Tips On Peterbilt Diesel Particulate Filter Maintenance

Ignoring diesel particulate filter (DPF) maintenance can severely impact performance, emissions and fuel efficiency. DPF collects and stores up to 98% of incombustible particles (ash and soot) as the fuel burns and is specifically designed to remove these particles from the exhaust gas in on-highway vehicles and heavy-duty off-highway equipment. 

When soot and ash accumulate, a DPF regeneration cycle is initiated in the engine to burn off the collected particles. Although soot burns off, the ash remains in the DPF, resulting in clogging and costly replacement and downtime. 
 

The impact of DPF maintenance on fleet and business profitability

Unnecessary downtime due to equipment failure and breakdown is one of the most costly issues for operations that rely on both on-highway and off-highway vehicles. While a DPF may be a small and lightweight device in a rather complex system of parts, the consequences of a clogged filter can translate to hundreds and even thousands of dollars spent repairing and replacing these key components. 

If your engine is burning through fuel faster than usual, it could point to a clogged DPF that’s causing forced regeneration cycles and backpressure. Ash buildup is extremely harmful to engines with expensive outcomes, including increased fuel consumption.

The good news is that downtime can be prevented with proper fleet maintenance, care, and education. Here are some of our expert tips on Peterbilt DPF maintenance that will help keep your fleet running at top efficiency.
DPF maintenance tips

• DPF maintenance should only be handled by a certified technician in a controlled environment as the ash deposits on DPFs are identified as hazardous materials.
• Schedule DPF cleaning as part of your fleet’s routine maintenance schedule, following Peterbilt’s maintenance recommendations.
• Never use a pressure washer to clean the DPF, as this can damage the filter.
• Always refer to the DPF manufacturer’s service recommendations. 
• Fleet Managers should educate both seasoned and new drivers on the role of the DPF and on the signs to watch for that indicate a cleaning is needed, such as reduced fuel economy and more frequent regeneration cycles.

When enough particulate matter has accumulated, the DPF uses either a passive, active or manual regeneration cycles to clean the system. Passive and active regeneration occurs when the vehicle is in operation without the driver’s knowledge, while manual regeneration alerts the driver and requires the vehicle to be parked and the regeneration switch manually turned on. 

Despite repeated regeneration, soot also builds up from the additives found in engine oil and the DPF can be damaged if other issues are present such as a faulty fuel injector, oil leaks, and coolant leaks, to name a few. This highlights the importance of keeping up with routine maintenance to ensure that no component is compromised. Even if they are seemingly small, always report performance changes, as they can indicate a bigger issue.

If you notice anything of concern, our Brandt Truck & Trailer Rapid Check Diagnostics can help you get back on the road or onsite as quickly as possible. We service all makes and models, backed with our array of parts and expertise by our factory trained and certified technicians.