FAQ
What is a DPF?
A diesel particulate filter (DPF) is a device fitted to a diesel vehicle which filters particulate matter (PM) from exhaust gases. It does this by trapping solid particles while letting gaseous components escape. This type of filter has been in use for over 20 years, and many variants exist. These filters enable reductions in emissions which help meet European emission standards, improving air quality and thereby health standards. If your vehicle was manufactured with a DPF fitted then it is illegal to remove it. A missing DPF, where one was fitted when the vehicle was built, or a blocked DPF will cause your vehicle to fail its MOT. You could be fined up to £2500 for driving a vehicle with its DPF removed.
Why do they need to be cleaned?
A DPF collects particulate matter, however they only have a finite capacity, and they can only collect so much before they become blocked. The DPF needs to be cleaned regularly, usually through a process called passive regeneration. This occurs when exhaust temperatures are high, usually reached on prolonged motorway journeys and particulate matter is burn off due to the higher exhaust temperatures. However in city driving or short trips the regeneration my not take place fully as the exhaust temperatures won’t get high enough for the time needed, leading to blocking of the filter.
This is where our service is of use as we can clean the blocked DPF filter for you.
How do I know if mine needs cleaning?
A warning light will illuminate or a message indicating the DPF is full will display on the dash. If you continue to drive in the same manner, the soot build up will increase until other warning lights illuminate and the vehicle will go into ‘limp’ mode, where driving speed is restricted.
A clogged filter will usually lead to poor engine performance and an increase in fuel consumption. A clogged filter can cause damage to other engine parts too due to the flow restriction of exhaust gasses.
If a blocked filter is left too long then it is possible that it will reach a point where it cannot just be cleaned and will need to be replaced.
Our method of cleaning and why you should choose us:
Our technology is different from any others on the market because it allows us to clean every kind of particulate filters of cars (Euro 6 too), buses and trucks, and catalysts of large trucks (SCR) as well.