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A Guide to Cleaning Your Diesel Particulate Filter
A diesel particulate filter (DPF) is part of the emissions-control system on a diesel engine. Vehicles that have a DPF also have a catalytic converter to help reduce emissions.
However, the DPF is not a flow-through unit like the catalytic converter. Instead, particles are deposited in the DPF, and cleaner gas then exits the filter.
The use of the DPF has been going on for over a decade, but many vehicle owners don’t understand how the part works. While it’s true that the DPF captures particles and soot, the filter doesn’t necessarily become clogged right away as heat burns much of it off.
A DPF system is designed for long-term regenerative operation. However, it can become clogged to the point where it requires replacement or cleaning.
Source: Reddit
The Cost of Cleaning or Replacing a DPF
If your filter becomes too clogged and regeneration can no longer be completed, the filter needs to be removed and cleaned. To do this professionally is pretty expensive.
The average cost of cleaning ranges between $2,500 and $8,000.
Replacing the filter isn’t cheap either with costs ranging between $1,000 to $10,000. Those costs are only to buy the new filter. The labor to install the new filter can increase the cost by a lot more.
The good news is that you can clean your filter with a DPF cleaning kit and save thousands of dollars.
The initial cost for a cleaning kit is around $500, but any additional cleanings only require purchasing the purge fluid and DPF cleaning fluid for around $70.
How to Clean a DPF
When a DPF gets clogged, the ECU starts the filter regeneration process. This means more fuel is injected and the exhaust temperatures go up. The higher temperatures usually burn off the collected particles.
However, when a diesel vehicle is driven regularly for short distances, the temperatures may not get high enough to burn off the particles.
The result is a clogged filter. Fortunately, you can clean your DPF without replacing it. All you need is the Liqui Moly Diesel Particulate Filter Cleaning Fluid and the Liqui Moly Diesel Particulate Filter Cleaning Purge. If this is your first time cleaning the DPF, you’ll also need the DPF Pressurized Tank Spray Gun to spray the second product and the DPF probe kit.
DPF Cleaner Application Steps
Step 1 – Accessing the DPF depends on your vehicle and where it’s located.
If the DPF on your vehicle is located near the exhaust manifold or turbocharger, you’ll need to take extra care in cleaning so liquid doesn’t enter the combustion chamber through an open exhaust valve.
When cleaning, the DPF should be under 104 degrees Fahrenheit, so don’t run your vehicle before cleaning.
To start, disconnect the negative terminal on your battery and then carefully remove the exhaust gas temperature (EGT) sensor on the DPF. You will be using this opening as an access point for the spray gun tip.
Step 2 – After removing the sensor, feed the correct probe kit spray tip for your vehicle into the DPF through the opening.
You’ll then be spraying the full container of DPF cleaner directly onto the DPF in 5 to 10-second intervals, breaking for the same amount of time in between sprays.
You’ll need to rotate the spray probe back and forth while cleaning to ensure you’re covering as much of the filter as possible.
Spraying DPF cleaner directly onto the diesel particulate filter.
Step 3 – Once you’ve used the whole bottle of cleaner, wait at least 15 minutes and then refill the sprayer with DPF Cleaning Purge.
Step 4 – Use the same procedure with the purge fluid as you did with the cleaner. During this process, the particles are dissolved and redistributed around the filter where they can be burned off.
Step 5 – After finishing the purge step, you can reinstall the sensor, reconnect the negative battery terminal and force regeneration according to your vehicle’s manufacturer guidelines.
DPF Protector for Preventative Maintenance
Every 1,200 miles you can use Truck Series DPF Protector by Liqui Moly as a form of preventative maintenance.
This is an effective formula that reduces soot during combustion and reduces premature clogging of the DPF.
As an added benefit, it also improves engine performance and reduces emissions. You can use it in any diesel engine, whether or not it has a turbocharger.
DPF protector reduces premature clogging of the DPF.
Signs Your DPF is Clogged
If you’re wondering whether the above cleaning process is right for your situation, let’s explore the symptoms of a clogged DPF. If your DPF is clogged, it will start the regeneration process.
In other words, active regeneration may or may not be a symptom of a clogged DPF. Therefore, you’ll want to watch for other symptoms, including the following:
Hot odors from the exhaust
Excessive cooling fan operation
Significant increase in idle speed
Fuel economy may go down
The engine sound changes
Automatic start/stop is deactivated
Various warning lights may illuminate
If these signs are present along with a warning light, this usually means your DPF is up to 85% blocked. This is when you need to undertake the above cleaning steps and force regeneration.
You can rely on ProSource Diesel for all your DPF cleaning and maintenance needs, including DPF cleaning kits, diesel truck accessories, and diesel additives to keep your Powerstroke, Cummins or Duramax diesel engine performing at their peak.
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The post How to Use a DPF Cleaner appeared first on Prosource Diesel.
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