DPFs require regular maintenance to function correctly to give you better fuel mileage. While a DPF’s primary purpose is to trap and hold on to damaging particulates, it also needs to get rid of them. In a regeneration process, the DPF exposes the particulates to extremely high temperatures to burn them and turn them into harmless ash. The regeneration process acts as a self-cleaning system with two methods, active and passive regeneration. Passive regeneration occurs when driving at high speeds for an extended amount of time. When diesel vehicles drive short distances while going at slower speeds, the DPF does not get hot enough to create ideal temperatures to burn soot. This issue is common with urban driving and vehicles such as school buses, garbage trucks, and smaller cars.
The second method is active regeneration, which burns the particulates using pressure sensors to generate high enough temperatures to burn the soot. Active regeneration is done when driving but has a higher fuel consumption. The DPF collects the ash from the regeneration process and, once filled, puts pressure on the DPF causing lower fuel mileage. There is a DPF signal on your dashboard that will light up to indicate when it needs restoring. The dashboard’s DPF light will have different warning signals depending on the vehicle’s make and model. Generally, if the DPF light remains on after performing the regeneration process, it needs to be brought into a service shop to be restored. If damage to the DPF has occurred, it may need replacing. Replacing your DPF is not only expensive but usually is unnecessary for maintaining your engine.
The bottom line is, restoring your DPF filter instead of replacing it can save you money. Diesel Particulate Filters have been on the market for thirty years, and the technology used to clean them hasn’t changed. The traditional cleaning approach is a two-step process that includes an air knife treatment and baking process. A newer, more innovative approach is the ultrasonic restoration process, which has a four-step method. It consists of an ultrasonic rinse, a flushing solution, kiln-drying, and an air-knife process. While traditional cleaning services restore your filter to 60% of it’s OE specifications, the more comprehensive Ultrasonic restoration method restores your filter to 98% of its original state!
The Ultrasonic method has proven beneficial by restoring filters that are considered initially irrecoverable. Not to mention, the restoration method is environmentally friendly, fast, and inexpensive. Any make or model of DPF can use this restoration method.
A few examples of industries using DPF include: highway vehicles, off-highway vehicles, construction equipment, agriculture equipment, mining and forestry equipment, heavy-duty vehicles, locomotive, etc.
