DETAILS ABOUT SOOT FILTER

Purpose of the Particulate Filter All modern diesel cars are equipped with a particulate filter, usually called a Particulate Filter. It is also called DPF (Diesel Particulate Filter), PDF (Particulate Diesel Filter), or FAP for short. As a rule, it is installed after the catalyst, is in a metal case, is a ceramic briquette of porous structure weighing from 1 to 6 kg (depending on the car). The purpose can be seen from the name - the soot filter traps unburned soot particles.

​

​

                                       Problems with the Particulate Filter

Usually, the service life of the filter is 200 thousand kilometers, and it should not cause problems during proper operation. But often problems arise at a mileage of 40 thousand or even less. Why does this happen? There are several main causes: Physical wear and/or destruction. Low-quality fuel. Malfunction of one or more filter components (sensors). Getting oil into the exhaust system. Operation of the car in the mode of no regeneration.

​

​

It is important to take into account the main factor - the filter cannot accumulate soot indefinitely, therefore the procedure of burning or regeneration of the filter is periodically started. For its successful implementation, the car must be driven for approximately 15-25 minutes at high revs with a fully warmed-up engine, when the temperature of the exhaust gases can rise to 650-800 degrees. Only in this case the filter is cleaned. In the city mode of operation (especially short trips), combustion practically does not turn on, the filter quickly becomes clogged with soot and fails. The same happens in the event of a malfunction of the components that control the state of the filter and systems involved in the burning process.

 

 

 Symptoms of a faulty particulate filter

There are several symptoms by which you can understand that there is a problem with the DPF:

-The "check engine" and soot filter malfunction symbols appeared. The thrust has disappeared or the turbine has shut down.

-Failure of the turbocharger, including after repair. A clear sign of a problem with the particulate filter. When it is clogged, a large back pressure is created, clogging of the geometry of the turbine with soot and its jamming (complaint about under-blowing or over-flow of the turbine), sticking of soot on the turbine impeller, as a result of which an imbalance appears.

-A high oil level is a clear indication of a problem with the DPF. Due to constant regeneration, diesel fuel enters the lubrication system, as a result of which there is increased wear of all engine parts.

- A symptom of a faulty filter can also be increased fuel consumption (especially on Toyota/Lexus cars), the engine starts to stall or does not start at all, periodically smokes a lot (active regeneration). Failure of sensors. Soot, which can freely escape, leads to the rapid failure of sensors monitoring the condition of the filter, and eventually its destruction.

- Extraneous sounds during degassing. The engine revs up reluctantly, "sneezes" when revs drop, the turbine "hisses", etc.

-Thick black smoke is periodically produced. This mainly affects the owners of cars equipped with an additional nozzle for burning the soot filter.

-Constant regeneration or too frequent switching on of the soot filter.

​

 Removing the filter: Ecology, Black smoke, Technical inspection

Some face problems after removal - the car starts to smoke a lot, is full of errors, cannot pass the technical inspection. The problem does not arise because the filter has been removed, but is the result of contacting amateurs, based on the principle "where it's cheaper, I'll go there". By contacting specialists, you are guaranteed to be protected from such "bonuses". There is a huge difference between the refinement of specialists who use proven certified solutions and non-professionals who use "switches" and sometimes do not understand at all what and how to do. Redoing the work after such a "service" is sometimes many times more expensive than doing everything right. Provided the injectors and turbine are working, there are no problems with passing the technical inspection. Undergoing technical inspection. Smokeness 0.50! While the car must meet the 1.5 (euro 4 and euro 5) standard. After quality work, the car meets this standard with a threefold margin, moreover, it also meets the Euro 6 standard (0.75)! It goes without saying that with such smokiness indicators, there is no need to talk about any clouds of black smoke and other unpleasant things after removing the DPF.