DPF - Diesel Particulate Filter - how do they work?

[nec]

Bought a Fiat Doblo 1.3 fitted with a DPF. Very good and seems to work well as no smoke seen as yet in the first 3000 miles.

Does anyone know how they work - there must be some means of trapping the particulates and then burning them off. What I really want to know is how to keep the engine / DPF clean to maximise on fuel consumption.

Thanx in advance.

 

[davedasave]

This is taken from ford

To reach the latest Stage IV emissions legislation, diesel vehicles require a system to clean the exhaust gases before they exit the exhaust system.

This is achieved by trapping or filtering the soot particulates produced during engine combustion. A diesel particulate filter is located in the exhaust system, downstream from the catalytic converter. The soot particulates coated with fuel additive, are stored in the diesel particulate filter until they reach a pre-defined level. At this point a process known as regeneration occurs.

Regeneration requires the exhaust gasses to be increased to approximately 500°C, much higher than typically obtained during general driving. The powertrain control module (PCM) uses control of the fuel and air systems to achieve this.

Regeneration is initiated at between 300-1000 km (186-621 miles) or earlier if the engine management system dictates.

The distance is dependent on the soot accumulation, which varies with the differing drive styles.

The remaining ash particles (which is a result of the regeneration of the soot particles and fuel additive) cannot be burnt and are collected in the diesel particulate filter. The diesel particulate filter is serviced every 120,000 km (74,000 miles) or earlier depending on vehicle drive cycles

The PCM will choose the optimum time to regenerate. Under normal operating conditions the regeneration process occurs when the PCM calculates that the diesel particulate filter requires regeneration and that a number of predetermined vehicle conditions are met (i.e. coolant temp, vehicle speed & load).

The PCM will then initiate the regeneration process by the following:

closing the exhaust gas recirculation (EGR)
increase the engine load
regulation of the intake temperature and pressure through the intake air shutoff throttle
additional fuel injections (post main fuel injection)
All these changes to engine behavior will increase the exhaust gas temperature. The increase in temperature will allow the soot particles and fuel additive in the diesel particulate filter to burn

 

[nec]

This is taken from ford

Thanks very much for that research - all sounds very complex and it seems no control by driver - so bang goes the prospect of trying to 'manage' the situation to achieve greter mpg !

 

[Gees]

Bought a Fiat Doblo 1.3 fitted with a DPF. Very good and seems to work well as no smoke seen as yet in the first 3000 miles.

Does anyone know how they work - there must be some means of trapping the particulates and then burning them off. What I really want to know is how to keep the engine / DPF clean to maximise on fuel consumption.

Thanx in advance.

Does the fiat have a little tank of additive like the ford focus?
I knew nothing of this until I took my car for a service and was told my tank needed topping up?

 

[davedasave]

just pee in the tank, thats what it basically is!!!

 

[nec]

[quote="
Does the fiat have a little tank of additive like the ford focus?
I knew nothing of this until I took my car for a service and was told my tank needed topping up?[/quote]

No - a different system with the Fiat - as I can find so far!

 

[JohnD]

how much did they charge you for the Indicator Fluid?