without success. Found a different Dealer who had done it successfully and they got mine going without any fuss.

[404pug Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close 404pug]

It would be interesting to see see if anyone with a 2019 or later model and has the switch can get it to institute a burn when the dpf is more than about 30% full. If it does work then my dealer's story is crap. If it doesn't work then the 180% figure may be true. the sticker in mine says if the light flashes to stop and turn switch on and let it start a burn.

[Dorey Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Dorey]

Hi everyone,
I have a question about the DPF @ 180%. You say it went into limp home mode.
Did it log a code when this happened and if so what was it?

[GeeWhizz Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close GeeWhizz]

No, I didn't check what code was recorded after the DPF got to 180%. I didn't give it a thought - the car was going to go straight to the dealer on the following Monday morning.

[JohnLynn Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close JohnLynn]

I am back in WA after being in the UK since March 2020, I have my late 2015 GXL out of storage and back on the road. I wonder what the latest is on the DPF saga?
I had torque pro hooked up to my Chinese head unit and used to monitor the DPF, unfortunately being disconnected for nearly three years has meant the head unit has lost it's memory and so I need to enter all the custom pids again to get it to work. That is if I can find them again. What is everyone's opinion about what to do now as regards the DPF? I am thinking that if the 5th injector has been modified on later vehicles then surely the old ones should be changed? Perhaps more will be known after the result of Toyota's appeal which I believe is beginning on Monday 14th Nov.

[RPP Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close RPP]

I am back in WA after being in the UK since March 2020, I have my late 2015 GXL out of storage and back on the road. I wonder what the latest is on the DPF saga?
I had torque pro hooked up to my Chinese head unit and used to monitor the DPF, unfortunately being disconnected for nearly three years has meant the head unit has lost it's memory and so I need to enter all the custom pids again to get it to work. That is if I can find them again. What is everyone's opinion about what to do now as regards the DPF? I am thinking that if the 5th injector has been modified on later vehicles then surely the old ones should be changed? Perhaps more will be known after the result of Toyota's appeal which I believe is beginning on Monday 14th Nov.

Consult a Dealer. You may have a free new DPF assembly upgrade awaiting you - as I did back in 2021. It came with a 10 year unconditional warranty.

[JohnLynn Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close JohnLynn]

Thank you, I hope you are right. I used Mandurah Toyota while the Prado was having it's capped services but have serviced it myself since. I called them before we returned to WA and the service manager told me that "it is only Hi-Lux that are usually affected" I thought ffs don't they want any work? So next step is to try another dealer I will post their response.

[GeeWhizz Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close GeeWhizz]

Toyota are not known for paying their mechanics top rates, so much of their work is done by apprentices. Ask me how I know. As a result, they are typically short of workshop staff and will avoid work whenever they can - particularly "unnecessary" warranty work. Toyota are unlikely to do the DPF upgrade without there being an immediate problem.

JohnLynn, maybe you'll get lucky and the 5th injector will have gummed up while you were in the UK!! 2.8 litre Prados are definitely prone to DPF failures. It's just that Toyota have sold a hell of a lot of Hiluxs that they see so many back again.

[RPP Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close RPP]

If the Dealers aren't communicative enquire at Toyota Australia.
My regular Dealer pushed a new PDF at me as a mandatory service fix directed by Toyota, even tho I my vehicle had no issues.

[brisneylander Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close brisneylander]

I am back in WA after being in the UK since March 2020, I have my late 2015 GXL out of storage and back on the road. I wonder what the latest is on the DPF saga?
I had torque pro hooked up to my Chinese head unit and used to monitor the DPF, unfortunately being disconnected for nearly three years has meant the head unit has lost it's memory and so I need to enter all the custom pids again to get it to work. That is if I can find them again. What is everyone's opinion about what to do now as regards the DPF? I am thinking that if the 5th injector has been modified on later vehicles then surely the old ones should be changed? Perhaps more will be known after the result of Toyota's appeal which I believe is beginning on Monday 14th Nov.

Did you dig up any of the old PID codes??

[404pug Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close 404pug]

I had no trouble getting a new DPF earlier this year. I simply reported occasional white smoke and an erratic pattern of burning. My 2016 had done 60000 km at that stage. The housing for the new unit is quite different ibn appearance and I think the 5th injector is in a different place. remind the dealer that Toyota are replacing them as part of the class action settlement.