Owners are often confused about the meaning of “DPF-fitted” diesel. A DPF (exhaust filter) is an option that is fitted to most late-model diesel vehicles.
It is used to eliminate harmful gases such as hydrocarbons and lubricants from the fuel and lubricants, as well as water or sulfates, which attach to soot to form harmful particles from diesel exhaust fumes.
The dangerous gasses can result due to a variety of factors, including poor or incorrect servicing, poor quality fuel, bad driving habits, and poor combustion.
The DPF filter is designed to capture the particles, and later be cleaned, or regenerated, via high-temperature burns. It is when the regeneration process doesn’t happen, and the filter becomes blocked, that issues may arise.
Diesel particulate filter has been portrayed as a sophisticated and costly component that needs to be replaced, but in my experience is not the case. The need for replacement is less likely if the problem is properly controlled and treated properly.
If a DPF error occurs in the engine’s computer If a DPF fault is detected, it DOES NOT necessarily mean the DPF is blocked.
What are the symptoms of obstruction of DPF
The following symptoms may be present when your DPF becomes blocked or needs maintenance.
- Surging/poor performance.
- Excessive fuel consumption.
- Excessive smoking blue, black, or white.
- Engine and/or DPF emissions lights are shown.
- Difficulty starting the engine.
- The engine is running rough.
- Regeneration attempts that fail
What is Regeneration?
The computer-integrated algorithms of the vehicle perform periodic regenerations (burns) that raise the temperature of the exhaust to “burn” away” any soot or particles. It could result in a malfunctioning component that causes it to stop working properly or increase its number until the issue is resolved. Excessive black smoke is released from the exhaust after regeneration. This is normal and not dangerous. It is only a sign that something is wrong that smoke blows constantly.
What are you able to do to minimize the risk of DPF failure/blockage
- Make sure that your mechanic is aware of how to work with diesel.
- Avoid Missing services and incorrect oils
- Beware of driving while you have an issue in your vehicle (dash warning lights).
- Avoid poor-quality diesel fuel.
- Have your mechanic check all your dpf parts
- Modify your car with caution.
- DPF driving habits – I cut down on idle time and increase the rpm when under loads (dropping the speed) particularly when crawling. Let your mechanic know about any the changes in your car such as more raucous whistles, hissing sounds, or jerking feeling whilst driving. This could lead to the DPF not being regenerated.
- Make use of ‘on-car intake/induction cleans’ only if you are a mechanic. They can damage DPFs and other crucial components.
- DPF faults are not always caused by component failure.
- Maintained DPFs are capable of covering 200,000+ km before being removed for replacement or cleaning.
How much does it cost for a DPF to be replaced or cleaned?
First, a warning: DPF repair MUST be done by a qualified mechanic who uses the correct tools to reset and refit DPF. After the fault can be confirmed Once the initial fault has been confirmed, the DPF needs to be removed. The top DPF cleaning firms should have a minimum of five years of cleaning success.
They can also determine whether the DPF is in fact damaged internally.
A mechanic can test the DPF on the vehicle to determine if it’s blocked. They cannot determine whether the DPF is melting or has collapsed internally, thus causing the blockage. A passenger vehicle’s average cost of cleaning is about $600.
Vehicles with DPF’s are available in a wide variety of configurations. Manufacturers change their designs frequently, so it can be difficult to determine which DPF is installed on a specific vehicle. DPFs aren’t required to disclose who the manufacturer of DPF is, since they are thought to be the most controlled component of motor vehicle emissions.