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How to clean out DPF in lockdown?

  • 04-05-2020 11:08am
    #1
    Mad Mike
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 717 ✭✭✭


    In normal times if the diesel particulate filter warning light comes on in my car I bring it for a long motorway spin and that clears it. Now due to lockdown I can't go for a long drive but I still need the car for short journeys. What is the most efficient way to clean out a DPF while still keeping to the Government rules? Can I simulate motorway driving by keeping the car in a low gear at high revs?

    Car is a 2011 Citroen C5 with a 1.6l Turbo diesel engine


Comments

  • #2
    artanevilla
    Moderators, Education Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 10,969 Mod ✭✭✭✭artanevilla


    How's your relationship with your neighbours? You could rev it on the driveway to get it up to heat. Probably will bring more problems then it solves though.


  • #3
    biko
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 81,220 ✭✭✭✭biko


    Read the underlined part in this post


  • #4
    Mad Mike
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 717 ✭✭✭Mad Mike


    @Artanevilla thanks for the reply. Is it enough to just get the engine hot though? I would have guessed you need to get a certain amount of hot air flowing through the engine and out the exhaust.


  • #5
    Lewis_Benson
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,298 ✭✭✭Lewis_Benson


    Just drive around within a short distance of your home for an hour or so , it doesn't need to be motorway driving, just a long drive will do.

    There is a misconception that the engine needs to be driven flat out to clean the DPF, this is untrue and would not make the slightest bit of difference.

    The ECU will decide when to trigger a regen based on the values of the pressure differential sensors and the Km's done since the last regen.

    My 08 2.0 mondeo often starts a regen in town driving.


  • #6
    Mad Mike
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 717 ✭✭✭Mad Mike


    Thanks @Lewis_Benson. The whole DPF is a bit of a black box to me so it is good to have more insight. By the way how can you tell if a regen has started?


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  • #7
    Lewis_Benson
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,298 ✭✭✭Lewis_Benson


    Hi,
    That depends on the vehicle really , not all show any symptoms of it happening.
    MY Mrs has a 2011 Citroen C4 with the same 1.6hdi engine you have, and I don't think i've even heard it doing anything different so never knew if it was regenerating or not.
    There was one occasion when we came home and the rad fan was running and ran on after the engine was cut, so that could have been it/

    MY 2.0 Mondeo definitely lets you know when a regen is happening.
    Engine and exhaust note get louder.
    Idle speed is up from 800rpm to 850 rpm..
    Ran fan running on full speed.
    Acrid smell of burning particulate (it stinks!)
    Loads more power as if you're on full turbo boost all the time.
    Cloud of black smoke if you floor it.

    It can run at anything from 10 to 30 mins.


    It's always best to let it complete as otherwise you may get waste diesel getting dumped into the sump.


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