If you drive a diesel car you'll have a Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF), essentially you drive about town, doing the school runs and gradually over time soot builds up. If you do long runs then your engine heats up and burns off a lot of the soot so it takes a bit longer to clog up.
DPFs were intro'd as part of the ever changing emissions regs and do need a bit of care and attention (don't we all!).
How will I know if I am clogged up?
Ok, so you will probably notice some or all of the following if your DPF is past its best and needs a spruce up:
you seem to have less power than you used to
noticing your cooling fan is coming on more (unless you are driving my wife's mini in which case that just does that because it is a bit like it *tuts)...
you notice poorer fuel economy
if you have auto stop/start, you might notice that stops working
the dash has a light that comes on for the DPF
Can't I just whip it out?
Erm sadly no, unlike our appendix a DPF is required by law. It is illegal to remove them. Your best move is to get them cleaned or regenerated.
Sell me the benefits... why do I need to worry about the FDP, DFP, filter thingy?
If you have a clogged filter, eventually it will stop the engine running. Generally I find at the worst possible moment. So imagine you are going on the date of your life, or have just scored a free meal at Burger King ... both life changing potential... you jump in your car to find you have more soot on the DPF than Santa's boots on Boxing Day. You won't be going anywhere and repairs suddenly start looking much more costly plus risk all those nasty chemicals wafting back in and around your car.
The science bit (stares into camera with glasses on end of nose)
Ok my auto-geeks, this part is for you. What we actually do is assess the vehicle to make sure the DPF is the fault, then we use specialist equipment to do what's known as a DPF regeneration. If the filter is super poorly then it may need an overnight soak, but generally I have the car for the day or we can tag it on to a service, new tyres or MOT.
You drive around locally and soot builds up on the sides of the filter. Creating poorer performance (of the engine, not your driving, that is entirely on you)
The lack of heat in the car due to shorter, more local distances means the DPF isn't automatically regenning.
The equipment we use to do a DPF regen heats the filter to 600 degrees and creates similar conditions to longer journeys, burning off the manky soot and dirt.
The filter can then work more efficiently and all the benefits mentioned above are in your gift.
You can then continue to Burger King or the date of your life.
I am sold on this witchcraft, how do I book?
Click the link below and we'll get back to you with dates or just ring the workshop on 07715104765 and Di will get you booked in.
Once you've had a deep clean/regen on your vehicle you can help maintain your DPF with a six monthly maintenance visit which we can do/check when you come in for your tyres or air con.
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