Diesel Particulate Filters: What You Need to Know If you own a diesel car, you will probably have a diesel
particulate filter. Diesel particulate filters (DPFs) have been fitted to
diesel-fuel cars for almost 20 years, and if they are not maintained or have
been tampered with, they can cause serious issues.
This month’s blog at A.M. Engineering looks at diesel
particulate filters and what you need to know. Call us in Bromsgrove on 01527 833748 .
What is a Diesel Particulate Filter? A diesel particulate filter captures and stores exhaust soot
to reduce emissions from diesel cars. Because they have a finite capacity, the
trapped soot needs to be emptied or ‘burned off’ every so often to regenerate
the DPF.
For many reasons, the filter may not regenerate when it
should. If it becomes clogged or a fault develops, an orange light will appear
on your dashboard. If this is left, your vehicle’s performance will greatly
reduce and may go into limp mode.
What Causes a Blockage? There are a few causes of a DPF blockage. Short journeys are
one of the main causes. Another reason is poor servicing. A DPF on a poorly
serviced car may fail sooner – they should last for at least 100,000 miles,
depending on the use of the vehicle.
In addition to this, it is important you use the right oil.
Some oils may contain additives that will actually block your filter. Performance
modifications can also cause damage.
Do I Need One to Pass my MOT? Since February 2014, a diesel particulate filter check has
been part of your MOT test. If the filter has been removed, your car will fail.
Removing it may also cause the dashboard light to glow which is a failure in
itself.
Moreover, it is actually illegal to remove your filter. You
may face a fine of up to £1,000 for cars and £2,500 for vans. It can also
invalidate your car insurance policy.
Professional DPF Cleaning Here at A.M. Engineering, we offer professional diesel
particulate filter cleaning. We have a specialist machine that can clean
filters for almost any vehicle. Our cleaning service removes excess soot that
prevents regeneration from taking place, and can also remove ash which can only
be removed by removing the filter and cleaning off the vehicle.
As TerraClean
specialists, we can resolve your issue.
Contact Us Today For more information about our DPF cleaning service, contact
A.M. Engineering in Bromsgrove. Call us on 01527
833748 . Alternatively, you can fill out our online contact form .
Find us here .
