Why this sounded believable

The seller was a plumber who'd owned the Hilux from new. Full Toyota service history to 90,000km, then independent after. The 'morning burn-off' explanation sounded plausible — every diesel owner knows DPF regen. What he didn't know was that a healthy regen finishes in 10–15 minutes and produces faint white vapour, not thick grey smoke that neighbours complain about.

What the scan tool found

• DPF soot loading: 380% — nearly four times the 100% threshold where active regen becomes impossible.
• 19 failed active regen attempts in the rolling 500-cycle fault log.
• Glow-plug duty cycle at 97% — the ECU is trying everything to heat the DPF and failing.
• Differential pressure sensor delta: 82mbar at idle (spec is under 15mbar).
• Live data during road test: DPF inlet temp peaked at 380°C — 120°C below the 500°C needed for passive regen.

Outcome

The buyer presented the scan-data printout and a quote from a Toyota specialist in Parramatta. The seller initially claimed 'all 2.8s do this' but couldn't explain the 380% figure. After 36 hours the seller agreed to $38,190 — $4,800 off. The buyer had the DPF and glow plugs done within a week and the ECU reflashed at the dealer.

"I was two hours from signing. Marco plugged in his scan tool, showed me 380% on the screen, and said 'that's not a burn-off, that's a burial'. Best $349 I've spent on any ute."