DPF cleaning.

[ukracer]

Ok after my son was assisted by "Des Marples" from West Yorkshire Engine Services" we had to replace the turbo on my Navara D40.
To say I was surprised my son was taken in is an understatement. It just shows the power of You Tube.

Anyway suffice to say we got the turbo fitted and the exhaust system was filled with oil.
My son has taken everything that got filled with oil to work and hot steam cleaned it.
Refitted it and then we got the dreaded DPF light come on.

So as he did not take the DPF off we have now done that. But and this is what we are not sure of. Can we use a degrease and clean the oil out. (We are hoping that cleaning the sensors, might help) but as currently we are not trying to remove soot and Ash from the DPF , just oil, is a degreaser a good option.

We are aware the DPF might be blocked by Ash and soot but as we got no DPF light code 2002 showing previously just loads and loads of grey smoke. (Worse than James bond) we are thinking if we can run it hot enough to force a regeneration , it might clean it a bit.

Failing that is there any software that will force a regeneration...

 

[Lazurus]

DPF delete and a remap save any future issues

 

[roofman]

small furnace for 30 mins..take out and airline the ash out

 

[gavcarter]

Ok after my son was assisted by "Des Marples" from West Yorkshire Engine Services" we had to replace the turbo on my Navara D40.
To say I was surprised my son was taken in is an understatement. It just shows the power of You Tube.

Anyway suffice to say we got the turbo fitted and the exhaust system was filled with oil.
My son has taken everything that got filled with oil to work and hot steam cleaned it.
Refitted it and then we got the dreaded DPF light come on.

So as he did not take the DPF off we have now done that. But and this is what we are not sure of. Can we use a degrease and clean the oil out. (We are hoping that cleaning the sensors, might help) but as currently we are not trying to remove soot and Ash from the DPF , just oil, is a degreaser a good option.

We are aware the DPF might be blocked by Ash and soot but as we got no DPF light code 2002 showing previously just loads and loads of grey smoke. (Worse than James bond) we are thinking if we can run it hot enough to force a regeneration , it might clean it a bit.

Failing that is there any software that will force a regeneration...

Degreaser is probably a no unless you can give it a few days to dry out......
They are a very fine honeycomb structure of an unglazed ceramic type material that's porous....
It will be soaked with oil, restricting flow of gasses. Degrease will worsen the issue unless you can try and "flush it thought" and give it time to dry out....

A spray in dpf cleaner will probably give just as good results.
You remove the forward most pressure sensor and spray it down there, follow instructions some want bursts some want whole tin....
A good drive out should bring on a regeneration if you have something that can clear current faults

 

[Ruffian]

Steam cleaner backwards.
(Spray from tailpipe towards turbo)
This way usually works best to clear out the debris

 

[m_c]

You can get various DPF cleaners, but given the original issue, I would have just left it on.
Let it sit idling to warm up, then increase the revs to 1500-2000rpm until the smoke starts to clear, or if it starts emitting sunlight blocking clouds, let it idle again until it clears a bit.

The current issue is the oil will be causing a restriction and showing as a blocked DPF. It will clear out once warmed up, but you don't want to get it too hot too quickly, or it's likely to self-ignite (engine should shutdown to protect things if it gets too hot).


You can flush out DPFs, but you don't really want to be aiming a power washer too close to the core.
I usually fill them with TFR and let them stand for a while, then put the lance just in the pipe end, and pack around it with rags so it forces the water through the DPF, without actually hitting the core too closely with the high pressure.

Alternatively, see if there are any local companies who clean DPFs off the vehicle. They stick them in a reverse flow furnace, which burns/blows out the soot/ash build up.

 

[zzr1200]

At work we have used DPF cleaner from a local motor factor, make a plate to block one end, then fill with DPF cleaner leave for as long as possible (12hours+), steam clean for 1/2 hour or until the water runs clear+, then refit and drive vehicle at high 3000+rpm. Typically we will drive the vehicle on a motorway at 70mph for about 40 miles at high rpm 4 gear often on the rev limiter, then reset the engine management light.

Usually works but sometimes you also have to force the vehicle into Regen as well.

 

[m_c]

@zzr1200 driving at high RPM is likely to prevent a regen. Most regens happen at cruising speed, with the engine sitting at 1250-2000rpm.

 

[zzr1200]

@zzr1200 driving at high RPM is likely to prevent a regen. Most regens happen at cruising speed, with the engine sitting at 1250-2000rpm.

If a dpf is really blocked sometimes you have to soak it, steam clean it, then take if for a blast and get it really very hot and then force it into a regen with a computer.

Because the vehicles we have are basically a transport system for a vehicle mounted cherry picker, sometimes the vehicle may only travel for 25/30 miles and then sit in one spot ticking over all day to power the hydraulics doesn't do the dpf very good, so extreme cleaning measures are required...

 

[m_c]

If a dpf is really blocked sometimes you have to soak it, steam clean it, then take if for a blast and get it really very hot and then force it into a regen with a computer.

Because the vehicles we have are basically a transport system for a vehicle mounted cherry picker, sometimes the vehicle may only travel for 25/30 miles and then sit in one spot ticking over all day to power the hydraulics doesn't do the dpf very good, so extreme cleaning measures are required...

Taking it for a blast won't immediately help the DPF, all it does is help clear out the engine, and likely prevent a regen, as per my previous post.
I know 906 sprinters will stop a regen if you rev it above 2500rpm for a prolonged period, and other vehicles I've been monitoring on road test during a regen I've seen the DPF temps drop if driven hard. DPF regen algorithms are based around happening at a nice steady cruising speed, where the ECU doesn't have to worry too much about suddenly changing exhaust flows.

I also get to work on cherry pickers, but ours don't noticeably give us any more problems than any other fleet vehicle.
Our worst vehicles for DPF issues are the ones that spend their days bumbling around town stuck in traffic.