DPF

To support our customers with the most up to date information available, we wish to share the following advice we have received from many manufacturers.

To prevent additional costs being incurred, please take the time to understand the information below as your drive style can effect whether a warranty cover can be applied in such cases.

As you are the driver of a modern diesel vehicle, it is in your interest to be fully aware of the following requirements, in terms of driving style, to obtain the best performance and longevity of your vehicle and its components, particularly the Diesel Particulate Filter (D.P.F). Most importantly, it is necessary that your vehicle is driven above 37 mph for minimum periods of 20 minutes at least once per week. However, where regular short journeys, or city commutes, are the main drive style, this process may need to be carried out more often.

If D.P.F. soot content level reaches a pre-determined value, an amber warning will illuminate on the vehicle instrument display indicating D.P.F. regeneration is required. To carry out the regeneration you will need to drive the vehicle at a constant speed greater than 37 mph. Please be advised that when you see the amber warning light go out this does not mean the regeneration is complete but instead it indicates that the regeneration has now begun. Continue to drive the vehicle above 37mph for a further 20-30 mins. This will allow the cycle to further reduce the soot level content to a minimum. Should your vehicle continue to be driven, with an amber warning light showing for the DPF regeneration, and the above instruction is not carried out within 10 miles, the warning will then turn red and replacement parts may be required.

Regularly, the DPF regeneration process will be carried out automatically by your car without the amber warning light showing on the instrument pack. In either case the following criteria needs to be in place for successful DPF regeneration:

Fuel level does not drop below 15% - low fuel warning must not be illuminated.

Vehicle is up to normal operating temperature and this temperature is maintained - this can be monitored by the engine temperature needle being central on the instrument cluster gauge. If the vehicle is manual the gear is held in 5th gear.

When the vehicle performs DPF regeneration, higher than normal quantities of fuel will be injected into the engine to increase the exhaust temperature. Some of this fuel will transfer into the lower engine, diluting the oil with diesel fuel. Regular journeys in slow traffic, or below 20mph, for prolonged periods of time will cause the regeneration to be interrupted and prevent the process from completing as not all of the soot will be disposed. Each time this process occurs, the engine oil is diluted with diesel fuel. When the oil becomes over diluted, an appropriate message is displayed such as 'Service required'. The more interrupted regenerations, the sooner the oil will become diluted and require changing.