Clean your own DPFs, says US firm AN AMERICAN company
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is suggesting that, come Euro-6, it could be worthwhile for big UK truck fleets to clean their own diesel particulate filters (DPFs) rather than contracting out the work to franchised dealers or specialist catalyst/filter cleaning services.
US trucks already have DPFs to meet the US EPA 2007 and 2010 exhaust emissions limits. They are soon to become essential on European trucks in order to comply with the Euro-6 particulates limit. Prices quoted for cleaning truck DPFs via a service exchange scheme range from £200 to £500.
Most truck manufacturers are quoting cleaning intervals for ash removal of up to 400,000km for tractor unit engines. However, the gradual increase in exhaust back pressure may make it worthwhile removing ash more often. Volvo, for example, recommends an annual clean.
Washington-based FSX has been supplying its fourpart DPF cleaning system to US truck workshops since 2006 and is now targeting the European market. The FSX TrapBlaster directs two high-pressure air jets at a DPF, collecting the displaced ash in the second part of the system, a vacuum unit. Ash removal takes about 20 minutes. FSX said its cleaning typically removes 95% of the accumulated ash and soot.
DPF cleaning costs about $250 (£160) in the US and Darren Williams, European sales and service manager at FSX, said it becomes cost-effective to do the job in-house when there are 300 filters to be cleaned annually.