DPF ash mass limit on Audi TDI — 2.0/3.0 TDI end-of-life DPF, more common on Sportback/estate short-run cars.
Audi P242F — DPF ash mass limit on Audi TDI — 2.0/3.0 TDI end-of-life DPF, more common on Sportback/estate short-run cars. Typical UK independent garage cost: £850–£2500.
What actually causes P242F on a Audi
A6 C7 3.0 TDI: DPF ash issues common on cars used for short trips and school runs — dieselgate updates made this worse. A3/A4 EA189 hits P242F around 110–140k miles.
Audi engines that log P242F
- 2.0 TDI EA189 (A3, A4 B8, A6 C7)
- 2.0 TDI EA288 (A3 8V, A4 B9)
- 3.0 TDI CR (A6, A7, Q5, Q7)
How we diagnose P242F on a Audi
- VCDS block 75 — ash mass and regen count
- 3.0 TDI CR — pressure-test EGR cooler first
- Off-vehicle ultrasonic clean where cell integrity holds
- OE Audi DPF, ODIS ash mass adaptation reset
The common misdiagnosis to avoid
3.0 TDI CR — replacing the DPF without inspecting the EGR cooler is money wasted. Cracked cooler will contaminate a new DPF within months.
Audi P242F repair cost in the UK
Expect £850–£2500 including parts and labour at an independent garage. Main-dealer quotes on Audi are usually higher for the same job, and the spread exists because the cheap cause and the expensive cause throw the same code — pay for the diagnosis before you pay for parts.
Bob's workshop tip
A6 3.0 TDI — pressure-test the EGR cooler before spending on a DPF. Fix upstream causes.
Codes usually seen alongside P242F on Audi
- P2002
- P244A
- P042F
Symptoms drivers report with P242F
- DPF warning light on the dash steady (not flashing) — often accompanied by 'Engine System Fault, Service Now'
- Reduced Engine Power warning / limp mode after another attempted regen
- Car has done multiple 'passive regens' recently (higher revs at motorway cruise, warm smell like burning) that ended incomplete
- MPG dropped 5–12 mpg over recent months as the DPF partially blocked
- Slight loss of turbo response and top-end power, engine feels 'flat'
- Exhaust smells 'hot' or 'sulphurous' after a long drive — sign of forced-regen attempts
Repairs that clear P242F
- Replace or professionally clean DPF
For the generic, all-makes explanation of this code — meaning, every known cause and UK cost bands — see our P242F guide.