Extending the life of your DPF

Heavy Truck & Equipment Diesel Filters | How To Keep Them Cleaner, Longer

Diesel engines have come a long way since the first ones rolled out of the production lines. They’ve become more efficient, much more powerful, and overall much more specialized to the tasks they perform. In recent years, though, a universal component has made its way into new diesel engines: the diesel particulate filter, or DPF.


There are a variety of ways that these filters accomplish their job, but it boils down to this: they are built directly into trucks to help control pollution, and reduce the amount of particles that escape from the exhaust emissions. Because of this, in many places it is illegal to remove a DPF from an engine. More and more provinces putting similar laws in place, so this is not a trend that can be ignored if you do a lot of interprovincial driving.

     So why is this important? As with any filter, they eventually become plugged up. As it catches more and more particulate matter, the filter – no matter what type it is – will accumulate the debris and sooner or later become saturated, reducing the efficiency of it. At this point, the computer in your truck will have to recognize this, and initiate a sequence to resolve the problem – obviously, the less that this happens, the better it is for your filter and engine overall.


     What kind of solutions are available for this? Well, the easiest way to improve the life of your pollution-control device, and its reliability within your unit, is to come see us at West Tech Mobile – that’s what we’re here for! Catching these issues early will save you money in the long run, and keep you on the road in a reliable vehicle. Our heavy truck computer diagnostic equipment allows us to help with your DPF device, as well as any other computer issues under your hood. 


     One factor that greatly affects how quickly your DPF will saturate is where you do most of your driving. Highway routes are generally better, since there is not much starting and stopping or extreme speed changes, but if you are in the city, your unit will be more prone to diesel filter issues. One noticeable aspect of it is having to start your engine from the cold, which increases engine wear as well as the time spent idling while it warms up. 


     Our advice? If you can, plug your truck in when possible, to make sure your engine stays warm through the worst of the winter cold. This will avoid some unnecessary wear, as well as making it much easier for the engine to start (and run) properly. Alternatively, you can put the coolant heater on, if you’re not close to an outlet; if you’re, say, stopped on the side of the road, you know that your engine will be ready to go again when you are. Not only will it be easier on the DPF, but you’ll save money on fuel by not having to warm up your engine first, and you’ll be able to drive sooner (as your cab will heat up right away, and defrost your windshield). If you idle your truck to warm it up, your diesel filter will get clogged much faster than if you plug it in, so avoid it if you can!


     If you’ve got heavy equipment somewhere remote, with no power nearby, let us know and we’ll come out to put a Webasto coolant heater on your engine – this will save you big money as time goes on! We’re all about extending the longevity of your equipment at West Tech Mobile in Calgary, Alberta, and doing it at a great price. Contact Us today to make sure you get the most out of your truck, no matter where you’re going!