Additive to diesel fuel for cleaning the particulate filter. How to clean and protect the particulate filter? Benefits of regular maintenance, cleaning and rinsing

Magazine " BODY» together with the company LIQUI MOLY tested New Product for cleaning and protection particulate filters.

Equipped with modern diesel vehicles additional devices after-treatment of exhaust gases (soot DPF filters) problems also appeared in their work. The smaller the difference in exhaust gas pressure at the inlet and outlet particulate filter, the more efficiently the engine operates, the more fuel is consumed economically and the environment is minimally polluted.

However, over the entire period of operation, solid soot particles, which are unburned particles of hydrocarbons, enter the pores of the particulate filter walls, limiting the flow exhaust gases. The fine soot powder seems to be supposed to burn, but as the filter clogs, it mixes more and more with non-combustible materials and forms resins. This sticky mixture, coupled with metal sulfates, which are formed during the combustion of low-quality motor oil, clogs the particulate filter, creating increased back pressure of the exhaust gases inside.

The particulate filter can become almost completely clogged after just a few hundred kilometers, so the developers have provided a clever system for its “regeneration” - a process that oxidizes the resins inside the filter, after which they burn out. When the gas pressure at the inlet and outlet of the DPF exceeds permissible norm, the engine control unit turns on the burnout mode.

The computer enriches the fuel mixture, causing the exhaust gas temperature to rise sharply. The load on the catalyst increases, and it, in turn, heats up to several hundred degrees, oxidizing the vapors of unburned fuel. After this, a hot mixture enters the particulate filter, which burns out deposits and cleans the filter. The same process can be initiated chemically - by adding a special additive that activates burn-through. At one time, the Volkswagen concern used this technology, and today designers from Peugeot and Citroen are passionate about similar developments.

In cars various brands the burn-through mode is activated when standard conditions. To do this, the car must be in motion and the engine must be running at medium or high speed. In dense city traffic, it is not always possible to achieve suitable conditions, so the filter continues to retain soot without self-cleaning, which leads to its complete clogging.

Ideally, the service life of a particulate filter is 150,000-200,000 kilometers, and self-regeneration occurs only once every 500-700 kilometers. However, in city traffic this part becomes unusable much earlier. Long traffic jams Not quality fuel, elevated temperature environment and an aggressive driving style lead to the process of burning through the filter starting every 50-100 kilometers, which shortens the life of the unit to 50,000-60,000 kilometers. This is explained by the fact that during each regeneration, part of the platinum from the catalyst burns out along with petroleum products, which significantly affects its residual life.

In addition, in order to effectively burn out all the resins from the cavities, it is necessary to heat the catalyst to 600-650 ° C, which is almost impossible to do during a trip. As soot accumulates inside the system, the difference in gas pressure at the inlet to the filter and at the outlet from it will one day exceed the permissible values. As a result, when the particulate filter is more than 90% dirty, the engine will simply lose power and stall.

When appearing on dashboard If the vehicle receives a corresponding signal about a problem, you must urgently contact a service station. An experienced diagnostician will check the system and issue a conclusion. Often, manufacturers do not regulate the repair of dirty particulate filters, offering only a complete replacement of the part. Thus, by systematically pouring low-quality Russian diesel fuel into his car, the car owner obviously “subscribes” to permanent and expensive repairs. The cost of particulate filters themselves from top brands alone exceeds 100,000 rubles.

Of course, the car owner cannot influence the quality of the fuel, but he can take care of the safety of the filter. To achieve this, LIQUI MOLY has developed a program for cleaning and protecting particulate filters, which includes two fundamentally different cleaning technologies and a special additive to facilitate filter regeneration.

The first technology allows you to work literally “on your knees” and not use scarce and expensive diagnostic devices. However, it is labor-intensive, requires a lot of time and involves removing the particulate filter. The second technology is faster, but requires the use of complex electronic equipment. As for the results, that is, the effectiveness of the product compositions, they are identical. According to LIQUI specialists MOLY, the cost of this service will not exceed 10,000-15,000 rubles, which is significantly cheaper complete replacement filter.

The editors of the magazine "KUZOV" decided to independently check new system and show readers her work. For this purpose, the publication’s correspondents chose an independent service station specializing in Mercedes-Benz cars, Where Dmitry Rudakov, LIQUI MOLY specialist, proposed to show and prove the effectiveness of the system on the third generation Mercedes ML model.

Difficulty working with Mercedes models is determined both by the inaccessibility of the particulate filter itself and by diagnostic features. For example, when checking cars Volkswagen concern The filter status is displayed on the screen of the diagnostic scanner. percentage, which significantly simplifies the decision-making process. Mercedes, on the contrary, only indicates a malfunction, indicating discrepancies in ideal and real values. Thus, the master must himself determine the nature of the upcoming repair.

To carry out the work, specialist Dmitry Rudakov will first of all need the LIQUI MOLY Pro-Line Diesel Partikel filter Reiniger cleaner and the Pro-Line Diesel Partikel filter Spulung wash/neutralizer.

The cleaning solution must be poured into a special tank onto which a gun with one of the attached probes is attached. Straight and curved manipulators allow you to work with almost all manufactured vehicles.

It is necessary to make sure that the temperature of the particulate filter is about 40 ° C, since it is under such conditions that the effect is most effective. The temperature can be seen on the screen of diagnostic equipment, but if it is not at hand, it is enough to measure the heating of the filter with an optical household pyrometer.

Next, you can remove the oxygen sensor located in front of the particulate filter, through which cleaning liquid will be supplied in portions. However, in our case, the specialist did not do this, since it is convenient to use a different hole on Mercedes. A LIQUI MOLY representative removed the catalyst temperature sensor, which is located in the middle of the filter, between the catalyst and the active DPF element. Access to cleaning fluid through this hole ensures correct distribution fluids in all cavities.

After test spraying, the cleaning composition is fed through the above opening into the filter in several stages. During this process, the probe must be rotated slowly, thereby ensuring uniform distribution of the product.

Now you need to wait 15 minutes and pour the remover/neutralizer inside in the same way. After finishing cleaning, replace the temperature sensor.

To evaporate the remaining composition from the filter, you need to start the engine and warm up the filter to an operating temperature of 300°C. After this, using a diagnostic scanner, you need to start the mode forced regeneration. Then, within 10-20 minutes, you should drive 10 kilometers by car.

If it is not possible to leave the service station, you will have to simply press the gas pedal for the same time interval, but this must be done either on the street or with the exhaust gas removal system connected. Literally after a couple of minutes of running the engine under load from exhaust pipe will fall thick White smoke. This indicates that the procedure was carried out correctly.

A diagnostic scanner will also help determine how well the filter is cleaned. To do this, it is enough to check the readings of the exhaust gas pressure sensors at the inlet and outlet of the particulate filter as a percentage before and after the procedure. The effectiveness of the solution can also be judged by temperature values.

In our case, a reliability check showed that the catalyst temperature of 190°C is almost equal to the temperature inside the particulate filter - 180°C. According to standards, these readings should not differ by more than 60°C.

According to LIQUI MOLY estimates, the cost of the procedure for cleaning the particulate filter can vary between 10,000-15,000 rubles. This amount includes wages, consumables and self-sufficiency of equipment, the price of which is 15,000 rubles. However, this is significantly cheaper than completely dismantling a damaged particulate filter, purchasing a new filter and then installing it.

According to Dmitry, on business-class cars it is advisable to carry out the procedure for cleaning the particulate filter together with changing the oil and cleaning the injector; it is advisable to include it in the list routine maintenance every 10,000-20,000 kilometers. On budget cars This should be done only as needed when a corresponding error appears.

As we have already said, the service life of a particulate filter is determined by the frequency of its burn-through. The more often this procedure occurs, the more catalyst (platinum) burns out irrevocably. Today it has become possible to increase the mileage between burns and reduce the process temperature. For this purpose, LIQUI MOLY has developed an additive to protect the diesel particulate filter Diesel Partikel filter Schutz, which we will discuss in detail in a separate article.

One of design features diesel cars - the presence of a particulate filter. This element of the vehicle cleaning system requires periodic washing. When to wash the particulate filter and what products to use for this - read further in the article.

The main purpose of a particulate filter is to reduce emissions harmful substances from a vehicle's exhaust pipe into the atmosphere, such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide and soot.

Causes of particulate filter contamination

The appearance of soot in the engine diesel car caused by fuel combustion processes, namely:

Distribution in power unit combustion zones.
Injection indicator.
By supplying air to the system.

It should also be said here that over-enrichment is recorded in certain parts of the combustion chambers fuel mixture, which occurs due to a lack of oxygen in the system. If such a process occurs in the power unit, combustion will be incomplete, which leads to the appearance of soot.

Frequency of cleaning the particulate filter

Flushing this filtration element is necessary if the motorist feels that the engine of his car has begun to work worse, that is, if during the operation of the power unit there appear serious problems, which are associated with the filter. It is also recommended to do this during maintenance. To wash the filter, you can seek the help of a service station specialist or use a special particulate filter cleaner.

The frequency of cleaning the filtration element is determined separately for each vehicle. In general, the service life of a particulate filter depends on the frequency of its burning. In other words, the more often the burning procedure is performed, the greater the amount of catalyst that can burn out irrevocably. In such cases, it is important to use an additive to clean the filtration element, since the use of this substance makes it possible to increase the service life of the particulate filter.

Signs of a dirty particulate filter

The particulate filter is considered dirty if the following symptoms occur:

If fuel consumption has increased significantly.
If the oil level in the power unit is high.
If the dynamics have decreased significantly, that is, traction has disappeared.
If the engine runs unstable at idle.
If you hear a suspicious hissing noise during engine operation.
If the icons on the instrument panel are lit.
If it happens periodically smoky exhaust gases

Additives for cleaning particulate filters

Special liquids for cleaning the particulate filter are especially relevant for those cars that are used in urban environments. Exhaust gases are very harmful to the environment and can even be poisonous to people. Using filter cleaning fluids makes it possible not only to reduce the level of soot in the system, but also to reduce the load on the component as a whole.

How often can additives be used to clean the particulate filter?

There are no exact recommendations for cleaning the filter, since they are individual for each vehicle. But, as practice shows, with regular use of additives (once every 2-3 thousand km), special measures for washing the filter may not be required.

Particulate filter cleaner LM Diesel Partike - Filter Schutz pros and cons, features, how much to add and how much fuel

Additives from the company Liqui Moly are among the most expensive and best on the market. According to the manufacturer of the substance, such additives are not only highly effective, but also capable of reducing the appearance of soot, which, in turn, entails an increase in the service life of the component and facilitates the functioning of the engine as a whole.

According to the manufacturer, the use of this additive is especially important for diesel vehicles that are used:

At short distances.
In traffic jams.
In urban environments.

Such cars are more likely than others to have problems with the particulate filter becoming clogged. By systematically adding the product to the fuel, the condition of the filtration element will be kept clean, which will allow the car owner to avoid expensive repairs, as well as the time costs that arise when the element fails.

It is worth noting that one package of this substance is enough to use for two thousand km. mileage The manufacturer recommends adding the product to fuel tank before refueling. As a rule, one bottle is enough for 75 liters of diesel fuel. But don't forget that overdoing it in this case can only do harm. In other words, overdose should be avoided. In addition, the manufacturer categorically does not recommend using this product in conjunction with substances of other brands.

JLM cleaner pros and cons, how much to add and how much fuel

This type of additive is also one of the most common among motorists. The manufacturer claims that the use of this product makes it possible to clean the particulate filter as much as possible if you add it every ten thousand km. mileage To clean the filter, add JLM to the fuel, after which even the most contaminated filter element will be cleaned. In addition, the substance makes it possible to restore the functioning of the element during regular use of the car in urban conditions.

Advantages of JLM: makes it possible to extend the service life of the exhaust gas purification system; reduces costs for renovation work or performing an unscheduled technical inspection.

Disadvantages: can reduce the regeneration rate, which may result in mechanical damage to the particulate filter housing.

Ford.
Citroen.
Peugeot.

Cleaner additive PROTEC DPF Super Clean pros and cons, consumption and how much fuel

This substance for washing the particulate filter has also managed to prove itself well among Russian car enthusiasts. The manufacturer of the product assures its customers that with regular use of the additive, the car owner will be able to reliably protect his car from damage. The consumable is a highly effective additive for cleaning the particulate filter. To flush the element, add the product to the fuel tank.

Advantages of PROTEC DPF Super Clean:

Makes it possible to reduce the toxicity of exhaust gases.
Does not adversely affect components fuel system and exhaust gas purification systems.
Makes it possible to eliminate deposits that occur in the particulate filter as much as possible.
The cleaning itself occurs during the operation of the car.

It is very important to clean the particulate filter regularly to avoid unnecessary problems and future costs.

23.01.2017

IN modern cars there are many various nodes, ensuring the purification of exhaust gases from impurities hazardous to humans and the environment. Such devices include an exhaust gas recirculation system, as well as particulate filters that are installed on cars with diesel engines. Minus last device- low reliability, which forces car owners to periodically clean or replace the device. What is the particulate filter used for? How is it cleaned? What are the benefits of regular care? Let's consider these points in more detail.

Purpose

Particulate filter - special device, which is part exhaust system and designed to trap soot in exhaust gases. After filtration, the soot is burned to reduce harmful environmental impacts. The filter collects soot dust up to a certain point, which is determined by the difference in pressure before and after the filter element. When the pressure parameter deviates from the permissible limit and the filter stops passing the required volume of exhaust gas, then the afterburning mode is activated.

Activation of the afterburning process occurs in situations that are specified by the car manufacturer. The main condition, which is common to all, is to be in motion and have a high speed. When a certain contamination is reached, the ECU gives a command to release a larger volume of fuel during the period of fuel supply to the combustion chamber. As a result, the exhaust temperature at the outlet increases, and the soot accumulated in the filter burns out.

The hardest thing is for car owners who operate their cars in city conditions. If the normal mode involves short trips over short distances and at low speeds, the afterburning function does not start. If nothing is done, the device quickly becomes clogged. As a result, the exhaust gas resistance increases, the engine power decreases and the starting process becomes more complicated.

Failures associated with contamination of the exhaust system are typical for any car, regardless of age. At the same time, the filter service life largely depends on a number of factors - operating conditions, individual characteristics and quality of the unit. If an element is clogged, it requires mandatory replacement. The problem is that a new particulate filter costs a lot of money, so the logical solution is to clean this unit.

Why does the particulate filter get dirty?

The device gets clogged from the first day of use. The reason is the formation of soot after the combustion of diesel fuel in a car engine. Soot is a fine powder that remains on the filter mesh and is not harmful to it. the main problem due to the fact that the exhaust gas contains hydrocarbon elements. Over time, resinous deposits form inside the filter element, and soot dust literally sticks together with the participation of this resin.

In addition, metal sulfates enter the composition (appear as a result of oil combustion in the cylinders). This problem most often concerns universal oils, which are equally suitable for diesel and gasoline engines. The resulting mixture is so persistent that the self-cleaning of the particulate filter cannot cope with it.

What are the benefits of regular maintenance?

The life of the particulate filter largely depends on the number of self-cleaning cycles that were initiated by the ECU. If the assembly is cleaned too often, the platinum catalyst will burn out under the influence of high temperatures. At the same time, the main advantage regular maintenance- opportunity to save in the future.

If a diesel engine is operated under harsh conditions, which results in increased formation of carbon deposits, preventive cleaning allows you to avoid replacing the device in the future. In addition, in a car with a clean filter, the engine produces more power, is more economical, starts quickly and does not emit a large amount of harmful substances into the environment. As a result, the resource of the node increases and its overall reliability increases.

To avoid operational problems, it is worth cleaning the particulate filter at every service. This is the only way to avoid the accumulation of large volumes of carbon deposits and the replacement of an expensive unit. In addition, extending the service life of the part is possible with the help of special additives. The goal is to reduce the intensity of soot formation and reduce the temperature during the self-cleaning process.

Thanks to the additive added to diesel fuel, the fuel is completely burned in the engine, which reduces the amount of soot emitted into the exhaust system. As a result, during the self-cleaning process, heating is less intense and takes less time. As a result, the catalyst suffers less. If the engine is working properly, high-quality fuel is poured into the tank and special additive, there is no need for additional cleaning of the particulate filter.

How to clean the filter?

The existing problem faced by many car owners has forced many companies to develop methods for prevention, protection and filter cleaning. Today there are two main approaches, which are discussed in detail in the article:

Cleaning the diesel particulate filter directly on the car (without dismantling);

Maintenance of the device after removal from the engine.

It is worth noting that the particulate filter should be cleaned only using approved and tested compounds. If you use tools that are not suitable for solving the problem, the unit may completely fail.

How to clean a particulate filter with your own hands?

Cleaning the particulate filter yourself involves dismantling the unit and then washing it. The average time spent on the procedure is up to eight hours. As soon as the device is removed from the car, flushing liquid is poured into the housing to the top. Here you can use products from brands such as Luffe, Liqui Moly and others.

At the core special liquids contains petroleum elements. Cleaners are usually sold in special canisters with a capacity of up to five liters. On average, a one-time flushing of a unit takes four liters or more. The liquid is filled using a special hose. Depending on the manufacturer, canisters may be equipped with hoses or supplied without them.

After filling the particulate filter, the composition dissolves the resins present inside. To achieve the expected effect, the liquid must remain inside the filter for eight hours. In addition, before use, you should carefully read the manufacturer's instructions. The latter describes in detail how, how much and in what volume to fill the liquid.

Once the recommended time has passed, the soot should separate from the surface, after which it must be washed off with water (under pressure). When all work is completed, the filter returns to its original place. Many people believe that the solvent itself can be dangerous for the catalyst. This is wrong. Modern liquids are manufactured using safe elements, so the only thing that provides a remedy is cleaning the particulate filter.

As mentioned, during the cleaning process only the use of specialized liquids, which corrode soot at the molecular level. Please note that the filter is equipped with a fragile layer inside made using platinum. After completion of washing, the result should be monitored visually.

How to clean the filter without dismantling?

If there is no such opportunity or desire to dismantle the particulate filter, you can do this work faster - without removing the device. This is possible thanks to the presence of a special pressure and (or) temperature sensor in the system. If this device is unscrewed, a hole appears for supplying a special flushing fluid.

During the cleaning process, it is necessary to observe safety precautions due to the risk of ignition of the liquid. To avoid problems, water-alkaline solutions are used for cleaning along with washing liquid. The peculiarity of this composition is to neutralize dangerous alkali after cleaning. To supply the flushing composition, a special gun is used, as well as a straight and bent probe. In addition, the kit comes with a special nozzle.

To clean the filter on almost any car model, you can use a standard set of tools - a gun for supplying the composition, liquid, probes and sprayers. The use of these devices involves cleaning in several approaches. To supply fluid, as a rule, the place where the pressure sensor is screwed in is used (located in close proximity to the particulate filter).

The algorithm of actions looks like this:

Warm up the engine until it reaches working temperature;

Pour about a liter of liquid into the case, then leave the liquid inside for a quarter of an hour;

Connect the spray gun to the probe (can be straight or curved);

Insert the probe into the hole, then spray the liquid at regular intervals. A ten second cycle is often recommended, where the working fluid, and after that there is a pause for the same time (10 seconds). When supplying liquid, the pressure should be somewhere around 8 bar. During the addition process, the probe should be rotated for better spraying of the composition. Also, move the wand back and forth to ensure a better atomization of the cleaning solution.

As soon as preliminary work completed, fill the system with rinse aid. The task of the latter is to neutralize and eliminate cleaner residues from the device. Here, for effective cleaning you need about half a liter of cleaning composition. The washing process is carried out using a sprayer (time intervals remain unchanged). If everything is done correctly, soot deposits are evenly distributed over the surface. As a result, the system will be able to independently remove soot residues through automatic cleaning.

After completing the work, the sensor must be returned to its place, start the engine and let it warm up. As soon as the operating temperature is reached, it is worth starting the self-cleaning mode. Thanks to this, remaining soot elements are eliminated. The afterburning process can be organized in two ways - “naturally” and forcibly. In the first case, it will take about 15-20 minutes to solve the problem. During this time, it is necessary to let the engine run at medium and high speeds. After some time, the ECU independently decides whether to start the regeneration process.

If the natural afterburning process does not work for some reason, for example, due to problems in the electrical part, then the mode will have to be started independently (a diagnostic scanner is used).

Exhaust gas purification. This element of the car cleaning system requires periodic washing. Therefore, we will tell you what a particulate filter cleaner is and how often this element should be washed.

[Hide]

How often should I wash?

Washing this filter component is necessary if the car owner feels that the engine of his car has become worse. Soot formation in the engine diesel car determined by fuel combustion processes, in particular:

supplying air to the system;
injection indicator;
propagation of the combustion zone in the engine.

It is worth noting here that in certain areas of the combustion chambers, over-enrichment of the combustible mixture can be recorded, which appears as a result of a lack of oxygen in the system. If such a process occurs in the engine, the combustion process will be incomplete, which may result in the formation of soot.

The filter element needs to be washed if serious problems associated with the filter arise during engine operation. It is also recommended to do this when carrying out Maintenance. To do this, you can use the services of specialists at a service station, but it is also worth remembering that you can also use a special particulate filter cleaner.

As for the frequency of element cleaning, it is determined for each individual car. In general, the service life of the soot cleaning component is determined by the frequency of its burning. That is, the more often the burning process occurs, the more catalyst can burn out irrevocably. In these cases, it is important to use an additive to clean the particulate filter, since the use of this substance can increase the service life of the element.

Special fluids for washing the component are especially relevant for those cars that are operated in urban environments.

Do not forget that exhaust gases are dangerous not only for the environment, but can also be fatally poisonous to people. And the use of filter washing liquids allows not only to reduce the amount of soot in the exhaust gas cleaning system, but also to reduce the load on the element as a whole.

We cannot give exact recommendations for filter washing, since they are individual for each individual car. However, as practice shows, with the systematic use of additives, once every 2 - 3 thousand kilometers. Special measures to clean the element may not be necessary at all.

Purifier options

LM Diesel Partikelfilter Schutz

Additives from Liqui Moly are considered one of the best and most expensive that can be found in Russian and Ukrainian car stores. According to the manufacturer of the substance, these additives are not only highly effective, but also reduce the rate of soot formation. And this, in turn, helps to increase the service life of the element, and also facilitates the operation of the engine as a whole.

The use of this additive, as the manufacturer assures, is especially relevant for diesel vehicles that operate:
in urban environments;
in traffic jams;

at short distances.

One package of Diesel Partikelfilter Schutz is enough to use for 2 thousand kilometers. The manufacturer recommends adding the substance to the car's fuel tank before refueling the car with diesel. One bottle of the substance is enough for 75 liters of diesel. Also, do not forget that overdoing it in this case can only do harm. That is, it is necessary to avoid overdose. In addition, the manufacturer categorically does not recommend using Diesel Partikelfilter Schutz together with substances of other brands.

JLM

This type additives is also one of the most common among domestic motorists. According to the manufacturer of the consumables, the use of this substance allows for maximum rinsing of the soot cleaning element if you add it once every 10 thousand kilometers. To wash the filter, you need to add JLM to the fuel, after which even the most contaminated element will be cleaned. In addition, JLM allows you to restore the operation of the element in case of regular use of the car in urban conditions.

As for the benefits:

JLM allows you to extend the life of the exhaust gas treatment system;
flushing liquid allows you to reduce the cost of unscheduled maintenance or repair work;
consumables reduce the regeneration rate, which can subsequently lead to mechanical damage filter element housing.

The consumable substance for cleaning the particulate filter element of the PROTEC brand has also managed to establish itself among domestic motorists. The manufacturer of the material assures its consumers that if PROTEC DPF Super Clean is regularly used, the car owner will be able to protect his vehicle for a long time and reliably vehicle from breakdown.

PROTEC DPF Super Clean, according to the manufacturer, is highly effective consumables for cleaning the exhaust gas filter. To flush the element, you need to add a substance to the fuel tank. As for the benefits of using PROTEC:

The cleaning itself takes place during the operation of the vehicle;
consumables allow you to eliminate deposits that appear in the particulate filter as much as possible;
PROTEC flushing liquid does not have a negative effect on the elements of the fuel system, as well as the exhaust gas purification system.
The substance also helps reduce the level of toxicity of exhaust gases.

Video " Liqui Moly Particulate Filter Cleaner»

This video shows the process of completely cleaning the exhaust system with a Liqui Moly cleaner.

Modern diesel cars have many constructive solutions for cleaning engine exhaust gases. These include, and one of the solutions is the widespread installation of DPF particulate filters. During active use, such a filter can quickly fail under certain conditions.

The main task of the filter element is to trap soot. The next step is to burn out the accumulated soot deposits in such a way as to minimize damage to the environment. At the very beginning, the filter collects soot up to a certain point. This moment is determined by the difference in pressure before and after the element. When the pressure deviates from the permissible limit and the filter capacity does not allow further efficient passage of exhaust gases, the diesel engine activates the appropriate mode to burn out the accumulated soot.

Afterburning of soot on a diesel engine is activated when different conditions, which are individually specified by the manufacturer of a particular model. These conditions are summarized by the fact that a diesel engine must have an average or high frequency rotation and being in motion. The ECU gives a command to increase the amount of fuel at the time of injection. The result is an increase in the temperature of the exhaust gases at the outlet. With such an increase in temperature, the soot burns out. If the car is driven in an urban area with short trips at low speeds, constantly warms up in winter and sits idle for a long time in traffic jams, then the particulate filter self-cleaning mode is simply not activated. Constant exposure to such conditions leads to rapid clogging of the element.

Soot actively accumulates and clogs the filter element. After the throughput is reduced by 9/10, the resistance exhaust gases will lead to loss of power and. This malfunction, which is associated with actual blockage of the exhaust system, can affect both new cars and those with high mileage.

The service life of the particulate filter directly depends on a number of factors and the individual operating conditions of the vehicle. A critically clogged element needs to be replaced. It is worth noting that the cost of quality new part quite high. For this reason, the question of how to clean the particulate filter has become acute. diesel engine.

Read in this article

Why does the particulate filter become clogged?

The pollution process begins as a result of combustion in the cylinders of a diesel engine. A by-product of combustion of a mixture of diesel fuel and air is soot. This soot does not cause any particular harm to the filter, since it is a fine powder. During filtration, these particles are simply retained on the mesh.

The problem arises due to the presence of hydrocarbon particles in the exhaust that were not burned in the working chamber. Hydrocarbons lead to the active formation of resinous deposits. Soot microparticles are literally glued together with resin, resulting in accelerated formation of carbon deposits. Carbon deposits also contain components in the form of metal sulfates, which are formed after the combustion of oil that has entered the cylinders.

Sulfates appear in the exhaust due to the fact that metal-containing additives are included in the basic composition of the additive package for diesel oils. This is especially true for universal motor oils, which can be used equally for both diesel and . The result is that the diesel self-cleaning system is unable to remove dense deposits on the particulate filter.

Benefits of regular maintenance, cleaning and rinsing

Liquids are made from petroleum components and are often packaged in 5-liter cans. Average consumption For high-quality washing One particulate filter contains at least 4 liters of composition. Moreover, the canister may have a special neck in advance, since you will then need to connect a hose. Canister options are also available, equipped with a ready-made hose.

Operating principle flushing fluid is based on the fact that the composition effectively dissolves resins (keeps for about 8 hours), on which the resulting carbon deposits are held. It is necessary to carefully follow the requirements of the fluid manufacturer, since it is very important to wait the necessary time for the full effect of washing on the soot.

Next, the released soot is simply washed off with a regular stream of clean water under pressure, which is applied to the filter. After this, the filter is dried and put in place. The resin solvent itself is petroleum-based, can be easily washed with water, and does not harm the structure of the catalyst.

Washing with removal allows the use of only special liquids that affect resins at the molecular level. The use of other means is strictly prohibited, as the matrix inside the filter has a fragile platinum layer. After washing, the cleaning effect is monitored visually. Often this method ensures complete and most effective cleaning of the filtration element.

Washing on a car without removing the filter

The second method is to wash the particulate filter without removing it, which means carrying out the work directly on the car. The filter part of a diesel car is equipped with pressure and/or temperature sensors. If you unscrew the sensor, then it becomes possible to supply flushing fluid.

Since washing is carried out on a car, manufacturers take into account possible risk ignition of the flushing composition. In such conditions, it is no longer possible to use petroleum products. For cleaning, water-alkaline solutions paired with washing liquid are recommended. This liquid neutralizes harmful alkali after the solution has completed the cleaning process. Liquid is supplied to the element body using a gun specially designed for this purpose. A straight or curved probe is also used, and a spray nozzle is additionally provided.

A set of liquids, a gun, sprayers and probes allow you to work with almost any model of diesel car equipped with a particulate filter. Cleaning using this method involves a step-by-step dosed supply of the cleaner through the sensor hole. The most commonly used installation location is the pressure sensor, which is located in front of the element. The car is warmed up in advance, then the filter is allowed to cool to approximately 40 degrees Celsius. The fact is that alkaline cleaning composition is most effective at this temperature.

For cleaning, you will need about 1 liter of liquid, which is left in the element body for 15 minutes. Spray gun high pressure connected to a straight or curved probe, which is inserted into the sensor hole. The cleaner is sprayed intermittently (up to 10 seconds spray, up to 10 seconds pause) directly onto the surface of the particulate filter. Operating pressure when spraying should be about 8 bar. It is advisable to rotate the probe during the spraying process, as well as move it back and forth to achieve best quality applying cleaning liquid to the matrix of the filter element.

Next, a rinse aid is sprayed in the same way, which neutralizes and washes away the cleaner. You will need about 500 ml. cleaning composition. Washing occurs using the same spray gun; similar pause time intervals are observed between spray stages. Thanks to this approach, the soot is distributed over the surface of the matrix more evenly. The result will be that the soot can be burned much more efficiently during the automatic self-cleaning process.

Upon completion, the pressure sensor is installed back in place, the diesel engine starts and warms up. After this, you will need to start the self-cleaning mode in order to burn through the soot particles freed from the bonding resins. This can be done either “naturally” or forcefully. In the first case, you will need to actively operate the diesel engine on the move for about 20 minutes in medium and high speed so that it independently initiates the start of the diesel particulate filter regeneration process.

If this is not possible or the automatic start of self-cleaning does not occur due to malfunctions in the diesel electronics, then the mode is forced to be activated. This is done using a diagnostic scanner. Diagnostic equipment will also allow you to evaluate the quality of cleaning the particulate filter from carbon deposits. To do this you need to compare the readings bandwidth element before and after using the wash.

Quick self-cleaning

Today, there is also the option of packaging flushing liquids in aerosol cans, which eliminates the need to use a spray gun. Additionally, the need to spray a wash-rinse aid may be eliminated, which depends on the specific manufacturer of the liquid and the composition of the proposed cleaner.

Using such solutions is extremely simple, which can be appreciated by using the example of washing a particulate filter without removing the filter element from Pro-Tec. The DPF Catalyst Cleaner product is a 400ml can of foaming particulate filter cleaner that also comes with a flexible wand. This amount is enough to completely clean one element, regardless of the degree of contamination. The product can be used to clean particulate filters of any generation.

Before use, the can must be shaken for at least one minute;
Next, the pressure sensor is removed, providing access through the hole;
Then the diesel engine is warmed up a little and then the engine is turned off;
The next step is to insert the probe and spray the cleaning agent;
You do not need to spray the cleaner immediately, but in several approaches (5 seconds spray, 5 seconds pause);
The procedure continues until foam appears visible in the sensor hole;
Afterwards, the spray probe must be removed, replacing the removed sensor;

Before the first launch diesel engine After cleaning, the manufacturer also recommends adding an additive to diesel fuel called Super Clean. The composition is poured directly into the car’s fuel tank in accordance with the dosage indicated on the packaging. As you can see, additional washing of the filter itself after cleaning is not required.

How to best clean the particulate filter

Each of the described cleaning methods, according to the manufacturers, provides high-quality results. Each method has advantages and disadvantages in terms of implementation. In the case of washing with removal, you will need to experience difficulties in dismantling the element in the housing, spend a certain amount of time on washing, and also pay cash for 5 liters of flushing fluid. The advantages of this method include its simplicity and the absence of the need to have a special device on hand. diagnostic equipment in order to forcefully activate the self-cleaning system.

The second method significantly saves time, but may turn out to be even more financially expensive compared to the first. In this case, equipment is often required not only for spraying cleaner and washing, but also a diagnostic scanner for forced afterburning of soot. For this reason, it is preferable to carry out the cleaning procedure without removal at a service station by experienced specialists for an additional fee.

The third method is cheaper and faster, but inferior to others in efficiency. Many car enthusiasts consider the last two solutions for cleaning without removal more likely to be preventive methods that must be performed regularly under conditions of minor contamination diesel catalyst. For serious cleaning, a heavily clogged element must definitely be removed.

Finally, let us remind you once again that timely cleaning of the particulate filter of a diesel car can significantly extend the service life of the part and, in practice, will cost much less than completely replacing the specified element with a new one.