DPF Problems

In theory, vehicle owners should experience very few problems with the Diesel Particulate Filter, as it should be self-cleaning or ‘self-regenerating’, unfortunately though DPF problems do occur.

As a car is used, so the diesel fuel is burnt and the harmful soot that created is collected by the diesel particulate filter. Over time, this soot accumulates and without being removed it would simply block the DPF which would cause severe problems with the functioning of the vehicle.

So, the DPF needs to have the soot removed regularly, and this is where the ‘self-regeneration’ comes in. However, for the self-regeneration to be effective, the DPF needs to reach a temperature of around 600°C if the soot is to be burnt off to leave a residue of ash.  

To reach a temperature of 600°C, however, the vehicle will need to be taken on an extended run such as a motorway ideally at around 3000 rpm. For any vehicle used primarily for short local journey’s it is unlikely to reach the temperature needed to burn the soot off. In those scenario’s there is a possibility that the soot could block the DPF in which case, the vehicle DPF warning light will illuminate and eventually the vehicle could go into ‘limp’ mode. It is at this point the vehicle will require a ‘forced’ regeneration – cleaning out the built-up soot manually.

At Darwen Diesels we employ a ‘reverse flush’ cleaning process that literally uses a harmless water based solution to ‘flush’ and remove the soot out of the DPF. Our process cleans the DPF to within 98% of a brand new filter.