All heavy duty trucks on the roads in Texas today with diesel engines are required to have a diesel particulate filter installed. This is a specialized filter that is used to remove any diesel soot particles from the exhaust before it leaves the exhaust system.
As with any type of filter, the accumulation of soot and ash in the filters will, over time reduce the filter’s efficiency. New diesels have sensors which will trigger warning lights on the dash to let truckers know that the efficiency of the filter is compromised. Failing to stop and book your truck in for diesel particulate filter cleaning services may not immediately hurt the engine or filter, but if you drive too far it will cause serious damage.
Most truck manufacturers will recommend a regular schedule for diesel particulate filter cleaning. This is often based on hours or miles, but there are other issues that can also require earlier filter cleaning based on the actual level of soot that is formed in the filter.
Reasons for Early Problems
When the diesel particulate filter seems to need an active regeneration more often than expected, there are several issues that can be at the root of the problem. If the active regeneration corrects the problem you won’t need diesel particulate filter cleaning. However, knowing the cause or the frequent soot buildup can help you to reduce the amount of soot in the filter by making necessary changes.
One of the most common issues in a rapid buildup of soot in the diesel particulate filter is the use of incorrect engine oils and fuels. Using a cheaper quality brand of oil can contribute to ash and soot in the filter.
Bio Diesel used without blending is also more likely to cause problems in the particulate filter than blends using diesel and Bio Diesel. While some truckers are using Bio Diesel as a lower cost fuel option, using a blend will result in lower particulate production and longer filter life.
Finally, the way that the truck is driven can also lead to more frequent need for diesel particulate filter cleaning. Highway driving at 60 miles an hour or more for at least twenty minutes will provide passive regeneration or the burning off of the particulate matter in the filter.
This last issue is more commonly found in the light to medium duty trucks that are mostly used in the larger cities across Texas. Simply getting out on the highway can help to resolve these problems and limit the need for full system cleaning.
