Diesel engines emit a lot of soot (particulate matter), which can irritate the lungs and increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Since 2009, modern diesel cars have been required to incorporate a Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) in the exhaust system to prevent soot from entering the atmosphere.
The goal is to reduce particle emissions by 80%, however the technology isn’t without flaws, and our patrols are frequently called to cars with a blocked DPF.
A DPF must be drained on a regular basis to preserve performance.
When the exhaust temperature is high enough, on motorways or fast A-roads, this is normally done passively in a process known as’regeneration.’
- The ash cannot be removed until the DPF is removed from the vehicle and submitted to a specialist for cleaning, but a well maintained DPF should last far over 100,000 miles.
Active regeneration
Because many automobiles don’t get enough use for passive regeneration to operate, automakers include ‘active’ regeneration, in which the engine control software detects that the filter is becoming clogged and injects additional gasoline into the engine to raise the exhaust temperature and initiate regeneration.
Active regeneration occurs every 300 miles or more, depending on how you drive, and takes 5 to 10 minutes to finish. However, if your journey is too short and the regeneration does not complete, this is a problem.
Don’t ignore a warning light
If a warning light indicates that the filter is blocked, you should be able to complete an active regeneration cycle and clear the warning light by driving at speeds of over 40 mph for 10 minutes or so.
If you ignore a DPF warning light and continue to drive in a sluggish, stop/start pattern, soot will build up in the filter, causing it to go into’restricted performance mode,’ which will protect your car from damage.
- They may have to replace the filter in extreme circumstances, which can cost up to £1000 plus labor.
In most circumstances, there is only a short period of time between the DPF becoming partially blocked and the requirement for manual regeneration.
The engine management light may illuminate if there’s a problem with the DPF or the differential pressure sensor, which informs your automobile about its health.
How do you turn off a diesel particulate filter?
To prevent this, the soot must be burned at a high enough temperature to transform it into smaller ash particles that can be evacuated from the system.
Why does my diesel particulate filter light keep coming on?
A blocked DPF is the most typical cause for a DPF warning light to emerge. A damaged glow plug, a faulty exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve, and difficulties with the exhaust and injection systems can all affect the DPF and cause the DPF warning light to illuminate.
Can you clean diesel particulate filter?
Is it possible to clean a DPF? Yes, you can (Diesel Particulate Filter). DPF cleaning is one of our 500+ TerraClean dealers’ most requested services right now. Many of our dealers actually offer this service to neighboring garages who require DPF cleaning for their customers’ vehicles.
What do you do if your particulate filter light comes on?
When soot deposits reach a specific level, the car’s engine management unit initiates a process known as ‘passive regeneration.’ The temperature in the exhaust system rises as more fuel is pumped into the engine. This causes the soot to burn, changing it into fine ash, which is then expelled through the exhaust.
This operation is frequently carried out by your car at greater speeds in order to maintain a high temperature in the exhaust system.
However, if you spend most of your time doing short journeys around town and infrequently travel at highway speeds, your automobile will be unable to regenerate. As a result, the soot in the DPF continues to build up, causing the diesel particulate filter light to glow.
How often should a DPF filter be cleaned?
Before we get into why you should clean your DPF and DOC, it’s important to understand how these engine components function together. The DPF is safeguarded by the DOC. Because vapor can obstruct the DPF’s capacity to catch and remove particulates, manufacturers route the exhaust first through the DOC, then into the DPF. The DOC directs exhaust through a honeycomb ceramic structure coated with a catalyst, which converts carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons to carbon dioxide and water chemically. After that, the exhaust gases are driven through porous channel walls in the DPF, capturing and retaining the leftover ash and soot.
When Is It Time To Have Your DPF or DOC Cleaned?
Depending on your duty style, a reasonable rule of thumb is to get your vehicle cleaned every 200,000 miles or less. You can either use passive or active regeneration to burn off the surplus ash and soot on your own. Active regeneration requires far higher temperatures than passive generation, which uses typical exhaust temperatures and nitrogen dioxide to oxidize the build-up. Despite these several cleaning cycles, it is still necessary to get your truck serviced.
Why Should You Have Your DPF/DOC Cleaned?
If you don’t clean your filter, soot and ash will build up and harm or ruin it. When travelling with a load, soot and ash burn off as rapidly as they gather, but when idling or driving in sluggish traffic, they tend to accumulate and linger.
A decrease in engine performance or an increase in the number of regeneration cycles are two significant symptoms that it’s time for a professional cleaning. Cleaning the DPF on a regular basis could reveal:
If left ignored, a dirty filter may not appear to be a major source of damage, but you’d be shocked how pricey it can be. As a result, cleaning is an important aspect of maintenance. When you consider the cost of replacing parts, which can be approximately $3,000 (if not more), as well as the cost of unexpected downtime, skipping this relatively straightforward step can have a significant impact on your bottom line.
Visit our service department right away if you believe your diesel needs DPF servicing. Throughout the Upper Midwest, our mobile truck service technicians are available to assist you.
How long should a diesel particulate filter last?
If properly maintained, a DPF can last up to 100,000 kilometers. If the automobile has over that mileage, you may have to pay a significant sum for a replacement, therefore always check the MoT and service records before purchasing a secondhand car. Otherwise, you risk having to pay for unexpected diesel repairs due to high mileage.
How do you stop a DPF blockage?
Driving faster, contrary to popular thought, may actually save you money in the long run. DPF regeneration is only possible when particular circumstances, such as engine speed, RPM, and temperature, are met. The DPF regeneration process will not begin unless all of the prerequisites are met, and you’ll be one step closer to a pricey dealer regen (trust me I know from experience).
Do your studies and figure out how quickly, for how long, and at what RPM you need to drive. If your dealer refuses to provide you with this information, we propose contacting the internet community and owners clubs.
Are DPF cleaners worth it?
DPF cleaning chemicals appear to be a low-cost and rapid way to unblock a DPF. Regrettably, statements that an additive can unblock a dpf are frequently overblown. In actuality, these additives frequently give a false impression of what they are accomplishing, and they never come close to unblocking a dpf filter.
There are typically extremely minute amounts of an additive left after it has combusted, and in most cases, there will not be enough to unblock a particulate filter.
It is necessary to take your vehicle to a primary dealer or a specialist garage that provides dpf cleaning services if you desire your dpf filter to be completely cleaned and fully unblocked. When your DPF light comes on, you should immediately contact a dealer; employing DPF cleaning chemicals is extremely dangerous and can often cause more harm than good. ,br>
Your dpf can be cleaned at a dealer using a variety of techniques, including forced dpf filter regeneration. This may normally be completed in two to three hours. DPF Solutions uses your vehicle’s ECU system to execute a forced regeneration in the same way that your main dealer would, ensuring a thoroughly cleaned DPF.
Unfortunately, because DPF cleaning additives are still an experimental option, we’ve seen a lot of individuals try to utilize them and end up exacerbating their issue. To prevent paying for costly operations, you must be certain about what you’re doing when it comes to DPF filters.
Should I get my DPF removed?
According to recent data, tens of thousands of drivers have been discovered driving without their diesel particulate filter. Since 2014, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency has discovered 1,800 drivers driving without a pollution-reduction filter in their vehicle.
While it is not against the law to remove a car’s DPF, it is against the law to drive without one if one is required. It’s thought that some drivers who have DPFs that have gotten blocked are just removing them rather than paying for a replacement, which may cost up to £1,000. Car drivers risk a £1,000 punishment, while driving a vehicle without a DPF carries a £2,500 penalty.
Diesel particulate filters collect small pollutants from diesel engines that would otherwise be released into the atmosphere. They do, however, require’regeneration,’ which requires burning off the collected particles on a regular basis. High temperatures, which are normally reached when a vehicle is driven at a reasonably high speed, are required for this process to occur. Diesel drivers who mostly drive in cities may experience blocked DPFs since their vehicles do not routinely achieve the conditions required for regeneration.
The removal of a DPF is a very straightforward procedure that involves cutting a hole in a vehicle’s exhaust, removing the filter, and welding the hole closed. Although diesel cars must have a DPF to pass MoT inspections, this is only assessed visually rather than through emissions testing. Removing the filter has no effect on the car’s performance, and some drivers claim that driving without one improves fuel economy and engine performance.
