DPF Cleaning Services

Depending on how heavily clogged the DPF is a full diagnosis and clean will take on average from 90 – 120 minutes.

The DPF is simply a filter, there are many reasons it can clog up. The most common myth is that it’s clogged because of driving only in the city and not on the motorway. Although this can be a cause there is more often than not an underlying fault that has caused the DPF to clog up. It is therefore imperative that a correct diagnosis is made and any faults are repaired that could impede the DPF system from working correctly. Assuming all faults are resolved then yes cleaning the DPF will resolve a DPF fault.

Emissions requirements for new vehicles require Particulate Filters to be fitted to the exhaust of diesel vehicles since the ‘Euro 5’ standards were enforced in 2009. Before this many vehicles also had a DPF fitted in anticipation of the change to regulations. This ‘Euro 5’ and beyond standards aim to deliver reductions of >80% in soot (diesel particulates). However, these filtration systems are not without problems causing DPF warning lights, engine limp mode safety activation, reduced efficiency/mpg and poor engine performance. The diesel particulate filter is mounted as part of the exhaust system. For the filter to operate correctly, it must regularly run a regeneration process to burn off the continuously accumulating soot. This process is completed by precisely regulating an increased temperature of the exhaust gas passing through the filter which then burns away the carbon deposits. To do so a sensor transmits data to an engine control unit that then calculates the precise requirement for post-injection fuel to increase the temperature during the regeneration phase. As with any filter, the DPF must be regularly emptied otherwise, over some time, it will start to clog up and will eventually become partially blocked. Passive regeneration of the DPF can only occur at fast speeds on a motorway or A-road so with all the local driving and short journeys for many vehicles, this process cannot occur often enough eventually leading to clogging of the DPF.

Just like manipulating any other part of the emissions system, it is illegal to remove / gut or change the DPF system in any way and carries a £1,000 fine for consumers or £2,500 for light-goods vehicles. So, yes it is an immediate MOT failure if caught doing so. Reference: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/diesel-particulate-filters-guidance-note/diesel-particulate-filters Sanctions are a lot more serious for Heavy Goods Vehicles. Our advice is to diagnose correctly, resolve the cause of DPF issues and if required clean or worst case replace the DPF to stay legal, after all, if you don’t put you’ll still likely have an underlying fault that will almost certainly lead to other issues.

Other than the ash content issue explained below there are no risks with our service. However, our technicians are trained to the highest standards and we are fully insured. We also warranty our workmanship and any parts supplied for 3 months (90 days). There are two types of content that fill and clog a DPF – soot, and ash. Our system will clear the soot but not the ash content. Soot builds up quickly and generally gets cleared by the regeneration process (a passive system that burns the soot whilst driving under the right conditions), this is the most common issue. When the DPF system fails, be it a related component failure or driving related, then it will almost certainly be a build up of soot that clogs the DPF. Ash builds up and clogs the DPF over a far greater time and can only be removed by removing the DPF and sending it away. The only risk of our service is that if there is too much ash it will not fully clean. Due to this it is the first thing our technicians will attempt to check for during the diagnosis stage of a DPF clean service. In the unlikely case that it is obviously ash content that is the cause of a DPF issue we will advise not continue with our process.

Yes, our technicians are trained to the highest standards and we are fully insured. We also warranty our workmanship and any parts supplied for 3 months (90 days). What we cannot warranty is any failure to follow-up on advisories supplied during or at the end of our service. We also cannot, of course, be held accountable for any future component failings that could lead to a future failure of the DPF system. If you have been told by a garage or another supplier they will warranty their DPF work without explaining this be wary as the chances are they will refer to such failings only if you have an issue after you’ve used them. In our opinion, it’s best, to be honest, upfront and trustworthy.

Yes, we offer multi-service and multi-vehicle discounts.