What is Diesel Particulate Filter?
The diesel particulate filter is part of your vehicle's emissions system and filters harmful diesel particulates from the exhaust gas.
How does the Diesel Particulate Filter work?
The diesel particulate filter reduces emissions by trapping exhaust particles before they reach the tailpipe. The system must periodically clean the exhaust particles that gather inside the filter. This is carried out in three ways, passive regeneration, active regeneration and manual regeneration.
Passive Regeneration
In passive regeneration, the normal exhaust system temperature cleans the filter by oxidizing the soot. Cleaning occurs during normal vehicle operating conditions due to driving patterns.
Active Regeneration
Once the diesel particulate filter is full, active regeneration raises the exhaust temperature to eliminate the particles.
When the engine control module detects that the diesel particulate filter is nearly full of particulates, and you are not operating your vehicle in a manner to allow effective regeneration, messages appear in the instrument cluster display as a reminder for you to drive your vehicle in order to clean the diesel particulate filter. If you drive your vehicle in a manner to allow effective regeneration, the instrument cluster display shows a cleaning exhaust filter message.
Diesel Particulate Filter Requirements
The diesel particulate filter on your vehicle requires periodic regeneration to maintain its correct function.
If your journeys meet one of the following conditions:
- You drive only short distances.
- You frequently switch the ignition on and off.
- Your journeys contain a high level of acceleration and deceleration.
You must carry out occasional trips with the following conditions to assist the regeneration process:
- Drive your vehicle in more favorable conditions, which you will find at higher vehicle speeds in normal driving, on a main road or freeway for a minimum of 20 minutes.This drive may include short stops that will not affect the regeneration process.
- Avoid prolonged idling and observe speed limits and road conditions.
- Do not switch the ignition off.
- Select a suitable gear to ideally maintain engine speed between 1500 and 3000 RPM.
Diesel Particulate Filter Precautions
Note:
- Avoid running out of fuel.
- During regeneration at low speed or engine idle, you may smell a hot metallic odor and could notice a clicking metallic sound.This is due to high temperatures reached during regeneration and is normal.
- Changes in the engine or exhaust sound may be heard during the regeneration process.
Failure to perform active or manual regeneration when instructed could result in a clogged diesel particulate filter. If the diesel particulate filter fills beyond the regeneration threshold, your vehicle disables the ability for active and manual regeneration. This could result in irreversible damage your vehicle Warranty may not cover.
- Do not park or idle your vehicle over dry leaves, dry grass or other combustible materials. The regeneration process creates very high exhaust gas temperatures and the exhaust will radiate a considerable amount of heat during and after regeneration and after you have switched the engine off. This is a potential fire hazard.
- When the Exhaust Filter Cleaning message appears in the information display, do not park near flammable materials, vapors or structures until filter cleaning is complete.
- The normal operating temperature of the exhaust system is very high. Never work around or attempt to repair any part of the exhaust system until it has cooled. Use special care when working around the diesel oxidation catalytic converter or the diesel particulate filter. The diesel oxidation catalytic converter and the diesel particulate filter heat up to very high temperatures after only a short period of engine operation and remain hot after you switch the engine off.
- Stay clear of the exhaust tailpipe during regeneration. Hot exhaust gases can burn you badly.