November/December 2017 | VehicleServicePros.com 37
Mack Trucks has no prescribed replacement
cycle for a DPF, as long as it is cleaned regularly,
Barraclough notes.
“Provided the DPF is not cracked or damaged, it
should last the life of the vehicle with recommended
maintenance and cleaning,” Barraclough says.
Automatic and parked
regeneration
Automatic and parked regenerations
help clean trapped
soot, oil and ash caught in the
DPF to help ensure that the
fi lter remains in good working
order. Th ese regenerations,
or regens, clean the fi lter in
between the manufacturer’s
maintenance guidelines.
Automatic regeneration is
commanded by the engine
control module at a set interval,
without any action from
the operator. “Th e operator may
not even be aware automatic
regens are happening,” Mack
Trucks’ Barraclough says.
“These regens usually
have a speed limit to prevent
non-requested regeneration
while parked. Automatic
regeneration will normally
occur during freeway operations,
when the exhaust
temperatures are most ideal,”
Cummin’s Parrish adds.
During active DPF regeneration,
the exhaust temperature
elevates to around 500 degrees
C. Th ese temperatures allow
for the oxidation of soot, which
in turn cleans the fi lter.
Unlike automatic regeneration,
which is commanded by
the control module, manual
regeneration, or parked regeneration,
is commanded by the
operator. Manual regens are
usually completed when automatic
generation isn’t possible.
“Parked regenerations are
commonly done in vehicles
that do not have enough
highway operation or that
experience lower exhaust
temperatures,” Parrish says
“Th is is also performed aft er
service events to ensure
system health.”
When performing a manual
regeneration, it is important to
ensure the vehicle is in a safe location because
radiating temperatures can be signifi cant and last
up to one hour, says Parrish.
Conclusion
While aft ertreatment systems are oft en overlooked
and neglected in terms of maintenance,
these systems are important to the performance
of diesel trucks. Because an unclean DPF fi lter
can clog and damage other emission components,
ignoring recommended cleaning or replacement
intervals can cause engine performance issues,
damage to emission control components and ultimately,
unplanned downtime and costly repairs.
Consequently, it is important for fl eets and service
personnel to understand the key benefi ts of maintaining
their aft ermarket treatment systems.
VehicleServicePros.com/10095724
Regens help
clean the DPF.
/VehicleServicePros.com
/autel.com
/10095724