Does the 2021 Tiguan L Have a Particulate Filter?
2 Answers
The 2021 Tiguan L is equipped with a particulate filter to meet the China VI emission standards. The particulate filter is a ceramic filter installed in the diesel engine's exhaust system, which captures particulate emissions before they enter the atmosphere. It can reduce soot emissions from diesel engines by more than 90%, and the captured particulate matter is subsequently burned off during vehicle operation. Diesel engine pollution mainly comes from three sources—particulate emissions, hydrocarbons (HCx), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and sulfur. Among these, particulate emissions (soot) mostly consist of tiny particles of carbon or carbon compounds (smaller than 4-20μm). How the particulate filter works: The diesel particulate filter is coated with platinum, rhodium, and palladium. The black smoke containing carbon particles emitted by the diesel engine enters the exhaust particulate filter through a dedicated pipe. After passing through the densely arranged bag-type filters inside, the carbon particles are adsorbed onto a filter made of metal fiber felt. When the adsorption of particles reaches a certain level, the burner at the end automatically ignites, burning off the adsorbed carbon particles and converting them into harmless carbon dioxide. To check whether the 2021 Tiguan L has a particulate filter, you can use the following three methods: 1. Check the Owner's Maintenance Manual and Owner's User Manual to see if the particulate filter function is mentioned. Additionally, carefully review the fault codes in the manual to see if there is a "Particulate Filter" warning light indicator. 2. Check the label on the oil filler cap. If the oil cap clearly indicates the use of 0W-20 grade oil, it means the vehicle is equipped with a particulate filter. 3. Look behind the catalytic converter on the exhaust pipe to see if there is an additional cylindrical section. If present, that is the particulate filter.
I recall that the 2021 Tiguan L did indeed come equipped with a particulate filter, as it needed to comply with the China 6b emission standards. This device primarily captures fine particles emitted by the engine to reduce pollution emissions. However, the issue is that after prolonged urban driving at low speeds, it may get clogged, triggering a dashboard warning and a noticeable drop in power. At that point, you'd need to drive at high speeds to burn off the accumulated carbon deposits; otherwise, the repair costs could be high. Technically speaking, it's installed within the exhaust system and integrated with the catalytic converter. If buying a used one, it's essential to check this aspect to avoid future hassles.
