Diesel Particulate Filters are devices fitted to diesel engine vehicles to reduce the sooty particles that diesel engines produce.

We have all seen the black smoke coming from the rear of Diesel vehicles and trucks polluting the atmosphere and the air we breathe. This can penetrate deep into the lungs and is seen as a culprit for an increase in heart and lung problems.

The diesel particulate filter has a honeycombed interior, similar to a catalytic converter, which is made of Silicon Carbide. This is inside a stainless steel surround that you can see under the vehicle.

The honeycomb center is designed to trap the particles of soot that have not been burned off or cleared by an additive.

Some DPFs use an additive which enables them to burn off the soot particles and some are fitted close to the engine which means that the exhaust gases are hot enough to burn off the carbon soot particles.

Furthermore, it is an important unit in your vehicle that needs maintenance and attention all the time.

When the filter is full and no more soot particles can be trapped the DPF needs to undergo a regeneration process, which converts the soot into smaller particles like a powder.

This will be evident by the performance of the vehicle, loss of acceleration, sluggish performance and higher fuel usage.

There are two types of regeneration – aggressive and passive – within the vehicle.

With the injection of diesel or additive (urea) into the DPF, the exhaust ignites the diesel or additive and an explosion takes place. With the high heat from the explosion, this will in turn cause the soot to burn down into a powder and allow it to be expelled out of the DPF. This is very aggressive and not all the soot will be removed, therefore it is performed many times which causes damage to the DPF.

Driving at speed of 100Km for 20 minutes at high revs is usually enough to start regeneration if the DPF is not too blocked. This is known as passive regeneration.

Sometimes the DPF will not be given the chance to undergo either of these regeneration processes, and the filter will become too blocked for a regeneration to take place. At this point, the vehicle will need to undergo some type of professional service.

The only solution at this stage which will leave the vehicle in its proper state is to replace the filter or to use a professional cleaning service like DPF Cleaning and DCARB.

An effective method of filter cleaning must clean the channels (inlet and outlet ones) of the filter from soot, ashes, carbon deposits, particulates of cerium oxide ad at the same time be safe for the filter core to insert itself.

With that said, here are a few cleaning methods you can choose for your DPF Cleaning.

The cleaning method with the use of a specialist machine, forming the working jet of the fluid pointed directly at the filter inside. The application of a cleaning agent – a detergent is required.

One of its advantages is that it is safe for the filter catalytic coating. High effectiveness, even up to 99,5 % of capacity. As one of the few, it has a possibility of effective cleaning of the filter channels of all particulates: soot, ashes, carbon deposits, cerium oxide.

Curing soot in the induction furnace. Placing the ceramic insert of the filter core in the furnace for about 12 hours. With this method, you are rest assured that it effectively removes and cures soot.

However, there might be few disadvantages to using this. It might not totally remove the remaining particles like ashes. It also has a high risk of damaging the filter ceramic insert, sensitive to too rapid temperature changes.

The activity consists of inserting special chemicals inside the filter to dissolve soot. Chemical treatment of carbon deposits with one preparation, and then flushing them with the other. Then, a mechanic connects the car with the service computer and initiates the service procedure of the filter regeneration.

By means of a diagnostic computer, a mode is launched in which the engine operates at high speed. Much richer fuel mixture influences an increase in the temperature of exhaust fumes even to the level of up to 600 degrees! In such conditions, it is possible to cure soot.

Are you ready to get your DPFs cleaned today?

At DCARB’S DPF cleaning, you can enjoy a thoroughly cleaned diesel particulate filter in a high-quality dpf cleaning process. With a team of experts and DPF specialists, we ensure that our efforts and attention are 100% focused on giving you only the best of our services.

So don’t worry about a clogged DPF, let us take our cleaning actions. Book with us today!