ANALYSIS
Understanding Your Diesel Particulate Filter
By Michael Schwartz To help you understand diesel particulate filter maintenance, we need to start by explaining
what a Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) is and how it works. Since this technology was implemented, knowing the intricacies of DPFs has become an increasingly important point of proper preventative maintenance for fleet operators. A DPF is an emission control device that looks similar to an exhaust muffler, but it also contains a
honeycomb-like porous filter that captures Particulate Matter (PM), also known as soot. Tis soot is a natural byproduct from the combustion of diesel fuel. Trough a process known as “regenera- tion,” the soot eventually burns off and allows to pass through the filter. Tis process continually repeats itself.
WHY YOUR DPF MATTERS Now that you have an understanding of how a DPF works, let’s discuss one of the most common
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66 School Transportation News Magazine July 2012
myths — DPFs do not need to be cleaned, as they clean themselves. Tis is not the case. What people are referring to is actually regeneration. What they are forgetting are the things besides soot in the exhaust, the most important being engine oil. We all know every diesel engine consumes oil to a varying degree. Tis oil also becomes trapped within the DPF, ultimately resulting in an ash residue. Tis ash resi- due will not pass through the filter, resulting in an accumulation and increased exhaust backpressure. Tis backpressure will ultimately result in a loss of power and decreased fuel economy. Ash can also interfere with the DPF’s ability to burn soot off during regeneration. If proper maintenance is ignored, it could lead to costly engine or DPF failure.
MAINTAINING YOUR DPF How often do I clean the DPF? Tis can be difficult to answer.
Recommendations vary by manufacturer from as low as every 60,000 miles to as high as 350,000 miles. Tere are many factors that impact DPF cleaning cycles, with oil consumption being No. 1. Using CJ-4 low-ash oil along with proper oil change intervals will extend the time between necessary cleanings. Since every vehicle consumes oil at different rates, tracking oil consumption will help develop a proper DPF maintenance schedule. Remem- ber, as a vehicle accumulates mileage, oil consumption increases and so will the need for DPF cleanings. A few other things that can indicate the need for maintenance are poor fuel economy and performance.
PROPERLY CLEANING YOUR DPF Tis is where things get confusing. You might have heard terms
like Level 1, Level 2, Pulse, Air Knife, etc. Now this has always baf- fled me; there really is only dirty or clean. Why are there different levels of cleaning? What is commonly referred to as Level 1 con- sists of either cleaning the filter with multiple bursts of air (pulse) or an automated nozzle (air knife). After a Level 1 cleaning, the filter is partially cleaned, at best. After all, soot is a byproduct of
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