Your Land Rover is likely to be something you want to take a great deal of care of. From keeping it clean to ensuring it performs as it should, the time you take looking after it not only helps maintain some of its value but also helps it to keep running smoothly.
One area that is essential to maintain is the DPF. The diesel particular filter, as it is also known, plays a vital role in ensuring your Land Rover stays safe and free from releasing harmful emissions into the air. Sometimes though, the diesel particulate filter can become blocked or dirty, and require cleaning or DPF regeneration. DPF regeneration is the process where the soot built up within the filter is converted to ash via heat, electricity or a chemical reaction. This ensures your diesel particulate filter does not become blocked and continues trapping the soot as it should. Failure to regen your DPF could see costly problems soon escalate.
In this blog, we look at DPF regeneration, what it means, and how you do it to ensure you get the best from your Land Rover.
What is a diesel particulate filter?
A DPF, or diesel particulate filter is a vital component in a diesel-fueled Land Rover. They are in place to remove particles from the exhaust gases before they are released into the atmosphere. This reduces dangerous emissions and improves the air quality, allowing for a more environmentally compliant vehicle. Over time, these filters can get, as we mentioned earlier, dirty or blocked. This then affects vehicle performance, hinders fuel economy and see your Land Rover emit a much higher level of exhaust smoke.
Therefore, it’s important to ensure you clean or regenerate your filter to stop this from happening. The question is though, how do you regenerate the DPF in your Land Rover?
The simple answer to this question is that you can regenerate your DPF in two ways and much depends on how and where you drive. We cover them below.
Passive DPF regeneration
Passive DPF regeneration is the form of DPR regeneration that happens as you drive at high speed. As you reach consistently high speeds, the exhaust heats significantly enough to burn off the particles held by the DPF. This results in fewer blockages and a more efficient DPF. However, it isn’t always the easiest way to regenerate your DPF.
It’s been said that a passive DPF regeneration is not ideal in certain driving conditions. If you are regularly stopping and starting, or driving slowly, the gases may not heat up enough to ignite the soot which could then lead to problems with the filter getting significantly blocked. That is where active DPF regeneration comes into play.
Active DPF regeneration
Active DPF regeneration is where your vehicle takes care of the DPF regeneration itself and doesn’t require the driver to do anything. Systems are incorporated into Land Rovers where the DPF filter can be cleared of particles once they reach a specific level. This can range from vehicle to vehicle but in many cases, it is around 45%.
In the case of active DPF regeneration, fuel is injected into the engine to help increase the exhaust temperature. This increased temperature then sees the same process as in passive DPF regeneration take place.
Active regeneration doesn’t require the vehicle to be travelling at speed for the heating of the particles to take place. It instead comes from the fuel injection that takes place once the particles reach a specific level.
You’ll know when the active DPF regeneration has taken place as lights on the dashboard will indicate the status of the filter.
If an active regen takes place but you arrive at your destination before it is completed, a warning light may show that your filter is still blocked. Driving at more than 40mph for around twenty minutes will clear this in most cases.
How will I know if I need to regenerate the DPF?
If you have been driving at high speed, your DPF regen will automatically take place due to the increased heat from the exhaust. Should you be driving slower though, there is every chance your diesel particulate filter will start to block up. Luckily, your Land Rover will tell you when this is happening so you can start the DPF regeneration process. Three coloured lights indicate the status of the filter.
Amber light: The amber light shows that your DPF is filling up and that regeneration is necessary. Drive above 37mph for 20 minutes to regenerate the DPF. You could damage your Land Rover and blog the filter entirely if you don’t act.
Red light: A red DPF light shows your filter is full and that now, your Land Rover is not likely to perform as it should. At this stage, it may be best to contact a Land Rover specialist to get help resolving the blocked and faulty filter.
Green light: Once the green light shows, your DPF has fully regenerated and is ready to work as normal again.
DPF regeneration will ensure your Land Rover continues running as it should and keep its emissions within the levels it is meant to. Occasionally though regeneration isn’t all that is needed. A deep clean of the diesel particulate filter may often be needed.
Speaking to a company like RCV may be a good option as our team can use the specialised equipment to ensure a full and thorough cleaning of the filter.
How is a DPF cleaned?
Whilst DPF regeneration is something you can do yourself; you may wish to have the cleaning carried out at a Land Rover service centre. DPF cleaning will normally be carried out in one of three ways:
- Chemical cleaning
- Ultrasonic cleaning
- Thermal cleaning
When using chemical cleaning, the engineer will use a specific fluid that dissolves the soot and other debris from the filter, bringing it back to its best. A thermal clean is where the filter is heated to a high temperature that burns the soot and other dirt away. Finally, ultrasonic is a little more high-tech. It uses sound waves to destroy the pollutants contaminating the filter.
If you have noticed problems with the diesel particulate filter on your Land Rover and are finding regeneration hasn’t helped. Speak to our team at RCV. We provide a host of Land Rover services that can bring your Land Rover back to its best. Using manufacturer’s diagnostics, OEM or original parts, and a team of skilled and fully qualified technicians, you can trust RV to deliver a premium service to your Land Rover.