Design and Purpose

The DPF is perhaps one of the most unusual barrier devices in a vehicle. First, it is only installed in diesel vehicles, hence its English name: Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF). Second, it captures harmful particles on the exhaust side, not the intake. Unlike a catalytic converter, it captures particles rather than destroying them. This leads to the DPF's most important feature: it needs to self-clean periodically to maintain exhaust system flow.

To save vehicle owners money (a new DPF containing precious metals can cost several thousand dollars) and time, manufacturers have developed a system where the filter regenerates during driving. However, this process requires several conditions to align, usually involving extended driving at consistent speeds and high engine RPMs.

Although these conditions may not seem difficult, in practice, they are rarely met—especially in urban driving. As the filter continues to clog, the vehicle's electronics increasingly initiate regeneration processes, leading to increased fuel consumption and oil loss. Eventually, DPF issues can escalate into engine performance problems.

What to Do If the DPF Is Clogged

A clogged DPF can severely impact vehicle performance, and in extreme cases, the engine may refuse to start. There are three possible solutions:

1. Replace the DPF with a new one.
2. Remove the DPF from the exhaust system.
3. Wash the DPF.
A new original DPF is very expensive, while non-original replacements are generally unreliable, often having a very short lifespan. Removing the DPF is an option for those unconcerned about environmental standards and the potential issues this could cause during inspections or international travel. The only solution that resolves all problems while keeping the vehicle within environmental norms and factory standards is washing the DPF.

Which Equipment to Choose for DPF Cleaning

The ability to clean DPFs has existed since their introduction, but the typical method involves chemical cleaning. This process usually involves filling the filter with a chemical solution, letting it sit for several hours (8-12), and then removing it. Some methods do not even require the filter to be removed from the vehicle—the solution is poured through the sensor hole (lambda sensor), and the dirt is expelled through the exhaust pipe.

Despite being somewhat effective, this method has serious downsides: it’s environmentally harmful, dangerous for the operator, and it’s difficult to assess how well the filter was cleaned or how long the engine will function properly afterward.

That’s why we developed our own equipment for DPF cleaning, taking all of these issues into account—the MS900 stand. It consists of three modules:

MS900A – diagnostic and drying module;
MS900B – washing module;
MS900C – washing and drying chamber.
As you can see, this setup performs the entire cleaning cycle. It comes with fittings for connecting any DPF, whether from passenger cars or trucks. Additionally, our stand is equipped with diagnostic tools to assess the filter's flow capacity before and after washing. The difference must be at least 30 mBar—only then can we say the filter is clean and ready for reinstallation.

Our “superfluid” for washing is ordinary tap water, which operates in a closed loop, passing through three stages of filtration: coarse, medium, and fine. Chemicals are only needed if there are oil residues in the DPF, in which case it should be pre-soaked before being placed in the stand. However, adding chemicals to the water reservoir of our washing equipment is unnecessary since the filter will quickly capture them anyway.

Why Is the MS900 Stand So Efficient?

The MS900 achieves its high efficiency through bidirectional washing. The design of the DPF includes blind cells, and if it’s washed in only one direction—whether with water or chemicals—large amounts of soot either remain trapped in these cells or move to the opposite end. In the MS900, by periodically reversing the flow direction and using compressed air pulses, water reaches all corners of the filter, removing the maximum amount of deposits.

After such thorough cleaning, the restored DPF is almost as good as new—both in terms of exhaust flow and soot capture, as well as its remaining lifespan.

Email: ue.smecivres%40selas
Phone number: +48 (833) 13 19 70