DPF ON-CAR FIX! Forced Regen + Cleaner Took My Audi A5 3.0 TDI from Warning Light to 0.38g Soot
I wanted to share a successful DPF recovery on my 2010 Audi A5 Sportback 3.0 TDI Quattro (CCWA, 240 PS / 176 kW) in case it helps anyone dealing with a flashing glow plug light and DPF issues.
Symptoms
Flashing glow plug (coil) light
DPF warning light
Heavy soot smell from the exhaust
Concern about limp mode
The car had not gone into limp mode, and it was clear the DPF was heavily loaded and needed attention.
Tools and Products Used
Diagnostic Tool
TOPDON ArtiDiag600 S
DPF Cleaner
JLM Diesel DPF Cleaner (fuel additive)
What I Did
Added JLM Diesel DPF Cleaner to the fuel tank.
Drove the car hard for around 15 minutes at higher RPM to get exhaust temperatures up.
Used the TOPDON ArtiDiag600 S to initiate a service regeneration (forced DPF regen).
Kept the engine running while monitoring temperature and battery voltage.
Regeneration Data
During the service regeneration:
Engine speed: ~1,100 RPM
Regeneration time: 1,018.3 seconds (~17 minutes)
Filter surface temperature peak: 402.2°C
Temperature after DPF during cooldown: 322.7°C
Charging voltage during regen: 13.36–13.41 V
Regeneration phase ended in: Cool-down
Final message: “Service regeneration was ended with OK.”
Soot Levels Before and After
At the end of the regeneration, the scanner reported:
Soot mass calculated: 4.57 g
Soot mass measured: 0.38 g
Result
Glow plug warning light cleared
DPF warning light went out
No limp mode
Exhaust smell returned to normal
Car drives perfectly again
My Takeaway
The combination of:
JLM Diesel DPF Cleaner
A proper high-RPM drive
Forced regeneration with the TOPDON ArtiDiag600 S
successfully restored the DPF without removing it from the car.
A measured soot value of 0.38 g after regeneration is an excellent result and indicates the DPF is effectively clean.
Advice for Others
If your car still allows a forced regeneration and there are no underlying sensor faults, this approach can save a significant amount of money and avoid unnecessary DPF replacement.
Of course, if the DPF is damaged or ash-loaded rather than soot-loaded, removal or replacement may still be required.
Hope this helps someone facing similar DPF issues. The car is now running great and the warning lights have stayed off.