Cleaning the DPF

[MaxSmith]

I have read that one can clean the DPF filter by removing it and cleaning with a pressure washer. So, where is the particulate filter located? Is it immediately behind the turbo and in front of the catalytic converter? Do you remove the complete catalytic converter system and then remove the filter?



Any advice and links would be appreciated!



2008 C&C

 

[snuff]

is it plugged?

 

[CUMMINZ]

DPF is on the left.





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[gsbrockman]

So, where is the particulate filter located?

Particulate filter??? What particulate filter??? :-laf

 

[Cosmo]

I dust the cobwebs off mine every now and again.

 

[MaxSmith]

is it plugged?

The filter will not regenerate below 90 percent, and this only after it goes to 100 percent. I know the filter needs to be cleaned and I read a blog wherein a guy removed the DPF and reverse cleaned it with a power washer.

 

[MaxSmith]

DPF is on the left.





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Thanks - I figured. Read a blog from a guy who cleaned his with a power washer using only water. Heard of this?

 

[sag2]

If they get completely face plugged the truck will not run. Yes you can clean them instead of throwing away $2,000, but remember you must catch and dispose of the soot properly!

Also once you fire it back up, let it build heat slowly so the water does not turn to steam in a hurry and crack the media.

 

[HBarlow]

If they get completely face plugged the truck will not run. Yes you can clean them instead of throwing away $2,000, but remember you must catch and dispose of the soot properly!
Also once you fire it back up, let it build heat slowly so the water does not turn to steam in a hurry and crack the media.

That is the first time I have heard the DPF could be cleaned.

Could you describe the basic process for cleaning?

 

[Ragain]

Fleetgaurd offers rebuildable DPF filters. Check with your local Cummins dealer for the part numbers. Also, The photo above is a different exhaust system than what you have if you have a cab-chassis or 4500/5500. The DPF is nearly twice as big as the ones used on the pickup series..... Getting only a 5% backpressure differential, I got tired of fighting faulty readings from ECM and just gutted all the ceramic grid out of my DPF. My overhead read 90% full and when I removed the ceramic I saw that the grid was clean as a whistle.

 

[MChrist]

I went on a tour of the International motor assembly plant a few years ago where they had a presentation on the DPF. They said that the airflow entered from the front, then zig-zagged through it before leaving. If that is the case, wouldn't pressure washing potentially damage the media, or at least shove soot deeper into it?

 

[RSamples]

There was a post on here about someone who had done quite a few of them. Seems like he said put it in a 5 gallon bucket and reverse wash it out . lots of soot will come out. I dont think he used steam. said the dpf will start steaming on start up, but no damage because it is ceramic

 

[HBarlow]

All interesting comments. I guess I have missed some new information. I was still thinking the DPF in my truck could only be junked and replaced.

I'll turn over 98,000 miles today when I travel into town for lunch. This weekend I'll be leaving with my HitchHiker to take it to the factory in Chanute to have a couple of things done. By the time I get home next week I'll be within a few hundred miles of 100k and the end of my warranty.

 

[MaxSmith]

The particulate filter must be removed from the vehicle and allowed to cool down ( overnight is best but use your best judgement as to not have too much of a temperature differential when you wash it out). We place a pig mat underneath the filter so as not to wash the soot down the drain and steam clean/pressure wash the inside of the particulate filter starting from the rear (non flange side) and simply wash the filter element out making sure to pressure wash the entire exposed surface pushing water through to filtering element. Then turn the assembly over and wash from the flange side. We do not use any cleaners or solvents ONLY hot water under pressure. Solvents or cleaners may create a problem due to the extremely high temperatures during regeneration. Once you have pressure washed from both sides starting from the non flange side, blow it out with air to remove excess water and re-install. This has effectively taken filters at 100% immediately down to 30% or less and will allow the vehicle to be driven to finish the cleaning via the trucks normal regeneration cycle. While there is no technical bulletin that has directed us to do this, we have done this successfully many times. It became a necessity for us to take care of our customers in a timely fashion, as I'm sure you already know, the availability of replacement filters is very limited not to mention the cost. Hope this will help, Thanks for all your technical info. Call me if you have any further questions and I will do the same. ”

 

[TDickerson]

Don't want to sound too stupid here, but how does the filter come out. Looks like a one piece muffler. Is it easily removed.

 

[HBarlow]

The particulate filter must be removed from the vehicle and allowed to cool down ( overnight is best but use your best judgement as to not have too much of a temperature differential when you wash it out). We place a pig mat underneath the filter so as not to wash the soot down the drain and steam clean/pressure wash the inside of the particulate filter starting from the rear (non flange side) and simply wash the filter element out making sure to pressure wash the entire exposed surface pushing water through to filtering element. Then turn the assembly over and wash from the flange side. We do not use any cleaners or solvents ONLY hot water under pressure. Solvents or cleaners may create a problem due to the extremely high temperatures during regeneration. Once you have pressure washed from both sides starting from the non flange side, blow it out with air to remove excess water and re-install. This has effectively taken filters at 100% immediately down to 30% or less and will allow the vehicle to be driven to finish the cleaning via the trucks normal regeneration cycle. While there is no technical bulletin that has directed us to do this, we have done this successfully many times. It became a necessity for us to take care of our customers in a timely fashion, as I’m sure you already know, the availability of replacement filters is very limited not to mention the cost. Hope this will help, Thanks for all your technical info. Call me if you have any further questions and I will do the same. ”

Thanks. Excellent information. Last I heard the replacement DPF was, I thinnk, about $2500.

Are there any companies doing this as a service?

 

[98ramtough]

I think i heard a guy at Cummins in spokane mention a cleaning service for the DPF.

 

[mwilson]

Cummins does not offer Reman DPF's so as a result as far as I know any Cummins Distributor in the US has DPF cleaning equipment. They should be able to clean the Dodge DPF very easily.



I am painfully aware of this because our Cummins customers are upset that we have to remove the cartridge, send it to Mass, they clean and return it.



Customer is down 3 days total... ...



Cat and Detroit both have Reman DPF's so we can stock those and simply exchange them.

 

[HBarlow]

Cummins does not offer Reman DPF's so as a result as far as I know any Cummins Distributor in the US has DPF cleaning equipment. They should be able to clean the Dodge DPF very easily.

I am painfully aware of this because our Cummins customers are upset that we have to remove the cartridge, send it to Mass, they clean and return it.

Customer is down 3 days total... ...

Cat and Detroit both have Reman DPF's so we can stock those and simply exchange them.

I didn't know that. I have been operating under the assumption that when mine eventually shows full I would have to pay out big bucks to buy a new one to replace it.

 

[gtoli]

The particulate filter must be removed from the vehicle and allowed to cool down ( overnight is best but use your best judgement as to not have too much of a temperature differential when you wash it out). We place a pig mat underneath the filter so as not to wash the soot down the drain and steam clean/pressure wash the inside of the particulate filter starting from the rear (non flange side) and simply wash the filter element out making sure to pressure wash the entire exposed surface pushing water through to filtering element. Then turn the assembly over and wash from the flange side. We do not use any cleaners or solvents ONLY hot water under pressure. Solvents or cleaners may create a problem due to the extremely high temperatures during regeneration. Once you have pressure washed from both sides starting from the non flange side, blow it out with air to remove excess water and re-install. This has effectively taken filters at 100% immediately down to 30% or less and will allow the vehicle to be driven to finish the cleaning via the trucks normal regeneration cycle. While there is no technical bulletin that has directed us to do this, we have done this successfully many times. It became a necessity for us to take care of our customers in a timely fashion, as I’m sure you already know, the availability of replacement filters is very limited not to mention the cost. Hope this will help, Thanks for all your technical info. Call me if you have any further questions and I will do the same. ”

Excellent info. Thanks