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Ford C-MAX - Particulate Filters - Billieboy

This was posted on the website of a company-"Angel Tuning" Is it correct?

Will my car pass an MOT without a DPF?

Yes!! There is no legal requirement to have a DPF fitted, so it is not required to pass a test. It does NOT affect the emissions, not that there is currently an emissions test on a Diesel in the UK anyway......

Yes! There is no legal requirement to have a DPF fitted , so is not required to pass a test. It does NOT affect the emissions, not that there is currently an emissions test on a Diesel in the UK anyway…

Ford C-MAX - Particulate Filters - skidpan

Not quite right, it could even be possibly described as missleading.

From February 2014 if a vehicle was fitted with a DPF when new it must have one fitted for it to pass the MOT. When the garage enters the reg/vin they will be told if it should have a DPF. No DPF and its a fail.

Here is a link to the .gov press release.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-rules-for-mot-to-test-for-diesel-particulate-filter

Ford C-MAX - Particulate Filters - skidpan

Just checked the Angel tuning website and the answer is not as shown in the OP's post:

Will my car pass its MOT without a DPF?

"As of February 2014, the MoT Test Stations will as part of their VISUAL inspection during the test, check to ensure the existence of the DPF. So technically speaking, until such a time that there is a method to detect soot in the exhaust gases, it is almost an impossible task to detect the removal by any other means than the visual checking to see if the exhaust has been cut and welded! So the answer to the above question is no it will not, but only if they can detect it through the visual inspection of the exhaust. We have to recommend that you look at alternatives, such as cleaning or replacement (and we can offer both at very sensible and much more competitive prices than the dealers). However, should you wish us to, we will remove the DPF for you, once you sign an authorisation letter for us to do so.!"

It appears they are being reasonably honest.

So why dd the OP post the wrong info?

Ford C-MAX - Particulate Filters - RobJP

As skidpan has said.

It's called 'type approval'. Basically, your car is only legal when it is as originally supplied. Any alterations MAY make it illegal for road use. One of the alterations which qualifies as such is emission control eguipment : removal of such equipment would make the vehicle illegal.

Being caught is another matter, of course.

If you are caught (or the car produces lots of smoke / soot and fails the MOT or a police stop picks this up) then you'd have to pay out for an entirely new DPF, and fitting for the same, before you could get your car back on the road. An expensive proposition.

Ford C-MAX - Particulate Filters - skidpan

As skidpan has said.

It's called 'type approval'. Basically, your car is only legal when it is as originally supplied. Any alterations MAY make it illegal for road use. One of the alterations which qualifies as such is emission control eguipment : removal of such equipment would make the vehicle illegal.

Being caught is another matter, of course.

If you are caught (or the car produces lots of smoke / soot and fails the MOT or a police stop picks this up) then you'd have to pay out for an entirely new DPF, and fitting for the same, before you could get your car back on the road. An expensive proposition.

Plus a fine no doubt.

Doubt you would get a fine but the car would fail its MOT and you would then be unable to use it until returned to its factory spec, at a huge cost.

Ford C-MAX - Particulate Filters - Railroad.
It is an offence to drive a vehicle on a public road which has been modified in such a way so that it no longer meets the emission requirements it was originally designed to meet. This would almost certainly include the removal of a DPF (which would be a reason for rejection at the MOT test), but also its substitution for a component that merely has the appearance of one.

Up to you really.
Ford C-MAX - Particulate Filters - Gibbo_Wirral

I can't speak for all cars but on Peugeots the DPF housing is usually opened and the insides gutted. The ECU is remapped and the MOT centre is none the wiser. There are owners on the Peugeot forums with gutted DPFs and their cars have still passed the MOT.

Personally I'd rather just have the car as it was when it came out of the factory. Replacement DPFs aren't that expensive, particularly if you don't go to a dealer.

Ford C-MAX - Particulate Filters - Railroad.

I can't speak for all cars but on Peugeots the DPF housing is usually opened and the insides gutted. The ECU is remapped and the MOT centre is none the wiser. There are owners on the Peugeot forums with gutted DPFs and their cars have still passed the MOT.

Personally I'd rather just have the car as it was when it came out of the factory. Replacement DPFs aren't that expensive, particularly if you don't go to a dealer.

That's all very well at the moment. I've never heard of anyone yet being caught in a roadside check, and the MOT test checks for smoke density, not for individual pollutants within it. How long will it be before the smoke test is much more comprehensive though? Motor manufacturers all over the world are now having to take the latest emission standards very seriously, and it isn't going to go away any time soon. Sooner or later things will get much tighter, and will spell the end for vehicles that don't meet them.