DEF filter cleaning

if you have a Detroit engine the dealers should have the remanufactured DPF filters. They are properly cleaned, baked, and new catalyst applied to the interior. Will be more expensive than the cheapo $200 dollar places but a properly maintained and operated system should go 300K miles or more before needing cleaning. Shops that just blow out filters and replace them (Not going to bake them and be in and out in 2 hours) are doing just enough to get by for another maybe 50K miles, maybe more, maybe less. Sometimes you get what you pay for.

 

and I know some guys that do that, but you will not be blowing out all of the crud, possibly not even 25% of it. And each time you do it the percentage will be less and you'll do it more and more frequently. There is more to a proper cleaning than just blowing it out, but these shops will get away with what they can to make a quick buck.

 

Someone on this site said that baking the dpf weakens the metal. Volvo dealer in Oklahoma said baking was not necessary unless something like alot of coolant was making it's way to the dpf. I am sure a tech will.chime in to clarify some things.

 

done properly it doesn't affect strength at all. fly by night outfits that take a torch and heat the filter red hot will almost definitely weaken the filter. Baking is done at a controlled temperature and cool down which maintains the temper of the filter metal. Also new catalyst is added to the metal which these third party shops don't have the capability to do.

 

A decent shop bakes the filter in an oven that pulses air through as well. If your paying a shop to remove the filter your going to pay more, but just carrying one in they normally just charge my company 2hrs of shop time to bake it. 24hr turnaround and we buy aftermarket gaskets. Doesn't work with a Cummins engine though, still have to recalibrate the system each time. We ended up sending a lot of trucks to Cummins before figuring that out.

 

Volvo require recalibration as well. I would think most will require recalibration since the flow has changed a good deal.

 

I wouldn't call it programming. More like changing the flow value so the ECM doesn't freak out because the filter flows alot better after the cleaning. ECM may confuse the better flow to a missing/tampered filter and derate. They also do a regen to make sure no leaks and everything else is working properly.