HOW TO AVOID PROBLEMS WITH DIESEL PARTICULATE FILTERS

Have you ever taken your car to the auto repair shop only to be told you should take it for a spin on the freeway? If so, the diesel particulate filter may be your problem.

If you have a diesel car and you don’t take it out on the freeway much, you need to read this post on diesel particulate filters, or DPFs.

Located in the exhaust system, this filter removes particulates, pollutants formed during combustion. They represent a health risk.

Your car is probably equipped with one, because they are mandatory for diesel vehicles to meet the European Union's Euro 4, 5 and 6 emission standards, in force since 2005.

How the DPF Works

The DPF traps the harmful particulates so that they can later be burned off during the filter regeneration process, which converts them chiefly into carbon dioxide and water.

Filter regeneration takes place every 300 kilometers. You vehicle is equipped with an electronic control unit that calculates the volume of particulates that has built up and indicates when the process to eliminate them should ideally begin.

To remove the particulate matter, the DPF must operate at over 400 degrees Celsius. If it doesn’t, the filter may clog and have trouble trapping the particulate matter. This is a fairly common occurrence if you only drive in the city, if you usually don’t over 60 kilometers an hour, if you use your car mainly for short trips or if your engine idles a lot.

Your DPF can experience problems even if your vehicle is correctly maintained and you use a good quality lubricant recommended by the manufacturer, usually a 5W-30 grade. The DPF warning light on your dashboard is likely to come on at some time to let you know you need to take your car into the shop for a forced regeneration. You might also notice that your car is losing power and not working as well; fuel consumption and carbon emissions may even increase.

It may seem unfair: Why do these things always happen to you, even though you look after your car and drive carefully? The reason your vehicle is not eliminating the particulate matter is because the DPF cannot be regenerated because the exhaust is not hot enough. So the particulates build up in the filter and block the exhaust. To put it another way: your car is smothering and crying out for help.

But which information is the most important when deciding which engine oil to purchase? Well, that would be the product’s viscosity (SAE) and specifications. They tell you whether lubricant is the right one for your vehicle; all you have to do is compare the information with the indications provided in the owner's manual.

How to Stop Your DPF Becoming Blocked

Luckily, Total has a tip that can help you out in cases like this — sometimes you can clear the filter simply by driving your car on the freeway or expressway at over 60 kilometers an hour for 20 or 30 minutes.

The car may make a jerking motion. Don’t worry, this just means your exhaust has been cleaned and your car is now back to normal. Your engine’s power goes back up and it consumes less fuel.

So, if you do a lot of city driving, travel short distances frequently or don’t usually drive over 60 kilometers an hour, make sure you set aside a little time for your car each week. If this isn’t possible, try to squeeze a little “car time” into your busy schedule every 200 or 300 kilometers. Take your car out for a spin on the freeway or the expressway to make sure the particulate filter gets a good cleaning. This will cut down on trips to the auto repair shop.

And remember, correct vehicle maintenance is essential if you want your particulate filter to keep working perfectly for a long time.