Our services
DPF Cleaning in Leeds
DPF warning light on, or your diesel feeling flat and down on power? We diagnose the cause first, then regenerate or clean the filter.
A diesel particulate filter (DPF) sits in the exhaust of modern diesel cars and vans and traps the soot particles the engine produces while letting the gases through. The trapped soot has to be burnt off regularly, a process called regeneration, otherwise the filter blocks, the engine loses power and eventually the vehicle drops into limp mode.
On a vehicle that gets regular runs at motorway speed, regeneration happens by itself: the exhaust gets hot enough to burn the soot (passive regeneration), and when it does not, the engine management injects extra fuel to raise the temperature and do it deliberately (active regeneration). Short, stop-start journeys around Leeds interrupt that cycle, which is why DPF problems are so common on diesels used mainly in town.
When the DPF warning light comes on, the filter is partly blocked and the vehicle is asking for a regeneration it has not been able to complete. Ignore it and the engine management light follows, the engine may lose power, and the soot can harden into ash that no regeneration will shift. At that point the options are professional cleaning or a new filter, so the earlier you bring it in the less it tends to cost.
At NHG Vehicle Care we start with diagnostics rather than assuming the filter is the fault. A blocked DPF is often a symptom of something else: a faulty pressure sensor, a sticking EGR valve, a glow plug or injector problem, the wrong oil, or a regeneration cycle that keeps being interrupted. Clearing the blockage without fixing the cause means the light comes back. Our Diagnostics page explains how we read the fault codes and live data.
Forced regeneration and cleaning
Once we know the filter itself is the problem, the options depend on how blocked it is:
- Forced regeneration: we use the diagnostic equipment to command a regeneration while the vehicle is stationary and monitored, burning off the soot the vehicle could not clear on its own. This works when the blockage is soot rather than ash.
- DPF cleaning: for a filter too blocked to regenerate, or clogged with ash, a cleaning process removes the deposits and restores the flow through the filter.
- Replacement: a cracked, melted or completely blocked filter has to be replaced. We will tell you if that is the honest answer.
In every case we clear the stored fault codes and check that a regeneration completes before handing the vehicle back.
Why we never remove a DPF
You may see DPF removal or a 'DPF delete' advertised as a cheap fix. We do not do it, and you should not accept it. GOV.UK guidance states that removing a diesel particulate filter will almost invariably mean the vehicle no longer meets the emissions standards it was built to, making it illegal for road use; it is an offence under the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations, with fines of up to £1,000 for a car or £2,500 for a light goods vehicle.
Since February 2014 MOT testers have also checked for the filter. A missing DPF, where one was fitted when the vehicle was built, is an MOT failure, and the current MOT inspection manual records evidence that the filter has been tampered with as a major defect. A filter that has clearly been cut open and rewelded is rejected unless the presenter can show there was a valid reason, such as cleaning. An undeclared modification of this kind may also affect your insurance.
Keeping your DPF healthy
- Give the vehicle a longer run at a steady speed regularly so a regeneration can complete
- Try not to switch the engine off part-way through a regeneration (a higher idle, a change in engine note or the cooling fan running after a drive are signs one is happening)
- Use the low-ash engine oil the manufacturer specifies
- Do not ignore the warning light
- If you only ever do short town trips, a diesel may not be the right car for you next time
Request a booking online or call us on 0113 244 3544 and we’ll find a time that suits you.
Advice from our workshop
Common questions
DPF Cleaning questions
What does the DPF warning light mean?
The filter has reached a soot level the vehicle could not clear by itself. Driving at a steady speed for a while may let it regenerate; if the light stays on, or the engine management light joins it, book it in before the soot hardens into ash.
Can you just remove the DPF?
No. GOV.UK states that removing a DPF almost invariably makes the vehicle illegal for road use, and a missing filter is an MOT failure. We diagnose, regenerate or clean the filter instead.
Will cleaning the DPF fix the problem for good?
Only if the cause is fixed too. A blocked filter is often the result of a sensor, EGR, injector or driving-pattern problem, which is why we diagnose first. Fix the cause and the cleaned filter should stay clear.
Something else? Call 0113 244 3544 or request a booking.
More from NHG
- MOT TestingClass 4 & Class 7 for cars, vans and light commercial vehicles
- ServicingInterim and full servicing for all makes and models
- DiagnosticsFault finding and diagnostic checks
- WeldingWelding and repair work
- Brakes & SuspensionRepairs and replacements
- TyresTyres supplied and fitted, wheel balancing and alignment
- Exhaust RepairsExhaust repairs, replacement sections and emissions
- Air Con RegasAir conditioning regas and servicing
- Car RepairsFrom minor fixes to major overhauls
- MechanicTrusted local mechanics in Leeds
Find us
- Unit 2, 2 Dolly Lane
Harehills, Leeds LS9 7TUA few minutes' walk from St James's Hospital, just off the A64 York Road. - 0113 244 3544
Monday - Friday: 8:30am - 5:30pmSaturday & Sunday: Closed
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