Wondering how to clean a DPF filter yourself? All you need to do is drive! Diesel trucks have a built-in DPF cleaner that burns off excess soot using the heat from the engine. Known as passive regeneration, this process occurs automatically when you maintain a steady highway speed for at least 45 minutes.
Manual regeneration is often required when vehicles are driven at insufficient speed to allow regeneration to be carried out automatically by their engine management control software. The vehicle is already suffering with driveability and lack of power problems.
DPF Warning Light Explained
Driving for over 10 minutes at speeds in excess of 40mph will often be sufficient to clear the blockage and regenerate the DPF. You should consult the handbook for your vehicle for more specific guidance on how you should drive to initiate regeneration of the DPF and clear the warning light.
Here's how to look after your particulate filter
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.
If the journey is too short or the vehicle does not have enough fuel the DPF regeneration process might not work. To allow the DPF to regularly regenerate it's advised the fuel tank is more than a quarter full, otherwise, the vehicle will opt to save fuel instead of redirecting it for DPF regeneration.
Since DPFs and EGRs effectively reduce engine performance by obstructing your exhaust and diluting the fuel/air mix in your combustion chambers, removing them may result in: Improved fuel economy. Decreased engine temperatures. Minor increases to engine power.
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.
The removal of the DPF can release harmful exhaust gases and particulates into the atmosphere, posing risks to human health and the environment. Violating local regulations can result in fines and even vehicle impoundment.
The easiest and cheapest method of DPF filter cleaning is by driving the vehicle for a long-distance at high revs per minute. Doing this increases the heat of the exhaust and burns the soot blocking the DPF filter. It's best to drive on a motorway or A road where you can keep the vehicle at a consistent speed.
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.
Use FTC Decarbonizer DPF Cleaner…
The easiest and most effective way to de-clog and maintain your DPF filter is to use a combustion catalyst called FTC Decarbonizer.
Most engine management systems will actively regenerate the DPF when the car is driven at speeds above 40mph for around 10 to 15 minutes. The soot particles trapped in the filter will soon burn away and the warning light should switch off.
Active DPF regenerations need to burn extra fuel to achieve the high exhaust temperature for soot oxidation, which results in the increased fuel consumption rates.
Thermal regeneration of diesel particulate filters requires temperatures of around 600°C (Figure 1). Such exhaust temperatures are rarely encountered in practical applications of the diesel engine. Most heavy-duty diesel engines produce exhaust temperatures in the range of 300-450°C.
How to unblock a DPF? 1) DPF Regeneration - Find a motorway near you where you can drive at 70+ MPH for 30-45 minutes; this should provide the optimal conditions for the regeneration process to complete. If this works, consider a regular drive along a motorway regularly to allow the regeneration process to complete.
A blocked DPF will prevent your engine from venting exhaust gases, meaning that your engine cannot cycle properly, reducing the power output and acceleration.
A problem with your DPF filter is often caused by another failed component upstream in your engine. These failures can cause excess carbon and soot. Timing issues and injectors that aren't firing properly are both common problems which can lead to a plugged DPF.
Signs of a clogged DPF include reduced engine performance, increased fuel consumption and exhaust emissions… or simply the display of the DPF light in your cockpit.
There are three key benefits associated with DPF delete: more engine power, better fuel economy, and reduced maintenance costs.
Removing a DPF is easy !
The operation takes place in two stages. The first is with software use. It consists of reprogramming the computer so that it no longer takes the diesel particulate filter into account. The second part consists of acting directly on the exhaust pipe.
Once the DPF clean has been performed a regen can occur. Whenever it is necessary to perform a forced regen an engine oil change is required after the regen. Why, remember before how extra fuel is injected to get the DPF hot enough to regen, this extra fuel will dilute the engine oil.
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.
There are two ways to tell. One is that the 'instant fuel economy' on the meter suddenly halves because diesel is being used to actively regenerate the DPF. The other is heat.