You can clean a Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) without removing it using DPF cleaning additives in your fuel or by spraying cleaning fluids directly into the filter via a sensor port, followed by a long, high-RPM drive to encourage regeneration, but for severe blockages, professional cleaning or removal might be needed. Additives work by lowering soot's ignition temperature, while direct spray methods use specialized kits to flush the filter, both aiming to break down soot and ash for the engine to burn off.
Use a DPF Chemical Cleaner
There are two types of chemical cleaners you will come across in the market – fuel additives and spray-on systems. Fuel additives are ideal for keeping a filter unclogged from the inside during use and can typically be poured into the filter without removal.
If your car has an automatic gearbox, change gears in manual mode, increasing the number of revolutions. However, there's no need to go as far as the rev limiter, as that won't do any good. Drive in this mode for at least 30 minutes. This will trigger a regeneration cycle and your DPF will be cleaned.
You can use Redex DPF Cleaner either when the warning light comes on to clear the blockage, or during normal driving to prevent problems occurring. It's easy to use- simply pour into your fuel tank.
Try these methods:
Top Tips to Prevent DPF Problems
There are two main types of DPF regeneration: passive and active, however, DPF regeneration can be performed manually using a scan tool.
The easiest and cheapest method of DPF filter cleaning is by driving the vehicle for a long-distance at high revs per minute. Doing this increases the heat of the exhaust and burns the soot blocking the DPF filter. It's best to drive on a motorway or A road where you can keep the vehicle at a consistent speed.
Unfortunately, the standard method for testing particulate emissions for an MOT, the metered smoke test, is now widely felt to be completely inadequate to detect malfunctioning or deliberately removed DPFs. There has been anecdotal evidence of even a Euro 5 or Euro 6 car, which has had its DPF removed, easily passing.
The top choice for DPF cleaning
JLM Diesel Particulate Filter Cleaner is among the best on the market. Used and trusted by professional technicians around the world it features a high concentration of active additives for superior cleaning performance.
Excessive idle time leads to incomplete combustion, which clogs the Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF). Regeneration cycles may fail to complete, triggering warning lights—or worse, derating the system. Plus, diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) systems can malfunction under prolonged idle conditions.
On the motorway or dual carriageway, use a gear down (5-speed use 4th and 6-speed use 5th) to increase the engine revs. An engine regeneration will not occur if the fuel tank is lower than one quarter, and any other engine faults that may occur will stop the regeneration process.
However, through passive regeneration by driving for 30 to 50 minute run at sustained speed on a motorway or A-road it will help clear the filter. The short answer to this question is no, you should not attempt to clean a Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) yourself.
8 symptoms of blocked DPF
The main reason that the DPF needs to be cleaned regularly is that the ash can become so hardened that it is no longer serviceable, and if ignored will need to be replaced which is on average 10 times more expensive than getting the diesel particulate filter cleaned.
The average cost of cleaning, and regeneration of diesel particulate filter is £300, with prices ranging from £160 to £500. Hence, the exact price of a DPF cleaning job depends largely on your car, the extent of work needed and the parts your car's manufacturer recommends.
Deleting your DPF can have the following consequences (these apply in Australia): - Your DPF-deleted vehicle will be determined to be unroadworthy. - An unroadworthy vehicle involved in an accident on public roads can have its insurance voided.
A warning light letting you know your DPF is blocked should not be ignored, but can in many instances be remedied by driving in a way which initiates passive/active regeneration of the DPF. Driving for over 10 minutes at speeds in excess of 40mph will often be sufficient to clear the blockage and regenerate the DPF.
Yes, you can use Redex DPF Cleaner to prevent problems as well as cure them.
It's illegal to delete or tamper with any part of emissions system Ad Blue, DPF , EGR etc, mot test's are getting stricter, if your vehicle shows these kind of faults on the MOT history it will make it harder to sell, any half descent mechanic/ technician/ MOT tester can find if its been tampered with.
DPF's are in fact designed to last in excess of 100,000 miles but if the vehicle is operated correctly, many will far exceed this mileage. Below are a few simple steps you can take to ensure you achieve the maximum lifespan from yours.
The simplest way to sort out a blocked DPF is to engage in 'passive regeneration'. Simply put, this is driving on a motorway or A-road at a sustained speed for 30-50 minutes to allow your exhaust temperature to reach the point where it can cleanly burn off the excess soot.