Dpf Cleaning

A dpf has been designed, to catch the particle matter coming out of the exhaust. This is done by trapping it in the particle filter. As the dpf fills up with soot the engine control module will calculate how much soot is in the exhaust and when the conditions are right it will trigger off a regen to burn off the soot to convert this into ash as most exhaust systems can hold a lot of ash and will take hundreds of thousands of miles to fill up.

Why does my dpf block up?

There are many reasons why a dpf can block up. This could be anything from a simple issue such as a boost leak or a sensor failure or something major such as an EGR failure or turbo failure. The most common causes are:

Frequent short journeys - If you are only taking your diesel vehicle on short journeys where the engine isn't getting to the optimal temperature then this will never allow the car to carry out a regeneration when driving. This can lead to the dpf getting blocked up and needs to be cleaned to fix the issues. Typically a journey of 20+ minutes where the exhaust is reaching an optimal temperature will be enough to carry out a dpf regeneration as long as it isn't blocked up already.
Boost leaks - A boost leak will cause the car's engine to be running at the incorrect air-to-fuel ratio to be running optimally and will lead to a lot of soot buildup causing the dpf to clog. This issue needs to be resolved before cleaning
Lack of maintenance - The lack of replacing important filters such as air filters, fuel filters and engine oil could cause your dpf to block up due to the engine not running correctly.
EGR issues - If not resolved issues with the EGR blocking up could cause your dpf filter to block up
Failed sensors - If you have incorrect pressure readings or temperature readings in the exhaust then this could cause the car not to trigger a regeneration leaving the dpf to blockup.
Incorrect oil used - low ash oil should be used otherwise you run the risk of the dpf blocking up

Is your dpf blocked up?

Call our Garage near Leighton Buzzard for a FREE quote

01296 688256

Frequently asked questions

How often should the dpf be cleaned?

If the system is working correctly and the vehicle is run to the correct conditions for a regeneration then the dpf should never need cleaning. The dpf becoming blocked up is just a symptom of another running issue within the vehicle so before cleaning a full diagnosis needs to be carried out to find out the running issue with the car. The only time a dpf will become blocked up other than this is if you are just doing frequent short journeys and the exhaust system never gets hot enough to trigger off a regeneration.If you are carrying out a lot of short journeys only then a diesel is not recommended.

Where is the dpf located on my vehicle?

The dpf is located in different places depending on the manufacturer of the car. The dpf can sometimes be located right up near the exhaust manifold and a lot of them are placed under the vehicle further down the exhaust system.

How long does dpf cleaning take?

Cleaning out the dpf can take a different amount of time depending on how blocked up it is. Firstly before cleaning is carried out a full system diagnosis will take place to figure out what underlying issue has caused the dpf to block up. A dpf cleaner breaks down all of the soot in the exhaust system to clean it out to try and unblock it to restore normal driving functions.

Is dpf cleaning effective?

dpf cleaning is typically quite effective on cars but this can depend on how blocked up the dpf is. If the dpf is just blocked up with soot then cleaning is very effective. If you have a high mileage car then the dpf may become blocked up with ash which cant be cleaned out of the dpf so may need dpf replacement

Can a dpf filter always be cleaned?

No a dpf filter can not always be cleaned due to high ash levels in high-mileage cars. If this is not possible it is always best to fit an OE quality part as these are manufactured to the highest quality so will run as the manufacturer has intended it to.

Will dpf regenerate in limp home mode?

On most vehicles no, a dpf filter will not always regenerate in limp home mode. This will cause your dpf to block up if you drive it too far in limp home mode and will get worse the more that you drive it.