Following are the types of regeneration:
Active regeneration
The active system triggers whenthe pressure of the soot loaded in the Diesel Particulate Filters reach limit which activates the fuel injection timing. It results in increased exhaust temperature. This higher temperature initiates burning of the soot and the process of clearing/regenerating the filter. The vehicle brand is also one of the factors which tell how the regeneration process will be initiatedi.e.by ECU depending on the vehicle use and it takes about 10 minutes to complete this process.
Passive regeneration
Some vehicles have passive regeneration process fitted in the vehicle by the manufacturer. These vehicles have a built in oxidizing catalytic converter near to the engine so that when the exhaust gases are hotter the process of regeneration takes place automatically. Mostly the temperatures are higher on motorways and long roads. This process mainly depends on the temperature of exhaust gasses being high enough to burn the soot itself.
Forced Regenerations
When the vehicle you have shown the warning light of DPF, it will switch to Limp Mode and must be taken to the mechanic or dealer or to your garage to know the intensity of the problem. Then, the dealer or mechanic will connect your vehicle to an outside computer to run the car and will initiate the regeneration process of Diesel Particulate Filter. This forced regeneration process also require the change of engine oil & oil filter.
Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) blocking:
- Every vehicle and its engine combination may have following different reasons to why the filter blocks:
- What is the rate of particulate generation in the filter,
- The fuel quality used,
- The oil quality used,
- Driving style,
- Where the DPF is located in the exhaust system also accounts of the incomplete regeneration process or blocking of the Diesel Particulate Filter.
In most cases, the DPF blocks when the vehicle is used in town and not on fast roads or motorways. A warning light is then illuminated on the display indicating the regeneration process hasn’t been completed. And if the warning is ignored by the user and the car is driven in same manner again, the soot will pile up without being burnt from the filter leaving the vehicle on limp mode which restricts the vehicle speed. Now a visit to mechanic is compulsory in order to carry out a forced regeneration and to replace the filter if required.
How to avoid building extra soot in your vehicle:
- Make Use of low ash engine oil: Use the specified oil for your engine and that can significantly reduce extra soot build up in your vehicle’s DPF.
- 100% Diesel Bio Fuel: Bio fuels produce more particulate resulting in more soot. Using regular diesel fuel may help in reducing the amount of soot accumulating in DPF.
- City Cycle driving: The regeneration process does not complete in shorter rides i.e; using car inside town or for shorter city distance and this can build up the soot faster.
- Temperature: DPF can only passively function when the temperature is high enough to trigger the burning process of soot automatically. If the car is used for short slow drives the temperature will not rise and soot build up will increase as the result and DPF might block.
- High Kilometer vehicles: DPF also wears out like other parts of the vehicles with time. Low functioning of DPF due to over usage of vehicle will pile up the soot faster.
Author’s Bio:
Robert writes about exhaust products related articles. You can use his other articles for gathering details about Catalytic Converter in Ontario.
