Using Additives To Reduce Diesel Particulate Filter Clogging
Diesel particulate filters (DPFs) help to reduce environmental pollution by trapping soot particles from a vehicle's exhaust. While this is great for the environment, continued accumulation of the trapped particles in the DPF can restrict the flow of exhaust and may thus reduce the performance of the vehicle.
DPF regeneration
To help reduce the risks of DPF-related performance problems, manufacturers have designed the DPF in such a way as to allow the accumulated soot to be burnt off. This regeneration process usually happens when the vehicle runs long enough to allow the temperature of the engine's exhaust to rise to a level that is hot enough to burn the soot particles.
Unfortunately, people don't always use their vehicles long enough to guarantee this rise in exhaust temperature. As a result, the soot usually ends up accumulating in the DPF without the burn-off process, something that usually accelerates the rate at which the DPF gets clogged. This is where additives usually come in handy.
Fuel additives and the regeneration process
DPF additives usually contain a compound that aids in the regeneration process. One of the most commonly used compounds in Cerium (III) oxide. This is because Cerium (III) oxide usually burns at a lower temperature than the temperature at which soot normally ignites.
This is an important characteristic mainly because the Cerium usually attaches itself to the soot, and when it ignites, it ends up burning off the soot in the exhaust. This then slows down the rate at which soot clogs the DPF since the resultant byproduct of the ignition process is a tiny ash residue that takes up less space. As a result, the use of a DPF additive usually guarantees that the regeneration process will take place even when the engine hasn't been subjected to longer runs.
Fuel additives and increased fuel economy
To help reduce the problems associated with a clogged filter, the engine management computer usually starts the active regeneration process in cases where passive regeneration has failed. To be able to pull-off active regeneration, there is usually a need for additional fuel injection -- in a bid to increase the exhaust temperature.
Using a DPF additive will therefore help to eliminate the need for an active regeneration process. Why? Because the additives ensure that the soot in the exhaust gets burnt off at a lower temperature, hence reducing the rate at which the DPF gets filled up. And since the active regeneration process is usually activated once the DPF soot load hits a given limit, using DPF additives will give your vehicle a lot of time before it has to worry about initiating post combustion fuel injections.
For more information about fuel additives and DPF additives you can use for your truck, contact a company like Williams Oil Filter Service Co.