Diesel Particulate Filter Fundamentals

This AutoMate Training video will cover the operation and function of a Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF).

Topics covered include :-

- DPF internal structure, operation and use
- DPF Regeneration with Oscilloscope readouts
- Causes of DPF Failure

[rudolphfattyacidmethyleste]

Thanks for the great video. It's particularly helpful to have the oscilloscope traces for the injector pulses too, as it helps show exactly what the ECU/EMS is doing (or trying to do) in a regeneration cycle and it's not something that other auto channels or publishers seem to do. Thanks again!

[Dzsonib]

You have missed out one key issue: During dynamic regen, the blasts of diesel during the post injection could reach the cylinder walls, and it's washed into the engine oil. If you are running with a clogged DPF, you car will constantly want to regenerate.
In my car, had a clogged DPF, but the waring light failed to indicate it soon enough. I have ran about 500miles with it when the light came up. The engine oil level was 1/2" inch above the max line (had an oil change about 300miles beforehand, so the level was good to begin with), and it also smelled like burnet oil and diesel. In the end I sent the filter for cleaning and oil change, and they drained 1liters more oil than the maximum. The factory oil amount in that car was 5, 3L, so it was diluted around 20%. So this could ruin your engine. Also mine had a timing chain, which is sensitive to oil quiality.
In the end I didn't kill the car because we spotted the issue, but oil dilution is a very big problem!

[rahulstunting]

Detailed and clear explanation. Keep up the good work!

[Nyck]

Very nice and informative video.
My Mercedes Benz diesel had a restricted DPF and the only solution was have it opened and professionally cleaned in a DPF Cleaning Shop. It cost me $350.00. An online shop asked me asked me a "low price" of $2, 000.00 for a
remanufactured DPF. Mercedes DPF can only be opened cutting it in two and later welding it back.

[oluskloc]

Remember guys over 90% of times DPF can be washed up with proper
chemicals and pressure washer. Washed one can stay working many
thousands km more, even be almost like new one. Check Your fuel system
(no leaking injectors), boost pressure (higher means better) and egr
(closing properly under acceleration). All these things not working
correctly engine produce much more soot than it should be and can clog
new/washed DPF very quickly also might be reason to clog recent DPF at
first place. Don't buy new one if it's not really necessary, it's waste
of money.

[shelleygilbert]

I hate the DPF - I am always having issue with it in my 2009 Diesel Hyundai Santa Fe! Can it be removed without complications to other parts etc??? Will it cause sensor issue with the computer etc?

[williamevans]

Not sure if i missed something but when the DPF does a regen where do the burned particles go after that?

[nathanward]

So what you are saying is, instead of venting exhaust as normal, we are now storing the harmful particles until full then dumping more fuel and particles in the system in an attempt to clean it out? Common Rail diesels typically have higher fuel consumption than pre common rail diesels so doesn't this increase the particulate count and make pollution worse?

[Nyck]

Great video. Very well explained how DPF works.

[richie]

What happened about the discussion regarding the Differential pressure sensor, you were supposed to talk about later then ? At around 01:08.
There is a glow plug fitted somewhere along the exhaust which heats up to help turn the poisonous gases into harmless gases, why has this not been covered ?
If the glow plug fails to operate for itself failing or a blown fuse feeding it, that will cause the DPF to soon clog up and go into limp mode and completely clogging the DPF up .
I know this as I had a transit that this happened to due to a gross incompetent garage paid fuck loads of money to sort out but took my company for a money pit, to which I ended up resorting to replacing a blown fuse and rengerating it myself on my own laptop and that fixed the glow plug issue, the garage lost the contract, mmm 🤔 I wonder why ?
Half baked video not covering the entirety of how DPFs actually work .

[paulanderson]

Been driving DPF cars since 2005. First was a 2001 Peugeot 406 HDi. So far I've had no problems with them.

[nasseromili]

Good morning, really an instructive video, many many thanks

[josephhalwagy]

Hi there.
I would be grateful for your advice. I have a 2013 diesel cruze 2.0L with BRAND NEW Full motor and a BRAND NEW DPF with brand new oxygen and temp sensors and with less than 10, 000Km since install. In the last couple of month i have been getting frequent diesel white smoke every 100km or so and NOT on cold start. It showed P11FF code Fuel pump command signal counter incorrect. the wires to the Fuel pump are all intact and the car start first click with no flat or week spots across the revs. I would appreciate your advice.
Thanks in advance

[steveb]

The DPF traps the soot, then after a time it does a regen and blows all the trapped soot out the tailpipe?

[saif]

The government should have stipulated that there are to be 5 or so standard DPF capsules in all cars that can be removed from the metal casing by opening clamps. There should have been a minimum price DPF manufacturer in every city that takes the the DPF and either cleans, rebuilds or recycles them.

[jaybajan]

if you get the DPF turned off via the ecu by a tuner, will you then need to actually remove the dpf from the exhaust?

[agyeisamuel]

Pls if my sound of engine on loo and pulling too comes down, can it be the particular filter

[jage]

You forgot to mension the system with an extra injector fitted close to the DPF, like renault.
That ensures a effective regeneration cycle even in slow traffic with lots of idle time

[Peppermint]

Blocked DPF will cause the engine to dump diesel into the engine oil - dipstick reads higher. Short trips cannot clear the DPF, replace it

[chirudeepreddybhimavarapu]

How does the soot trapped in the filter goes out of the exhaust tail pipe