I'm at a point where I think my DPF needs manual cleaning. I have about 77k miles on it since it was replaced under warranty and the past month or so I've been getting very frequent regens. Granted I've been towing more than I usually do, but it seems like more than that.

I recall reading that folks were having some success removing the DPF and manually flushing it at home, emulating the commercial cleaning machines. Can those of you who have tried this with success relate your procedures and any issues or tips?

Thanks!

 

The commercial cleaners use ovens and forced air to heat up and blow out a DPF. Its difficult. Probably more because a DPF can accumulate hardened lumps that are hard to remove. Dunno ... not sure a pressure washer can accomplish more than an active regen but it will flush out ash for sure. Sorry, not the story your looking for. Not sure if I've heard of others clogging a DPF after 80k miles, especially when towing like you are. Lastly, others run into the scenario ... its regening every time I pull out of the driveway ... and I think this leads them to deleting the DPF from the frustration.

 

I'm not sure about a pressure washer, I'd think they might do some damage given they operate at much higher pressures than the DPF normally does. I'm thinking compressed air would be safer and within the normal pressure limits.

Not having a DPF off yet I'm not sure how accessible the core is, but given the flange size I suspect it's fairly accessible. Perhaps a compressor with a blow gun with rubber tip could be used to go through and reverse blow each opening, providing reasonable <100 psi reverse flow through each chamber to blow out the accumulated ash.

At this point after years of ~250 mile regens (post the flash update that changed the regen strategy) I'm finding ~100 mile the past month or so which seems to point to ash accumulation. If I can clear the ash the DPF will probably be good for quite a bit longer holding off the $1,500 replacement.

 

Most if not all the cummins dealers/repair facilities have the proper equipment to clean DPF's removed from trucks or heavy equipment and verify there in spec. They may or may not have the factory spec of your DPF to verify the cleaning was successful, our local cummins dealer does it and we have had good success, I have also found there pricing to be very competitive as well.

Without the verification equipment to check exhaust flow and confirm that the cleaning has being successful it seems like a shot in the dark to attempt it at home but thats just my opinion.

 

Has anyone had their DPF cleaned through the recommended process? If so, what is the approximate cost?

 

Having slightly more money than time these days (sad since I'm not rich by any means), I bought a new DPF to swap in and hopefully eliminate the 100 mile regens. That will leave me the old DPF to recondition when I have time. From what I've seen looking at the commercial cleaning machines it would appear I should be ok with a regular air blow gun and a shop vac with a HEPA filter.

 

Brand new? curious what that cost

 

~$2k with the gasket/nut kit.

At least this way I get a fresh DPF in and also have the other one to clean and keep as a backup since I will likely keep the truck a long time.

 

Regen going off every 70 miles. WTH!!! do I need to replace or remove? Thoughts?

 

I should sell mine. I don't think it has a total of 10,000 miles on it.