You are not likely going to be harmed. Your engine, however, is another thing. If you ignore the DPF light, and you continue to drive in your usual “gas/brake” pattern, you will probably end up seeing other warning lights come on. Then, you will have to see a mechanic for what is called “forced” regeneration.
While your vehicle won't stop running the moment the light turns on, continuous driving can lead to more severe issues like decreased fuel efficiency, reduced performance, and in the worst case, engine damage. An illuminated DPF light will cause an MOT failure.
The ash can't be removed – unless the DPF is removed from the vehicle and sent away for specialist cleaning – but a DPF in a car used correctly should be good for well over 100,000 miles.
If this happens, just carry on driving, keeping your engine speed above 2,000 revolutions per minute and shifting down if necessary. The filter-cleaning process will start - and we recommend you don't stop the journey or switch off the engine until it's finished.
All you have to do is get your car on an A road or motorway on a regular basis, such as every 300 miles. You then need to run it for 10-20 minutes at speeds in excess of 40mph. This will heat up your exhaust and burn off any soot in the filter.
A warning light letting you know your DPF is blocked should not be ignored, but can in many instances be remedied by driving in a way which initiates passive/active regeneration of the DPF. Driving for over 10 minutes at speeds in excess of 40mph will often be sufficient to clear the blockage and regenerate the DPF.
How does DPF regeneration occur? The regeneration occurs automatically, usually without the driver being aware that it is taking place. In the majority of cases, the process is carried out when the engine and exhaust system has reached normal operating temperature and the vehicle is travelling at over 40mph.
Low engine RPM
Alongside the engine not producing much power, the engine may not be able to rev very high, sometimes reaching a top RPM of 3,000. This is a consequence of both the exhaust gases restricting the engine's usual cycle, and because of the lack of turbo pressure.
DPF deletion does not affect vehicles' engine performance, power generation and horsepower. It can improve performance by freeing up space in the engine bay and reducing weight. However, there are some potential drawbacks to consider before going ahead with a DPF delete.
If the DPF warning light comes on it's because the engine management system needs to 'actively' regenerate the DPF. You should take your car on a run to allow the regeneration process to take place.
Once blocked though, turbo failure can occur very quickly. If you don't check for a DPF issue when installing a replacement turbo, there is a very high chance the replacement turbo will suffer the same failure, as it will be subject to the same operating environment as the previous unit.
Protecting Equipment. Today's aftermarket equipment makes it even more important to reduce idling. When idling, the vehicle is not operating at the ideal temperatures that allow soot to burn off the diesel particulate filter (DPF).
Both active and passive regeneration happens automatically, without the intervention of a mechanic or DPF specialist. Forced regeneration – If neither of the above methods work, the garage will need to clean the blocked DPF. This will cost between £85-100 for a straightforward job or as part of regular maintenance.
The vehicle can still be driven, however it is advised that the customer should visit a dealer where they can perform a stationary service regeneration using a service tool.” That's pretty typical. It is also worth mentioning the fire risk.
There are many tell-tale signs you can look for if you suspect your DPF is blocked. When the filter becomes faulty or clogged up with soot, you will normally be alerted to this by an orange light on your dashboard. The emission of black soot is another sign that you need to have your DPF cleaned.
Drive over 40 mph (64 kph) to begin active regeneration.
Begin driving and pay attention to both the engine and vehicle speed. Try to keep the engine speed around 2500 rpm. Active regeneration increases the temperature in the DPF to turn the particles into gas which can be expelled.
DPF cleaning involves the use of aqueous cleaning technology and specialist chemicals to reduce the soot emissions generated by your engine. Usually, your DPF removes soot automatically using passive regeneration. Our cleaning service removes the excess soot that is preventing regeneration from taking place.
The DPF regeneration process creates very high exhaust gas temperatures and the exhaust will radiate a considerable amount of heat during and after DPF regeneration, and after you have switched the engine off. This is a potential fire hazard.
Regeneration. Some say driving at speeds of over 40mph for 10 minutes using at least 2500 RPM and sticking in 3rd/4th gear can turn off your DPF light from your dash.
Active regeneration
In which case it should be possible to complete a regeneration cycle and clear the warning light by driving for 10 minutes or so at speeds greater than 40mph.