Can driving short distances damage the DPF in diesel engines? The answer is yes.

The easiest way to clog the DPF is to drive short distances. If you have been driving short distances, then you are killing your DPF.

When DPF emerged in 2010, I drove my father’s father’s diesel car in the city.

Most of my movements were short distances, and I did not know I was killing the DPM. When the dashboard DPF warning came on, I read the manual, and I learned from my mistake.

There are still series of articles to be read on Particulate trap.

Let’s go into details.

Are Short Journeys Bad For DPF In Diesel Engine 

Many have wondered why their DPF filter was damaged at such a short mile of travel and were shocked why your friend’s DPF lasted longer than?

The answer is because of the short distances you are driving.

In general, problems occur in vehicles driving within the city or at low revs, where the regeneration process is incomplete.

The board will be illuminated by a warning light or a message indicating that the soot filter is saturated.

Suppose you continue driving in the same way.

In that case, the accumulated soot will increase until other warning lights come on, and the vehicle will be put into “caution” mode, where the speed will be restricted, commonly known as “de potency.”

Vehicles with modern Particulate filter are cleaner than old diesel engines without exhaust gas recirculation systems and filter technology.

The particle filter can capture soot components of the exhaust gases before they reach the environment.

During this process, the soot settles on the filter walls and is then burned off.

However, this only works effectively if the soot deposit can be ignited by high exhaust gas temperatures of around 550 to 600 degrees.

These temperatures are regularly reached when driving on the motorway or at high speeds, so passive regeneration can occur.

How Many Miles Does It Take To Clear A DPF

You must run the vehicle for 10-20 minutes at speeds over 40mph. 

A DPF in a diesel engine typically lasts between 120,000 km and 240,000 km. The prerequisite for ensuring that the particle filter does not become clogged is to operate the DPF in a mixed driving style.

If the vehicle is only used on short journeys, the DPF can become clogged after just a few hundred kilometers.

As a car owner, you have the following options: Have the whole particle filter regenerated, replaced, or cleaned.

If a diesel particulate filter is full or clogged, this results in a problem for the turbocharger. 

That will prevent the exhaust gases to have a free flow, which causes the temperature on the outlet side of the turbocharger to rise.

That leads to changes in the engine oil viscosity, affecting the turbocharger’sturbocharger’s lubrication and cooling.

The burnt engine oil residues accumulate in the bearing housing of the turbocharger and thus lead to a blockage.

What Causes A DPF To Block Quickly 

The most common cause of blocking a DPF is driving short distances. 

Usually, you can drive between 120,000 km and 240,000 km with a DPF.

To prevent the particle filter from becoming clogged, the car must occasionally be brought to the right temperatures.

Longer motorway journeys of over an hour bring the vehicle to the required engine and exhaust gas temperatures to clear the particle filter.

These trips are, therefore, also called regeneration trips.

You will not reach these temperatures if you only drive your diesel for short distances.

The prerequisite for a longer DPF in diesel engine durability is a mixed driving style.

Diesel particulate filters clog much faster, especially for short-haul drivers than long-haul drivers.

That is because the soot cleaned by the particulate filters is mainly unburned fuel.

Since the engine does not reach an optimal operating temperature on short journeys, far more unburned fuel is passed into the filters with the exhaust gases.

How Do I Clear My DPF Fast

The best way to clear the DPF fast is by regeneration.

The soot filter, cleaned autonomously, is only partly a real material converter. The particulate filter does what its name suggests: it filters soot particles from the exhaust gas flow.

But no matter how big a filter is, it will eventually be full and can no longer maintain its performance.

Particulate filters have become a headache for drivers and workshop professionals, so I will analyze the current methods for cleaning them: particles that we find on the market, cleaning machines, additives to clean the particle filter, etc.

The different methods imply different results: forced regenerations to clean the particle filter, cleaning the particle filter with ultrasound, specialized machines, etc. They all have pros and cons.

What Rpm Is Needed To Clear DPF

 When the DPF in diesel engine warning light comes on, the manual recommends driving quickly (15 minutes at a speed of at least 40 mph, keeping the engine speed above 2,000 rpm). 

That causes the temperature of the exhaust gases to increases, which initiates the process of burning carbon particulate soot.

Of course, this inconveniences drivers as they may need additional time completing unnecessary journeys, thus wasting fuel.

That may not even be possible for drivers in urban centers or rural areas due to difficulty finding a longer route, especially when problems arise frequently.

The good thing about this solution is that it’s less expensive and only costs a little for fuel.

When the DPF light comes on, it tells the driver that a regeneration trip is due soon.

That should be addressed as soon as possible, as a clogged soot particle filter can initially lead to reduced pulling power and engine damage.

Can You Clear A Blocked DPF By Driving

Yes, you can clear a blocked diesel particulate filter by driving.

In normal use, a DPF is cleaned or regenerated by reaching a temperature sufficient to burn off excess soot.

Each vehicle has a different regeneration cycle, and you should be able to find information about this in your vehicle’s manual.

It typically requires driving the vehicle on a highway for a short period of time to produce enough heat for regeneration to be successful.

If the vehicle is only used for short trips or due to certain driving conditions, such as driving only at low speeds, this regeneration cycle may not have the opportunity to complete, and as a result, the diesel particulate filter may become damaged. 

If your DPF in diesel engine has not regenerated because your driving style does not allow it to regenerate, this will not be considered a fault under the manufacturer’s warranty. 

Final Thoughts

Driving short distances will clog the DPF in diesel engine. This prevents the regeneration process from completing, which causes a low temperature of the exhaust system that is needed for the burning of the soot.

Don’t forget that you must run the vehicle for 10-20 minutes at speeds in excess of 40mph to clear the DPF.

Clearing the DPF by driving is possible, although it can also be done by taking it to a workshop.

RPM is needed to regen the DPF, which is about 2000. To clear the DPF fast, regeneration is needed to achieve the fastest way.

Reading another article on DPF in a diesel engine will surely broaden your knowledge of this subject.

Have you been driving short distance?