Waiting for a warning light is a dangerous strategy, especially with a DPF. Most diesel engines have an automatic regeneration procedure, but a gradual build-up of soot still occurs. This reduces engine efficiency and increases wear on other parts of the engine. Eventually it leads to a warning light and engine failure.
A regular deep-clean solves it and restores efficiency – as well as improving economy and engine running. We do the work at your premises while you wait.
Maintenance intervals
- Preventative DPF cleaning helps protect the turbocharger, EGR valve, engine oil, fuel economy, and overall vehicle performance — not just the filter itself.
- OEM DPF replacement costs range from approximately £1,200 for smaller cars to £12,000+ for HGVs, making preventative cleaning far more cost-effective.
- A clean DPF maintains higher particulate filtration efficiency and supports better air quality in towns, cities, and high-traffic delivery areas.
- DPF cleaning reduces downtime, breakdown risk, and for fleet operators, and unplanned repair spend.
- A professional DPF clean every 15,000 miles is a practical preventative maintenance interval for diesel cars, vans, and HGVs in real UK driving conditions.
Guidelines
Cars: Independent UK automotive guidance indicates DPF cleaning may be needed every 20,000–40,000 miles in normal use, with urban drivers often needing attention sooner
Light commercial vehicles: Fleet-oriented guidance for vehicles such as the Ford Transit, VW Transporter, and Mercedes Sprinter places professional DPF cleaning in the 15,000–20,000 mile range.
HGVs and lorries: Heavy-duty manufacturers and engine guidance commonly reference around 1,000 engine hours for DPF service intervention, depending on duty cycle and application.
Prevention better than cure
By the time a DPF warning light appears, soot loading, ash build-up, and repeated failed regeneration cycles are already affecting engine efficiency, exhaust backpressure, fuel consumption, and surrounding components. For commercial vehicles and
urban-use diesels, preventative cleaning is a maintenance decision, not a repair decision.
Regeneration
Diesels are economical and provide good power. If they’re looked after they’ll keep on going for years. But they can be dirty – that’s why diesels have to have filters to remove the soot particles from their exhaust: Diesel Particulate Filters, or DPFs.
DPFs filter soot from the exhaust, then destroy it at temperatures up to 650 degrees centigrade. This is called regeneration. Even with regular regeneration however, some build-up of soot is unavoidable. And If the car does a lot of short journeys, it may never get hot enough for regeneration. This all results in gradual blockage.
At-Home cleaning
At the same time you’ll probably see gradual reduction in engine efficiency: higher fuel consumption and less power. Sooner or later a dashboard warning light will come on, followed by a partial shut-down known as ‘limp home’ mode. Eventually the engine will simply refuse to go.
Drivers used to be told they needed a new DPF – an expensive replacement at the garage. Now, we can restore the DPF to full operation for considerably less. If the cleaning is done early, DPF FIXER can do it at your home or work. If it’s left to the point of engine shut-down, the filter has to be removed before we can do a factory clean.
Book in advance to ensure no down-time. Out-of-hours cleaning visits can usually be accomodated
Service request
(If you require a visit in less than 3 days please call us on 0333 366 1273).
Call us on 0333 366 1273 for immediate attention – our lines are open 7.30am to 6.30pm Mon-Fri, and 7.30am to 5.30pm Fridays.
To get in touch or book a visit out of hours, fill in the form below, and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.
Trade and Fleet enquiries
For trade and fleet contracts please call us on 0333 366 1273
