DPF Filter deletes

DPF Removal (Diesel Particulate Filter) has become a very common failure on later model Diesel cars as they get blocked up and fail. We can help correct these problems. For more information please call us on 0161 494 8343 .

What is a Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF)

A DPF is a device designed and integrated into the Diesel Engine exhaust system to trap and remove Diesel Particulate Matter from the exhaust gasses of the diesel engine. Much like the Catalytic Converter on conventional petrol engines, the DPF works to remove harmful toxins and lower the emissions of your diesel engine making it more environmentally friendly.

The aim is to remove 80% in the average diesel particulate (matter) emissions and although a great concept, it brings about a whole new line of problems. We are taking calls constantly from anxious customers and garages across the country when their DPF light is illuminated on the dash, indicating that there is at least a partial blockage in the DPF system.

The problem with the DPF System

The DPF works to trap and remove diesel particulate matter from the exhaust gasses of the diesel engine before it exits the exhaust. This is removed into the atmosphere, simply removed from the gasses that flow through the exhaust to help lower emissions. Imagine, a DPF is like a honeycomb on the inside, similar to the Catalytic Converter (CAT) of a petrol engine. As the gasses flow through it, the DPF will trap the harmful diesel particulate matter and with it’s advanced technology break it down to remove as much of it as possible normally (between 80%-100%). The diesel particulate matter is burnt off at very high temperatures in the DPF and left behind is a very fine soot residue. The problem is this soot, it has no-where to go and so will then begin a blockage in the DPF system and this is how common DPF Problems occur.

The soot and matter will partially block your DPF causing the DPF light to illuminate on the dash (normally when 45% blockage is reached) at which point regeneration is required to get the DPF back in to it’s safety zone. Regeneration is the DPF’s way to clear the blockage through continuously burning it at higher temperatures and allowing the now harmless produce to escape through the exhaust system. There are two types of Regeneration processes which will be explained further below.

Sometimes the DPF light will appear on the dash intermittently, this does mean there is a partial blockage in your DPF and a regeneration process is required. You should make yourself aware of this process but many people are unsure or have no idea of this DPF system as it’s still very new and not explained to everyone. If you bought your vehicle from new at a dealership, then this would have most likely been explained at the point of sale but in the second hand car trade, you can’t expect this type of information to always be passed on.

What happens is drivers see the light, then see it go off and ignore it – not knowing it’s a partially blocked DPF. They continue to drive and again it will illuminate the DPF light on the dash and go off again but eventually it will stay on permanent and in most severe cases bring on the Engine management light and even the Coil Light which could start blinking. If this happens, you will lose all power and the vehicle will fall into “Limp home Mode”. This is the automatic reaction of the Engine Management ECU and if you’re at this stage then unfortunately it will be a costly repair. You could be looking at having to replace the DPF unit and having your Engine Management ECU reprogrammed.

A DPF replacement will cost you between £800 - £2000 new ( +Labour ) from main dealers, depending on the Make and Model of your vehicle. Resetting the ECU light will cost you a further £45-100 and then you will have to be on the lookout for the next time the DPF light comes on to take the appropriate action to ensure the damage is not done all over again as if you fail to act, then you could potentially void any warranty given with the new DPF unit costing you double.

Passive Regeneration?

Passive regeneration is an automatic regeneration which often occurs on drives where there is prolonged high exhaust temperatures like for example on motorway type runs, but it can’t be said that all cars get the required long journey motorway type trips necessary to complete a passive regeneration of the DPF system and so manufacturers have had to adapt the technology and designing an “active” regeneration process controlled by the Engine Management Computer also known as the Engine Control Module (ECM).

Active Regeneration?

When the diesel particulate (matter) loading in the DPF reaches a pre-set limit (normally around 50%), the ECU will make minor adjustments to the fuel injection timing system which will in turn increase the exhaust temperatures and help initiate the DPF regeneration process. This is a smart way of getting a motorway type temperature to build up inside the DPF system and begin a full regeneration to bring the unit back to good health, however, if the journey is a bit stop/start where you’re in a built up city with traffic then the chances are the regeneration will not complete and eventually the DPF light will illuminate on the dash to tell you that the DPF system is partially blocked.

At this point it is recommended that you try to find time to complete a full regeneration and this can be done on a simple 10 minute or so drive of speeds above 40mph.

If you do not do this and choose to ignore the light, it may go out but come back on and as you continue in a relatively slow, stop/start pattern of driving the diesel particulate matter loading will continue to build up and clog up the DPF system until it reaches closer to 75% blocked at which point you can expect other more serious warning lights to appear on the dashboard. By now, driving at speed alone will no longer be sufficient and the car will need to go to a garage or dealership for regeneration. The other lights may be the engine management light constantly on and possibly even the glow plug light blinking constantly. It is not advised to continue driving the vehicle under these conditions to avoid further costly damages to the DPF system and other mechanical components e.g Turbo and Engine.

Common vehicles suffering the DPF system failure

The DPF system is fitted to a wide range of cars and in fact is being installed on almost all new Diesel engines so the problem will in future become more and more common, however, at this moment in time we’ve put together a small list of the most common cars which we’re having to deal with on a weekly basis suffering from the DPF problems:

•Alfa Romeo - Bosch EDC15/EDC16/EDC17

•Audi - Bosch EDC16/EDC17, Siemens PPD

•BMW - Bosch EDC16/EDC17

•Citroen - Bosch EDC15/EDC16, Siemens SID, Delphi DCM3.x

•Chevrolet - Bosch EDC16/EDC17

•Chrysler - Bosch EDC16CP31

•Fiat - Bosch EDC15/EDC16/EDC17, Marelli MJD

•Ford - Bosch EDC16/EDC17, Siemens SID

•Honda - Bosch EDC16/EDC17, Siemens SID

•Hyundai - Bosch EDC16/EDC17

•Iveco - Bosch EDC16

•Jaguar - Bosch EDC16/EDC17

•Kia - Bosch EDC16/EDC17

•Lancia - Bosch EDC15/EDC16/EDC17

•Mini - Bosch EDC16/EDC17

•Mazda - Bosch EDC16/EDC17, Denso

•Mercedes - Bosch EDC16/EDC17

•Nissan - Bosch EDC16, Denso (BETA)

•Opel - Bosch EDC16/EDC17, Denso, Marelli MJD

•Peugeot - Bosch EDC15/EDC16, Siemens SID, Delphi DCM3.x

•Porsche - Bosch EDC17

•Renault - Bosch EDC16

•Saab - Bosch EDC16/EDC17

•Seat - Bosch EDC16/EDC17, Siemens PPD

•Skoda - Bosch EDC16/EDC17, Siemens PPD

•Suzuki - Bosch EDC16

•Toyota - Bosch EDC17

•Vauxhall - Bosch EDC16/EDC17, Denso, Marelli MJD

•VW - Bosch EDC16/EDC17, Siemens PPD

•Volvo - Bosch EDC16/EDC17, Siemens SID

We can do DPF removal on all the above vehicles and many more….

DPF additives and how they work?

The most common type of DPF systems feature an in-built oxidising catalytic converter, which is located close to the engine where you will find the exhaust gases will still be relatively hot so that passive regeneration is possible. In some vehicles there’s not always space nearer the engine in which case some manufacturers use a different type of DPF system, one which relies on a fuel additive to lower the ignition temperatures of the diesel particulate matter particles so that the DPF can be located further away from the engine.

The DPF additive is usually stored in a separate tank and is automatically mixed in with the fuel when you go to fill up. Only very small amounts of theDPF additive are required for regeneration for example on average 1 litre of DPF additive would cover around 2800 litres of fuel, enough to cover 25,000 miles at 40mpg. With this type of DPF, regeneration would be initiated by the ECU roughly every 300 or so miles depending on the vehicle and will normally take 5-10 minutes to complete. Normally you won’t even notice this process taking place and if anything, once regeneration is completed you might see a glimpse of white smoke exit the exhaust and that’s it.

How much are you expected to pay on average for repairs?

Ignoring the warning lights and allowing the diesel particulate (matter) loading to continue to build up will lead to complete failure of the DPF in which case it would require a replacement unit which can cost anything from £800 - £2000 + Labour, depending on the make, model, year of the vehicle and the DPF part numbers. These are dealer prices as copy parts are not recommended. After replacing the DPF you will need to reset the ECU which is an additional charge, normally between £45 - £100.

If the DPF light comes up on the dash and you’re not entirely sure how to begin & successfully complete the regeneration process then we offer this service at a very affordable price and will save you damaging your DPF system and having to pay out for costly replacement parts.

Most of our customers prefer to have the DPF removed entirely. We can reprogram the vehicles Engine Control Module (ECM) also known as the Engine Control Unit (ECU) so that you no longer have warning lights being lit up on your dash and at the same time save on fuel costs and gain extra power out of the engine as the DPF system restricts the natural flow of exhaust gasses. Reprogramming the ECU will also eliminate the possibility of the engine running into LIMP Mode caused by the DPF system.

DPF Delete is for off road use only
What we do is unique, we download the ECU data and manually search through the 1000′s of data strings to locate and delete all DPF data structure strings. This is the ONLY sure way to delete a DPF system completely without problems occurring.

For more information on this and how we can help, please contact us 0161 494 8343