What should one flush the particulate filter with? Lifehacks or trusted methods?

The particulate filter in the exhaust system – a useful invention, as soot in the exhaust gases is very harmful to the environment and negatively affects the human body. However, during operation, the particulate filter becomes clogged, and when the degree of filling (clogging) becomes noticeable, it needs to be serviced or replaced.Important! The option of particulate filter removal should not be considered – health is more important!

There are two approaches to filter maintenance at the moment:

So far, there are two approaches.

• Cleaning with special means without removing the unit from the car.
• Dismantling of the filter and its qualitative washing on a special stand.

To decide which approach to choose, you need to understand what exactly accumulates in the particulate filter.

Why does clogging in the particulate filter occur?"

The clogging starts with the process of diesel combustion and the formation of soot. And soot itself is not the source of the clogging, as all engines with a particulate filter have a natural regeneration (soot burning) process that is designed by the manufacturers from time to time. The soot may not be burnt off completely, due to poor fuel quality, and ash forms on the filter housing, which is the main cause of clogging.

 Many people know that any internal combustion engine inevitably gets engine oil into the cylinders, and the combustion products of this oil also settle in the particulate filter. As a result, a mixture of soot, ash and engine oil residue accumulates in the particulate filter, and the self-cleaning system cannot remove this substance.

Cleaning with special agents without removing the unit from the car

The particulate filter is cleaned directly on the car in three stages. This procedure requires a special kit consisting of a spray gun, a probe with a flexible hose, cleaning and washing compounds.

1. In the first step, a special cleaner designed for this method is fed through the pressure and/or temperature sensor aperture. About 1 litre of cleaner is needed for cleaning, the liquid is left in the filter housing for 15 minutes.
2. Analogously, a special rinse agent is sprayed into the filter, designed to neutralise and wash away the residues of the cleaner.
3. As soon as the procedure is complete, the pressure and/or temperature sensor is mounted in its place. Next, it will be necessary to start and warm up the motor.

The self-cleaning mode of the filter is thus activated, either by force or by natural means. For the procedure to be successful, it takes about 20 minutes of active operation of the diesel engine on the move at medium to high speeds for the engine ECU to start the particulate filter regeneration process on its own.

At this point, the engine's ECU will be able to regenerate the particulate filter.

This method will be useful for those who drive mainly in the city, for this reason, the regeneration process of the particulate filter is not fully started, ie the method is preventive. For serious cleaning of the clogged element this method will not be effective.

Cleaning the particulate filter on the stand

Professional washing of the dismantled filter is carried out on a special stand and is performed in several stages.

• Before starting the cleaning procedure, the filter is visually inspected for destruction of the filter itself.
• First, the filter is blown out with air and the degree of clogging is assessed.
• Further, the filter (from the side of the exhaust gas inlet) is filled with cleaning liquid.
• Then the filter is left in a vertical position for some time, which depends on the degree of clogging of the filter and on the characteristics of the cleaning liquid.
• Then the filter is connected to the stand and the washing itself begins with the water flow.
• In the process of washing, the filter is reconnected so that the washing takes place in both directions.
• The next stage – is drying, during which the filter is blown with a stream of hot air.
• The last step is the retesting, during which the result of the washing is evaluated.

This technology ensures that the parameters of the washed filter are restored close to the factory parameters of a new filter. It is the most effective type of washing, but also the most costly and time-consuming.

Which of the options to choose, decides each master, together with the car owner. But when making a decision, it is necessary to remember that buying a new particulate filter will be very expensive, for this reason, professional washing of the filter on the stand – the best of all possible options.