Particulate Filter

[Danj]

Hi all,

I am thinking of purchasing a 2010 freelander 2.

This car comes fitted with a diesel particulate filter as standard in the UK.

A particulate filter is not avaialble in Australia, even as an option.

Without the filter, the car rates terribly in the green vehicle guide.

Has anyone fitted an aftermarket filter or have experience with these filters?

Any replies appreciated. Really want the car but this could be the dealbreaker.

[BigJon]

Why would the lack of the filter be a deal breaker?

[Danj]

Its a dealbreaker because it only rates 3/10 for air pollution in comparison to 6/10 for others in its class. Is also the only car in its class not to have a particulate filter.

I have a problem with the proliferation of yuppies driving huge, gas guzzling 4wds to negotiate the speed humps at Safeway. I only want a 4wd so I can get to the camping stops my dear little Kia Rio won't go. If I'm going to do this then I want to do it in the most environmently friendly way I can (given car is huge gas guzzling 4wd).

The Freelander suits our needs more than a softroader but yet all softroaders have particulate filters. I believe the freelander to be the most suitable car for what it is to be used for but have an ethical issue with buying a car that is so behind its competitors in regards to the environment.

Hence my question as to an aftermarket particulate filter or experience in general.

Thanks again.

[SuperMono]

I believe the freelander to be the most suitable car for what it is to be used for but have an ethical issue with buying a car that is so behind its competitors in regards to the environment.

I can understand your stance, if we keep failing to take the 'Green' position what is left of the world won't be worth having.
Every little bit does help,.......you over there on the left....stop laughing at me

[Junosi]

I'm gonna go ahead and back you up 100% here Danj - I bought a Freelander specifically to run on vege oil (near zero emissions). I think I'd be in the same camp as you if I were looking at buying a new Freelander and it had no particulate filter. My other ride is a LPG discovery which I also wouldn't own if it weren't on LPG (very low emissions)

[Danj]

Thanks guys,

I appreciate the support. Was a bit worried that I would get flamed for being a green girly girl!

[Danj]

By the way Junosi, what the hell is vege oil and how does it work? Please explain...

[Junosi]

Just as it sounds - vegetable oil. I'm running my flandy on used oil free from my local fish & chip shop. They have to pay to dispose of it so don't mind if I take some off their hands - enough to keep me on the road anyways

Rudolph Diesel designed the original engine to run on peanut oil I think and fossil fuel diesel came along and made things *easier* and dirtier, but most diesels can still run on vegetable oil just the same (common rails have more problems). There's a few obstacles here and there - viscoscity in winter and going rancid in summer - nothing insurmountable. Some enthusiasts put there chemist hats on and convert the vegetable oil into *bio-diesel* by a fairly simple process using lye and methanol - in a similar process to making soap. The resulting product is almost identical to petro-diesel, the only downside to this is the cost of the lye and methanol - still works out far cheaper than petro-diesel though. Using straight vege oil as I am can cause corrosion issues in the fuel system due to moisture content - as my flandy was relatively cheap I won't mind keeping an eye on it - wouldn't do it to a new one though (or a common rail)

ps I enjoy being a green girly girl amongst my V8 friends - even more when they whine about their fuel bills

[Scouse]

If you're 'green', buy a used car & keep it on the road.

There's a hell of a lot more emissions generated in just making a new car than a used will make in the rest of it's life.

[isuzurover]

If you're 'green', buy a used car & keep it on the road.

There's a hell of a lot more emissions generated in just making a new car than a used will make in the rest of it's life.

Not true. IRC emissions during manufacture are about the same as driving 20000km.

Danj, some DPF manufacturers claim their systems can be retrofitted. However I didn't think any vehicles that size in Australia came with DPFs yet???