Mahindra Thar ROXX's DPF Failure Leaves Youtuber Stranded At 11,000 Feet (Video)

The Mahindra Thar ROXX enjoys high acceptance in the Indian market. Many of its owners are adventure seekers and explorers. Mahindra claims that the ROXX is rugged enough to be the perfect set of wheels for such people. An adventure-seeking owner recently had a very unfortunate experience with his ROXX. He ended up being stranded at an altitude of 11,000 ft after the vehicle developed DPF issues. The owner, a YouTuber and businessman himself, got so frustrated and soon shared the experience on social media.

A video shared on the channel Murshid Bandidos explains the specifics of the incident. Murshid, the owner here, is a successful YouTuber and businessman. He is also a passionate car guy and was on a record-breaking expedition when the unfortunate incident happened. He was part of a 16-vehicle convoy- all 4x4 SUVs, which was on its way to Umling La, the world's highest motorable road.

The expedition started from Kuttanad, a place with an elevation of 2.2m below sea level. It was thus a drive from the lowest point to the highest point making brief stops at various key locations en route. As Murshid claims in the video, it was an attempt that could have fetched them recognition in both India Book of Records and Asia Book of Records. The level of excitement around this drive was obviously high!

This Thar ROXX had just over 1200 km on its odometer when the owner embarked on the expedition. It was still a brand-new SUV, and the same boosted the owner's confidence. Murshid says that the vehicle started developing issues with its DPF regeneration as soon as the altitude continued to climb. Since this is common in diesel vehicles and in many cases, gets resolved on its own, he continued to drive.

Soon, Murshid found his Thar ROXX returning 'Engine warning' and 'faulty sensor' errors. He then had to drive the next 160 kilometres at speeds of around 30 kph! He knew that the closest service centre was at Kargil, which was still quite far away. He contacted Mahindra RSA, who instructed him to wait at Padum and let the RSA get there- a scenario which will save him much time.

Murshid waited for the Mahindra support team, at Padum, along with the entire convoy. The next morning, he contacted the service centre again for an update. He was, however, told that it wouldn't be possible for them to come to Padum. Uncertainties meant that the entire convoy had to wait another day.

The RSA took the vehicle to the service station and delivered the fixed product the next afternoon. The entire team reportedly lost 2-3 days due to the issue. The owner further says that he faced delays from the technical staff as well. They refused to prioritise him, or consider the 'record-breaking drive' that he was on.

Frustrated, this owner even says that he's done driving the ROXX, and needs something more rugged and reliable. He says that he is thinking about an upgrade soon. In his closing remarks, Murshid requests Mahindra to improve their after-sales support...

What Is The DPF Regen Issue?

BS6 diesel vehicles use a Catalytic Converter (CAT) and DPF to reduce and clean up tailpipe emissions. These reduce the exhaust gasses chemically before letting them out into the atmosphere. This process is claimed to reduce harmful gases and particulate matter. DPF regeneration essentially refers to burning off the soot. A compromise here will result in soot accumulation, eventually leading to reduced engine performance and a drastic drop in fuel efficiency.

When driving through high altitudes, BS6 vehicles are more prone to DPF regen fails, due to the reduced air pressure and oxygen levels. These limit combustion and result in soot accumulation. This seems to have happened in the case of the ROXX here. The CAT and DPF hardware are both expensive and complex. Replacements usually costs a lot. Remember how a Kia Seltos owner was issued a bill of Rs 1.57 lakh after the catalytic converter on his vehicle failed?

Taking proper care of the DPF system is something which BS6 diesel car owners should never fail to do. Going for spirited long drives occasionally can keep it healthy. Heavy engine loads and high-rpm drives burn the soot off and clear the DPF. Some vehicle feature an automatic cleaning system which passively raise the idle speed to do the same.