Caring for your car’s Diesel Particulate Filter post COVID
If you drive a modern diesel-engined car or van, it’s very likely that you have a Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) installed as part of the exhaust system.
The DPF plays a critical role in helping mitigate against the emission of harmful engine deposits. While, for the most part, the DPF works hard without complaint, if your vehicle has been off the road or making shorter journeys during the COVID pandemic, it might need a little attention, and there are actions you can take to make sure it continues to perform at its best.
As with any filter, the DPF in your car or van can only capture and covert a certain amount of soot before it becomes full. The DPF continually burns off this soot, yet in order to do this it must reach required temperatures needed to burn the excess soot. However, engines need to be operating fast enough and for long enough to reach these temperatures. For many people, the pandemic has meant a change to driving habits, and regional and national lockdowns asked us all to restrict our travel to our local areas, making stop-start journeys in and around town the new normal in recent months.
Many drivers may now discover that their DPF will struggle to build the heat needed for effective regeneration during such short journeys and could suffer the consequences associated with the build-up of soot. For example, if the DPF is becoming overloaded, you may receive an engine warning light due to excessive emissions or your car may start to exhibit performance issues or operate in restricted limp home mode.
To help resolve these issues, drivers can take the vehicle for a longer than usual drive (ideally on the motorway) now that travel restrictions have been lifted, to build up the necessary temperature in the DPF to try and start regeneration. If this doesn’t do the trick, drivers should take the vehicle to a garage to have the DPF checked and cleaned.
Learn more about our Techron and Havoline ranges on our website: www.texacolubricants.com
