THE SYMPTOMS OF A BLOCKED DPF
You now know the reasons for DPF failure are, the real question is how to detect it? Fortunately, there are many indicators that can be easily identified to indicate the DPF is blocked.
Here are some of them:
WARNING LIGHT ON YOUR DASHBOARD
Diesel vehicles today come with a variety of sensors that measure the performance and performance of engines. When they notice issues with engine performance they will report them to the computer in your vehicle. This is the reason the orange warning symbols that appear on your dashboard turn on.
Even though seeing the dashboard of your car shining like a Christmas light is not pleasant, it may aid you in identifying problems with the DPF and resolving them before they become more serious.
INCREASED FUEL CONSUMPTION AND REDUCED ENGINE POWER
An increase in the rate of the amount of fuel used is one of the most evident indicators of DPF failure. In essence, the primary purpose of your diesel particulate filters is to get rid of exhaust fumes that are escaping from your engine, while trapping soot particles. So, when the DPF is clogged exhaust gases are unable to escape into the engine at the speed they ought to.
The accumulation of exhaust gases influence the performance of the engine which makes it feel less powerful. In this situation, drivers usually hit the gas to boost the power of their vehicle. However, this tactic does not appear to benefit. The engine is consuming more energy in order to eliminate gasses that escape from the DPF leaving less energy to accelerate.
THE ENGINE WON’T START
The accumulation of exhaust gases in the dpf filter could block the engine from starting. The engine will continue to refuse to get started until its pressure is lowered.
This does not have necessarily mean bad. This is the vehicle’s method to mitigate fatal damage to your engine and diesel particulate filtration. The next step? Contact a mechanic as fast as you can.
TURBOCHARGER PROBLEMS
A blocked DPF results in various turbocharger issues that can cause gas or oil leaks. For instance, the gas that builds up inside the engine has nowhere to go. That is why it starts to leak right from the turbocharger. It could also lead to leaks in oil and reduce the overall efficiency of the turbocharger.
DPF MAINTENANCE TIPS
To improve the condition of your diesel particle filter as well as increase its service life, you need to ensure it’s able to regenerate itself once filled with soot. There are two types of DPF regeneration – passive and active.
PASSIVE DPF REGENERATION
Passive regeneration happens when the engine’s temperature rises that are higher than 350 degC. These temperatures allow the DPF to burn off the accumulation of soot that has accumulated when the car is normally driven.
One of the major benefits of passive regenerators is this is an automated procedure. It is not even noticeable to a driver. But the passive DPF regeneration is only possible once the engine has reached the required temperature, usually when it is used for longer periods and at greater speeds.
ACTIVE REGENERATION
The moment the levels of soot in the DPF are at a level of 45% sensors detects this. That’s when the engine management systems activate the fuel injection process by transferring raw fuel into the diesel oxide catalyst (DOC). That way, it increases the exhaust temperature and ensures optimal conditions for active regeneration.
Like passive regeneration, Active regeneration, too, is an automatic process. It doesn’t require any effort from the driver. Similar to passive generation active generation is achievable when the vehicle is driven for longer periods of time and at higher speeds.