Why does a Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) get clogged?
by FTE Published on Thursday, February 12th, 2026
Why does a Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) get clogged? If your car displays a warning light and starts to lose power then don’t ignore it?
After working with countless drivers and seeing the same patterns, I can tell you that clogged DPFs are a common culprit.
A DPF gets clogged when soot from incomplete combustion builds up faster than it can be burned off during regeneration. Incomplete combustion can result from a dirty fuel system.
To prevent this, keep the system clean with a fuel cleaner and make sure your vehicle reaches full operating temperature regularly.
A good start is giving it a steady run at higher RPMs.
The engine’s ECU plays a critical role.
It monitors conditions like exhaust temperature and pressure to trigger regeneration.
When these conditions aren’t met, soot just keeps piling up.
Keep it clean and functioning correctly.
Hope you found this insight helpful. If you’ve had DPF issues, feel free to comment or share your experiences.



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