VW owners in China facing clogged particulate filter problem because they don’t drive fast enough

Volkswagen owners in China are reporting clogged gasoline particulate filter (GPF) which results in high fuel consumption and loss in performance.

GPF is found in cars with Euro 6 compliant emission standard which is not applicable to us in Malaysia. 

This issue is affecting owners who are operating their vehicles equipped with GPF in colder climates.

Owners are reporting that in city driving settings, a warning message on the GPF will pop up. Their fuel consumption also skyrocketed by up to fourfold to 30L/100 km.

Throttle response has also been affected and so is the auto start/stop being rougher than normal.

Official service centres rectification is to request owners to drive at highway speeds (80 – 120 km/h) to clear up the GPF and the car will return back to normal. However, because China enforces a strict speed limit, the only route to get up to those speeds is tolled highway roads. 

The reason for GPF being clogged up is due to the exhaust does not get hot enough for the trapped shoot to be burnt off. To clear up the GPF, all the driver has to do is take the car up to operating temperature and speed for at least 10 to 20 minutes.

This process is called GPF Regeneration and it is stated in Volkswagen's owner manual. Owners facing clogged GPF are mostly from cold climate areas with short traveling distances.

The solution to this problem: drive faster.