Diesel particulate filter cleaning service

Here at Catalytic Exhaust we have over 25 years in the emission control industry. We understand that replacement DPF and DOC technology can be expensive. That’s why we offer a complete, competitively priced “Bake and Clean” service for DPF and DOC filters. We can typically have your filter baked, cleaned and returned to you within 1 business day.

With our tried and tested cleaning process, we can provide a “Soot/Ash Free Guarantee” for every filter cleaned. We can service DPF’s of all shapes and sizes for light, medium or heavy duty equipment used in on-road or off-road applications.

At CEP we have competitive pricing which guarantees that you get a quality cleaning that’s cost effective for you. Quick turnaround times and free local pickup and delivery make Catalytic Exhaust your best choice.

What is a diesel particulate filter?

A Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) is also known as a soot trap. It collects soot so that it’s not emitted as exhaust. The filter comprises a sponge-type structure that the particles become trapped in. The soot is then subjected to high temperatures and burns off into ash, a process known as regeneration.

Technically, the soot resulting from diesel fuel combustion can be completely regenerated leaving no ash. However, there are other components in diesel exhaust, such as fuel additives, oil lubricants, and engine metals. The soot from these becomes ash upon regeneration and this ash remains in the filter.

Advantages of a clean DPF

DPF filter cleaning will help improve exhaust flow and engine performance. This ensures the vehicle runs cleaner and more efficiently than it would with a neglected DPF. This will save you money on repairs as well as the time and cost of having to replace a poorly maintained DPF.

Types of DPG cleaning

There are two main types of DPF cleaning:

Air Cleaning

In some cases, the DPF can be cleaned using air alone. Compressed air is used to loosen and force out contaminants from the cells of the filter. Some methods also use suction to pull the contaminants from the cells.

Air and Thermal Cleaning

Air cleaning is often not enough and thorough diesel particulate filter cleaning requires heat to help loosen contaminants. Often referred to as “bake and blow” cleaning, this technique involves heating the DPF to high temperatures for long periods to evaporate and oxidize various contaminants.

Importance of diesel particulate filter cleaning

Over time, as the DPF fills up, exhaust flow is limited. The level of exhaust flow is directly proportional to the amount of soot that has collected in the filter. The result is a degradation to engine performance.

After DPF cleaning, exhaust flow and engine performance will improve. This means that your vehicle will run cleaner and more efficiently. A clean DPF will save you money on maintenance costs in the short-term. In the long-term, a neglected DPF is more likely to have to be replaced, costing you both money and downtime.

FAQ

How to clean diesel particulate filters?

There are DPF filter cleaner products on the market that claim to help you clean your filter yourself. These are chemical additives that loosen soot and other residues. While a commercial exhaust filter cleaner might help to clear blockages, it won’t provide a full cleaning for your DPF and the ash remains in the filter.

To ensure your DPF is properly cleaned, it’s best to use a professional diesel particulate filter cleaning service. This way, the DPF can be fully inspected and any issues diagnosed. A deep thermal cleaning (using high temperatures) will be performed to remove all soot and ash, and a back-pressure test is conducted to confirm the results. 

How much does diesel particulate filter cleaning cost?

DPF filter cleaning cost will depend on a number of factors, including the size of the filter and the type of cleaning required. Note that the DOC (Diesel Oxidation Catalyst) protects the DPF, so it’s a good idea to have them both inspected and cleaned at the same time.

To find out an exact DPF cleaning cost (along with optional DOC filter cleaning), feel free to give us a call. 

How often should DPF be cleaned?

The frequency with which you should clean your DPF depends on various factors including the manufacturer specifications, duty cycle, and condition of your engine. Generally, it’s recommended that a DPF be cleaned roughly every 150,000-200,000 miles. At this point, ash in the filter cells begins to harden. This hardening can cause the filter to crack, resulting in permanent damage.

If you have a retrofit DPF, the cleaning schedule may be commanded by regulations. For example, CARB regulations stipulate that retrofit DPFs be cleaned once per year or every 1,000 hours of operation. 

What are the signs of a blocked DPF?

A blockage can occur if your DPF isn’t cleaned properly and regularly, or if regeneration isn’t occurring often or efficiently enough. This can happen, for example, if a vehicle is only used for short journeys, not allowing the temperature of the exhaust to increase enough to burn off the soot in the filter (by passive regeneration).

Active regeneration is possible, whereby back pressure caused by soot buildup triggers additional fuel injection. This heats up the exhaust to burn off the soot. But even active regeneration is sometimes not enough to clear a blockage.

If your DPF is blocked, a corresponding warning light on your dashboard should illuminate. If both active and passive regeneration are failing, then you have a blockage that the engine cannot deal with itself.

Other signs to look out for that indicate you have a DPF blockage include: 

• Limp mode (loss of engine power).
• Delayed acceleration.
• A strong diesel smell.
• Excess smoke coming from the exhaust.
• Increased fuel consumption.
• Increased oil level.

That said, these might not always be caused by your DPF, so you would need to have the problem diagnosed.