Does the 2021 Tiguan L380 have a particulate filter?
3 Answers
21 Tiguan L380 does not have a particulate filter. A particulate filter is a ceramic filter installed in the exhaust system of diesel engines, which captures particulate emissions before they enter the atmosphere. Function of the particulate filter: The particulate filter can reduce the soot produced by diesel engines by more than 90%, and the captured particulate emissions are subsequently burned off during vehicle operation. To check whether a vehicle is equipped with a particulate filter, you can use the following three methods: Check the and to see if there is a particulate filter function. Additionally, you can carefully check the fault codes in the manual to see if there is a "particulate filter" warning light indicator. Check the label above the oil filler cap. If the oil cap clearly indicates 0W-20 grade oil, it means the vehicle is equipped with a particulate filter. Check whether there is a cylindrical section behind the three-way catalytic converter on the exhaust pipe. If there is, that is the particulate filter.
I've researched this issue before. The 2021 Tiguan L 380 does indeed come equipped with a particulate filter. Virtually all China VI compliant vehicles in the lineup have this component. Volkswagen implemented this mainly to comply with new emission regulations, trapping fine particles from the exhaust. The 380TSI is the high-power 2.0T version, and just like the lower-power 330, it couldn't avoid getting one. It's installed near the rear exhaust pipe, close to the catalytic converter. Owners should be cautious - frequent short trips in winter can easily cause clogging. I've seen several cases where fuel consumption soared to 15L/100km. The solution is quite simple - just take a 30-minute highway drive when possible. During regular maintenance, remember to have the technician check the sensor data, don't wait until the warning light comes on to take action.
I've specifically looked into this. All Tiguan L 380 models manufactured in 2021 must be equipped with a particulate filter. With the China 6B emission standards in place, exhaust would definitely exceed limits without this device. It's located behind the three-way catalytic converter, resembling a honeycomb-like filtration unit. I've heard northern owners particularly struggle with it, as short commutes of just a few kilometers in winter can easily trigger clogging warnings. The solution is actually not complicated: either shift to S mode and drive at high RPMs for twenty minutes, or manually downshift to third gear and rev the engine. If you frequently take short trips, it's advisable to intentionally take a highway run each month. Last time in the car owners' group, someone mentioned using fuel additives for cleaning, but the effect wasn't as substantial as directly increasing the RPMs.
