DPF operation

[Derek Mc]

OK bit ignorant on the way these work can anyone explain what they do how they do it and how often they self clean as I am very aware of several low mileage diesels that have clogged up the filter and required it to be manually cleaned or worse replaced

[John35]

52,000 miles later I'm still unaware of the DPF operating.............and I have one on an estate...

[Penfold101]

Mine generally cleans itself once a tank - you can notice it by the fuel consumption going up to 1 gallon per hour at idle and your average while driving is double what it usually is. Burns for about 10 minutes then stops...

The idea is that it injects extra fuel into the engine/exhaust (not sure exactly) to increase the exhaust temperature and burn off the soot that accumulates on the filter. It's all down to emmisions regulations, nothing at all to do with the engine itself. If you don't let it clean itself then it'll clog up completely and won't allow any exhaust gas through at all...

As long as you give it a regular blast you should be fine - but if while cruising your economy sudenly nosedives, that's what it is...

[paulhb]

The regeneration will only start when the engine is fully warmed up and you hit 3000 rpm you will notice it by the fall off in consumption, the glow plug light used to flash but that was software modded out because too many were being returned as faulty when they weren't, once its started best to let it finish as it will stop when switched off but won't automatically restart until it feels like it.