Soot Filter driving me crazy...HELP !

Dec 2006, I bought a brand new S60 D5, my first ever Volvo and indeed my first Diesel. Since then the Soot filter has been giving me problems. About 4-5 weeks after purchase I got "soot filter full- see manual", followed a few hrs later with "Engine System, service required" (or something like that) with the Engine going to about 1/2 power or less. Was told this was due to my driving style and that the soot filter need re-generating. So religiously after that, as soon as I see the SOOT filter message I go for a 20-30 min run, and the message goes away. Yesterday "soot filter full" came on the display, this is only around 3 weeks after the last full service. It wasn't suitable to go for a run, so went to do it today, but too late I'm back on 1/2 power with the "Engine system" message back on. Tried a 60 miles run, no good. 0-60 is around 25 seconds. Phoned dealer, and have to book in for regeneration. I have a couple of questions:- 1) I only do short runs, 6500Miles per year, I told the dealer this at time of purchase, and he could see that from my 3year old 20,000 trade-in. Shouldn't the dealer tell me Volvo diesel engine isn't suitable for me. 2) Having spoke to the service dept today, they have confirmed this is a "thing" with Volvo diesels. Are they really telling me that no modern Volvo deisel car is capable of constant short runs without having to keep going back to the dealer ? Or put another way their diesels exclude certain driving styles. Its not that I'm a slow driver, I love the power and torque of the Engine, its just that I only do a big run every 2-3 months 3) Is there no way I can re-generate this myself, once its went to the "engine system stage". My dealer is 70 miles away, its basically a full day off work. Its went from being a mild annoyance to seriously considering taking a big hit on the price and getting something else.

Particulate filter 

Extend my sympathy, found myself in the same situation the dealer staff knowledge was nil (on purchase) until I started to enlighten them with a few operational facts. There are a number of postings on this subject on the various forums but have concluded that searches no longer appear too specific, can recommend XC 90 forum: Service Issues: XC90 D5 engine DPF (Diesel Particulate Filter) All you can do is mitigate the situation, watch out on the instant mpg read out for a big reduction from normal and then you could use a lower gear to speed things up, bear in mind regeneration will not start until operating temperature is achieved. If it does not complete it carries over to the next time. I have had regeneration over 5 legs covering 40 miles and effectively lasting 70 min, if you are lucky to be doing 60+ it completes in about 15 min.

And use a decent branded diesel fuel. On the subject of which, anyone used the Shell V-Power diesel? I've had good experience with the petrol but what about the black stuff?

Same here - when we had overtime available at work then mine got V-Power deisel for about three months solid and the MPG dropped a wee bit. Am now back on normal Shell deisel and no appreciable difference in performance. :thumbs_up:

I've just got this message for the first time driving home tonight so Googled to see what it meant and found this site and this thread. What confuses me is that I do a LOT of motorway driving regulalry and had in fact just come off a motorway after a clear drive home of about an hour. I've had the car just over three years (It had it's first MOT last month) and have never seen this message before. I can't have the car go wrong this weekend as I'm going on holiday really early on Monday morning and have so much to do beforehand and no time at all over the weekend, and I have to drive to the airport on the morning of my flight, leaving the car there while I'm away - the thought of it breaking down and me missing my flight is very worrying. I'm about to go out now for a drive as Clan has recommended but I am worried that it will not clear it as I had been motorway driving anyway !!!

The regeneration process can take about 20 minutes it needs sustained higher rpm to do the job .