Exhaust & emissions · Sant Andreu
Particulate filter (DPF): cleaning and replacement
DPF light on, power loss or limp mode: we diagnose the filter’s real condition and recover it with regeneration or cleaning whenever viable. Replacement is the last resort.
What does this service include at Tallers Marathon?
Diagnosis with differential pressure and live data, forced regeneration, filter cleaning and homologated replacement only when due.
- Real filter diagnosisDifferential pressure, soot and ash load measured, not assumed.
- Forced regenerationWith the diagnostic equipment, when the filter can still burn off the soot.
- DPF cleaningRecovers saturated filters at a fraction of a new filter’s cost.
- Root cause correctedInjection, EGR or sensors: uncorrected, the new DPF clogs again.
Can the particulate filter be cleaned, or must it be replaced?
In most cases it can be recovered with regeneration or cleaning; replacement is only needed when the internal substrate is broken, melted or ash-clogged. That is why diagnosis always comes before the quote.
The pattern we see daily in Sant Andreu: a diesel doing 4 km to work, light on, and three interrupted regenerations in the log. The filter is not broken — it is drowning. After recovering it, the recipe is well known: once a week, 20 minutes of ring road or motorway at steady revs so it regenerates on its own. And watch the oil: DPF engines need low SAPS oil; the wrong oil creates ash no regeneration can remove. If the light comes with juddering, check the EGR valve too — its partner in crime.
Frequently asked questions
Can I keep driving with the DPF light on?
Briefly, and preferably on longer runs: sometimes the car completes the regeneration itself. If the light starts flashing or the car enters limp mode, get to the garage without delay.
How long does a DPF last?
With good use and the right oil, over 200,000 km. What kills it early are short trips, interrupted regenerations and unsuitable oil.
Is it legal to remove the DPF?
No. It is an offence, an automatic ITV failure and carries fines. We repair or replace with homologated parts — never remove.
Why did it clog if the car is new?
Almost always the usage pattern: DPFs need exhaust temperature to regenerate and city driving never provides it. It is not a car defect, it is a mismatch between car and use.
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