Would Faulty Thermostat Prevent Passive Regens?

[KombiMadness]

One of the issues I have noticed on my newly purchased 2006 T5 2.5 TDI (BPC) is that it has a faulty thermostat. The temp gauge only sits on about 50 instead of getting to 90 where it should be for normal operating temp (then sometimes after about 40 mins of driving suddenly jumps to 90).
The other (main) issue I've been focussing on is a clogged DPF with the usual Christmas lights on the dash - engine check light, DPF light and flashing glow plug light. My local independent VW guy did a quick check for me with VCDS to see if it was a simple fix as a favour but couldn't spend much time on it because he's booked out for 3 weeks.....
1 Fault Found:
008194 - particulate trap bank 1
P2002-000-efficiency below threshold - MIL on

Since, the car needs to run at 2000+ rpm consistently at operating temp for at least 15 mins to do a passive regen (according to the manual), would the faulty thermostat be preventing this happening and therefore contribute to my DPF problem? I've only had the T5 2 weeks so I don't know how long the PO has been driving it with this dodgy thermostat.

[Sunny43.5]

Are you sure it has a DPF I thought they were only fitted to post 2010 models with the 2.0 litre diesel engines , our 2.5 does not have a DPF .

[KombiMadness]

Yes, it definitely has a DPF. I think mine was the first model year to get them (of the 2.5L engine).

[h100vw]

Yes, it definitely has a DPF. I think mine was the first model year to get them (of the 2.5L engine).

Check in the ECU and instruments that the water temp is the same. I don't know that motor well but some VWs have separate inputs for the ECU and engine.

It seems feasible in my mind that a regen would require an engine to be at operating temp.

edit

Diesel Particle Filter Emergency Regeneration - Ross-Tech Wiki needs to be over 50degrees.

[Umai Naa!!]

As per above, the gauge is somewhat innacurate.

Do the thermostat, and then perform a forced regeneration with VCDS. On these, the vehicle needs to be driven out on the open road to carry out the regen, via the regen procedure in VCDS.

[KombiMadness]

Thanks Gavin & Umai Naa,

Here's the VCDS printout I was given. Does this shed any more light on the problem? It's all gobblygook to me.....
He tried to take my T5 out on the highway to do a forced regen but ran out of time (and I'd taken the passenger seat out of the car to do work under the rubber mat, so he had nowhere to put the laptop close to him)