Given where it is, it makes sense that you don’t know much about the DPF in your diesel automobile if you ever realized it had one. It’s crucial to understand what a DPF is and why one should maintain one. In the long term, doing so can even result in financial savings. Also, get this checked before you go for Book MOT Northampton.
Continue reading to find out what a DPF is, if your vehicle has one, and the reason why you should even be concerned about it.
A Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) is what, exactly?
A diesel particulate filter, or DPF, is a component of your car’s exhaust system that is intended to catch the soot that is produced when burning diesel.
Your diesel automobile would emit much more dangerous fumes without a working DPF, which might lead to lung issues if inhaled.
Diesel cars are less harmful to the environment than you might think while producing less CO2 (carbon dioxide) than gasoline-powered vehicles due to the high quantities of NOx they emit.
Do I Have a DPF in My Car?
Any diesel vehicle you own that was produced after 2009 will have a diesel particulate filter. Your car’s exhaust must adhere to a set standard since it emits a variety of dangerous gases that could have a negative influence on air quality.
This is mandated by the EU emissions rules, which now require petrol vehicles to meet Euro 4 requirements, and diesel vehicles to meet Euro 5 levels as of 2009, and 2014 will see the introduction of Euro 6 criteria for diesel vehicles.
Should I Purchase a DPF-equipped Car?
Given that a petrol-powered automobile won’t be equipped with or require a DPF, the true decision here is whether you want the car to run on fuel or gasoline. Both choices have advantages and disadvantages. While the market share for diesel vehicles fell from 25.2% in 2019 to 5.7% in 2022, the popularity of gasoline-powered vehicles appeared to be holding steady as of that year.
It is definitely important to think about what is most important when it pertains to the car you wish to drive because electric vehicles are also rising in popularity. Electric vehicles do appear to be leading the way for the next phase of the automobile industry as we all grow more environmentally concerned.
Why Should I Be Concerned With My DPF?
As was already said, your DPF is crucial in controlling the hazardous emissions your car emits. If you don’t take good care of your DPF, you run a chance of requiring a replacement DPF considerably sooner than you anticipated, which can cost up to £3,000!
In addition to costing you time and money, doing this could release those dangerous gases into the air and result in engine damage, which would necessitate a more costly repair.
You should be aware that your car’s performance may vary once your DPF is around 70% full of soot. Your automobile will require a complete DPF replacement at 90%. The diesel particulate filter will have the best chance of lasting longer if you remember to schedule a DPF clean every 6 to 9 months.
How Do I Take Care of My DPF?
By being aware of the signs of active and passive renewal, which the car undergoes in order to ward off the trapped soot caught in your DPF, you can take care of your DPF.
Regeneration is your car’s method of removing the soot that the DPF has trapped because it may affect how well it performs. If you take care of your DPF by avoiding short trips at low speeds, it can endure for over 100,000 miles.
Your car’s engine control software has the ability to detect when your DPF is clogged, at that point it will initiate active regeneration by adding fuel to the engine and increasing the engine’s exhaust temperature.
This often occurs when the soot level reaches a capacity of 40–45%; it takes roughly 5–10 minutes to burn off.
Short trips can clog your DPF since the regeneration process doesn’t have enough time to finish, and slow speeds prevent your car from reaching the high temperature required to kick off the regeneration process. When you drive at a high speed, passive regeneration happens because the hotter exhaust might start a chemical reaction that neutralizes the soot. To begin and finish the process, you must drive for a minimum of 15 minutes at a speed of at least 40 mph.
My DPF: Is It Failing?
It is imperative that you take your automobile to a reputable shop to have this checked out if you see a lit DPF warning light on the dash or have any other reason to believe that your DPF may be failing. Keep in mind that poor service may have really caused the DPF blockage in the very first place.
Because of this, it is always a good idea to have the diesel particulate filter cleaned by a qualified mechanic or in Best Car Service in Northampton who can perform a process known as forced regeneration in which any remaining soot particles are melted away at a high temperature.