Diesel Particulate Filters (DPF) as well as the Environment Reducing diesel soot emissions by 80%: C...

1. Diesel Particulate Filters (DPF) as well as the Environment
Diesel Particulate Filters (DPF) as well as the Environment
Reducing diesel soot emissions by 80%:
Changes to new car emissions legislation scheduled for 2009; the 'Euro 5' standards, will make
particulate filters as banal in diesel automobile exhausts as catalytic converters are on petrol
automobiles.
Certainly, changes to styles that were driving may be required from these emission-reducing
systems for maximum advantage.
How do the filters work?:
Diesel Particulate filters (DPF) or 'traps' do just that, they catch bits of soot in the exhaust.
As with any filter (think of the bag in your vacuum cleaner) they have to be emptied frequently to
keep performance. For a DPF this process is called 'regeneration'; the accumulated soot is burnt off
at high temperature to leave just a miniature ash residue. Regeneration could be either active or
passive.
Passive regeneration
Passive regeneration takes place automatically on motorway-kind runs when the exhaust
temperature is not low. Many autos don't get this kind of use though makers have to design-in
'energetic' regeneration where the engine management computer (ECU) takes control of the
process.
Lively regeneration
When the soot loading in the filter reaches a set limit (about 45%) the ECU can make little
adjustments to the fuel injection time begin regeneration and to improve the exhaust temperature.
It should be possible to start a regeneration that is complete and clear the warning light by simply

2. driving for 10 minutes or so at speeds greater than 40mph.
If you keep driving in a comparatively slow and blow off the light, stop/start design when you are
able to expect to see other dashboard warning lights illuminate also. At this stage driving at speed
will not be adequate as well as the automobile will have to visit a dealer for regeneration.
Expensive repairs:
If warnings continue to be ignored and soot loading continues to increase then the most likely
outcome will be a new DPF.
Mainly town driving http://www.dpfcleaningsolutions.com that is established:
If lease car use or your own auto use is largely town-established, stop/start driving it'd be wise to
decide on petrol as opposed to risk the hassle of DPF regeneration that is incomplete.
DPF additives:
The most common kind of DPF is found very close to the engine so that passive regeneration is
potential where exhaust gases will be comparatively hot and features an integrated oxidising
catalytic converter.
There is not consistently space near the engine though some manufacturers use an alternate kind of
DPF which relies on a fuel additive to lower the ignition temperature of the soot particles so that the
DPF may be found further from the engine.
The additive is stored in a separate tank and is mechanically mixed with the fuel when you fill up.
Miniature amounts are needed though a litre of additive should treat around 2800 litres of fuel.
With this form of DPF regeneration will be started by the ECU every 300 miles or so depending on
vehicle use and will take 5 to 10 minutes to finish. You must not find anything other than perhaps a
puff of white smoke from the exhaust when the process is completed.
AA encounter:
The AA has seen evidence of DPF systems failing to regenerate - even on automobiles - that are used
primarily on motorways. Their judgment is the fact that on autos with a a sixth gear that is very high
engine revs are excessively low to generate adequate exhaust temperature, but occasional harder
driving in lower gears should be enough to bum off the soot in such instances.
Examine the handbook:
Should you buy or lease an automobile with a DPF matched it's crucial that you read the relevant
section of the vehicle handbook so you understand precisely what actions to take whether the
warning light illuminates and how, if at all, your driving style might need to be fixed to ensure
maximum DPF efficiency and life.