Do You Know The Consequences Of Removing Your DPF?

Diesel particulate filters (DPFs) have been mandatory in new diesel vehicles for almost a decade now and the vast majority of these kinds of vehicles will be fitted with a DPF.

Their purpose is to remove the particulate matter from the exhaust generated by diesel-powered cars and vans, and they are mandatory under the Euro 5 exhaust emissions legislation that came into force in 2009.

However, the Express recently pointed out that drivers may be unaware of the penalties for removing the DPF from their vehicle, or for tampering with it. A £1,000 fine can be issued to car drivers with no DPF, and this can rise to up to £2,500 for van drivers.

There are other good reasons to keep your DPF filter in good condition – namely that new MOT rules will see a vehicle automatically fail the road safety test if the DPF has been removed or obviously tampered with. If it has been taken apart for cleaning, you need to provide proof that this was the case, the news provider added.

DPFs will self-clean, provided the vehicle is regularly run on a dual carriageway or motorway to help clear any clogged up soot, Simon Williams of the RAC  recently advised. He added that this is “very important if the vehicle is predominantly used for short journeys on local roads”.

His comments came as an RAC survey found that 53 per cent of diesel drivers said their car had a DPF, but just 23 per cent were aware of the cost of buying a new one – usually around £1,000.