Discovery Diesel: Black Smoke & Power Loss, What's Wrong?

Hey there! I've got some experience with diesel engines, and this sounds very familiar. I had similar issues with my '14 Range Rover TDV6 (I've also owned a Sport before). Yup, those symptoms match exactly what I dealt with, the black smoke, power loss, and terrible fuel economy were driving me nuts! Turned out my DPF (Diesel Particulate Filter) was completely clogged. Had to take it to my trusted workshop where they diagnosed it properly. The fix wasn't cheap, set me back about 1,325 Euro, but it solved all those issues you're describing. Before jumping to conclusions though, what's your mileage, and have you noticed any other warning lights besides the check engine? Also, when was the last time you did a proper highway run? Sometimes these DPFs need a good high-speed run to regenerate properly. Let me know these details, and I might be able to share more specific advice from my experience!

Thanks for sharing your experience! My Disco has 124550 KM on the clock, and I just had it serviced last month. The check engine light is the only warning showing up right now. Actually, I do quite a bit of highway driving for work, so that's interesting about the DPF regeneration. This issue started pretty suddenly last week. I'll definitely get the DPF checked out based on your experience, those symptoms match mine exactly. Did you get any specific error codes when your issue happened? Just wondering if I should expect similar repair costs since our issues sound so alike. Thanks for the detailed insight, really helpful to hear from someone who's been through this!

Hey again! Good to hear back from you. Yeah, my Range Rover was showing similar mileage when this happened, around 130K km. I remember getting the P0238 error code, which initially made me think it was the boost pressure sensor too, but the mechanic found it was definitely the DPF. The sudden onset matches my experience exactly, was driving fine one day, then boom! All those symptoms hit at once. Even though I was doing regular highway runs too, apparently it wasn't enough to prevent the clog. The mechanic explained that sometimes these DPFs can get suddenly overwhelmed if there's been a build-up of particles over time. Cost-wise, yeah, you're probably looking at something similar to what I paid. Though prices might have changed since then. The parts alone were pretty expensive, but honestly, it was worth every penny because the car went back to running like new, no more black smoke, power came back, and fuel economy improved dramatically. Quick tip from my experience, while you're getting it checked, have them look at the EGR valve too. Mine was pretty gunked up and they cleaned it during the same service. Might save you another workshop visit down the line. Keep me posted on what you find out! Always happy to share more details about my experience with this.

Thanks so much for all this detailed info! It's really comforting to know someone else has dealt with the exact same problem. I'll definitely get both the DPF and EGR valve checked out when I take it in. Just booked an appointment with my mechanic for tomorrow morning. The P0238 code you mentioned matches what I found when I used my 's diagnostic tool earlier today. Really hoping my repair bill stays around what you paid, guess I'll have to dip into my savings a bit, but like you said, it'll be worth it to get the car running properly again. Really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience and tips! I'll update once I know what's actually wrong with my Disco. Fingers crossed it's just the DPF and nothing else has been damaged. Thanks again, this has been super helpful!