If this happens, just carry on driving, keeping your engine speed above 2,000 revolutions per minute and shifting down if necessary. The filter-cleaning process will start - and we recommend you don't stop the journey or switch off the engine until it's finished.
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.
While your vehicle won't stop running the moment the light turns on, continuous driving can lead to more severe issues like decreased fuel efficiency, reduced performance, and in the worst case, engine damage. An illuminated DPF light will cause an MOT failure.
So it is advised that drivers regularly give their diesel vehicle a good 30 to 50 minute run at sustained speed on a motorway or A-road to help clear the filter.
If your car has an automatic transmission, shift your gears in a manual mode by moving the gear shift gently. No need to use the speed limiter, it is with no seeming value added. Ride like this for a minimum of 30 minutes. This will initiate a regeneration cycle, and your DPF will be cleaned.
It's not impossible to clean a DPF at home. But the risk is high. The filter is a very delicate component of your car. You can easily damage it during DIY cleaning.
Can you ignore the DPF light and carry on driving? Technically yes, but we would not recommend it. If you ignore the DPF light and continue driving, the build-up of soot will soon reach a point whereby your car has to enter 'limp-home' mode in order to prevent any damage to the engine.
Most engine management systems will actively regenerate the DPF when the car is driven at speeds above 40mph for around 10 to 15 minutes. The soot particles trapped in the filter will soon burn away and the warning light should switch off.
The ash can't be removed – unless the DPF is removed from the vehicle and sent away for specialist cleaning – but a DPF in a car used correctly should be good for well over 100,000 miles.
Regeneration. Some say driving at speeds of over 40mph for 10 minutes using at least 2500 RPM and sticking in 3rd/4th gear can turn off your DPF light from your dash.
A pressure gun and compressed air can be used to remove loose ash in the filter, but not the stuck soot particles. Pressure-wash the DPF filter with heated water, spraying in the opposite direction of the exhaust flow. If all else fails, schedule service at a -area service center.
The DPF regeneration process creates very high exhaust gas temperatures and the exhaust will radiate a considerable amount of heat during and after DPF regeneration, and after you have switched the engine off. This is a potential fire hazard.
DPFs need to regenerate (empty) themselves. Problems with regeneration may be caused by a town-based, stop-start driving style. Other possible causes include wrong oil type, incomplete combustion, and a low fuel level.
Once blocked though, turbo failure can occur very quickly. If you don't check for a DPF issue when installing a replacement turbo, there is a very high chance the replacement turbo will suffer the same failure, as it will be subject to the same operating environment as the previous unit.
Drive over 40 mph (64 kph) to begin active regeneration.
Begin driving and pay attention to both the engine and vehicle speed. Try to keep the engine speed around 2500 rpm. Active regeneration increases the temperature in the DPF to turn the particles into gas which can be expelled.
DPF filter cleaning cost ranges from $99-$695, depending on your location.
If it gets bad enough, a dusty air filter can cause damage to the engine, catalytic converter, DPF filters, oxygen sensors, and other vital components resulting in costly repairs.
The most common reasons for DPF blockages are: Short journeys where the engine doesn't reach optimum operating temperature; Clogged EGR Valve increasing diesel soot passed to the DPF; Faulty fuel injectors sending too much fuel to the air/fuel mixture; Incorrect engine oil upon servicing the car ; Turbocharger failure ...
If the journey is too short or the vehicle does not have enough fuel the DPF regeneration process might not work. To allow the DPF to regularly regenerate it's advised the fuel tank is more than a quarter full, otherwise, the vehicle will opt to save fuel instead of redirecting it for DPF regeneration.
The cleaner is extremely simple to use. All you have to do is pour the correct amount directly into your fuel tank just before you will up with diesel.