Why does my DPF filter need cleaning?

Owners of diesel-powered cars, utes and 4x4s that are mostly used for short trips are likely to see a dramatic increase in the need for DPF filter cleaning. Restricted driving and short trips are just two of the many reasons that DPF filters start to block and need cleaning.

Adding FTC Decarbonizer to your diesel will safely remove soot and carbon from exhaust areas, fixing DPF regeneration problems.

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The DPF works by filtering exhaust soot particles and retaining them. There are three ways the DPF then cleans itself (the regeneration cycle):

When the engine reaches operating temperature and starts to work strongly, it has sufficient exhaust temperature to burn the accumulated soot out of the DPF filter.
While driving normally, at regular intervals the computer increases fuel usage to raise the temperature in the DPF and enhance soot burning.
If this doesn’t do the job (and it won’t during short runs), a “forced regen” will be demanded, where the vehicle must be parked to allow the computer to do a big fuel burn (it might take up to 40 minutes) to burn off the DPF soot load.

Don’t Replace the DPF Filter Unnecessarily

If your vehicle falls into the category of only being driven for short trips, with very little highway driving, it is more than likely that your DPF filter will start to suffer.

Once the DPF warning light starts to flash, the vehicle needs to go to the dealer or mechanic — which is a nuisance, but it’s likely to be just the first of many visits as they try to burn out all the soot that’s blocking up the filter.

Why DPF Filter Cleaning Is So Important

If you’re out of warranty, this is where it gets expensive. The DPF may need to be removed and physically cleaned, or in many cases even replaced, at $3000–$5000. The real solution is to address the root cause of the problem by minimising the amount of soot produced. DPF cleaning can be a cost-effective fix when using FTC Decarbonizer fuel treatment.

This is a well-established, easy-to-use fuel treatment that prevents DPF problems entirely and fixes existing regeneration problems. So long as your affected vehicle is drivable, FTC Decarbonizer will almost always fix it.

For more on the process, see our guides on how to use a DPF cleaner and DPF maintenance, or read up on how FTC Decarbonizer works.