The truck driver is a mythical figure in our country's folklore. Countless songs have been written about these tireless men and women: Jerry Reed's "Eastbound and Down," and Buck Owens' "Truck Drivin' Man" are two timeless classics.
Sometimes truckers are painted as heroic figures, like in Red Sovine's song, "Big Joe and Phantom 309," about a truck driver who swerves to miss a school bus full of children, losing his life and becoming a ghost who picks up hitch hikers. Much like the people who drive them, diesel engines carry their own myths. Here are 5 common myths surrounding diesel engines, and the surprising truth that will have you rethinking the way you view big rigs.
The first step to understanding how to keep your DPF clean is to know how it works. First, it filters out particles in the exhaust to make the vehicle more environmentally friendly. Next, it signals to the car or truck when the filter starts to become full of particles.
One thing you may want to consider is driving a vehicle that is lighter in weight...perhaps making the switch from a four-wheel-drive truck to a two-wheel-drive. The goal is to use as little power as possible, and a two-wheel-drive vehicle can give you around a 20 percent increase in fuel economy.
How Do You Keep Your DPF Clean?
Assuming your car or truck is otherwise problem-free, cleaning your DPF is as simple as maintaining driving patterns conductive to regeneration being performed. As long as you drive at freeway speeds on a regular basis, you shouldn't have any trouble. Problems come into play if you do a lot of city driving or allow your vehicle to idle for extremely long periods of time.
The reason why these two circumstances are problematic for DPFs is because the engine isn't working hard enough to generate the power necessary for regeneration to occur. Most vehicles with DPF systems installed will signal a warning if the DPF is 80% blocked.
The Truth: It's not just trucks and ships that use diesel fuel these days. More and more cars are fitted with diesel engines, and just about every neighborhood gas station has a diesel pump.
Myth: Diesel is dirtier than gasoline
If you ignore the 80% warning and keep driving at low speeds or idling your vehicle, your DPF will eventually become completely blocked. This situation requires professional attention. If you ignore the problem, you can cause permanent damage to your DPF and experience reduced performance of your car or truck. Some DIYers will try removing their own DPF and clean it with a pressure washer or air compressor.
Myth: Diesel cars aren't as powerful
So don't ignore warnings. If your DPF gets close to being full, push the engine so it gets enough power for regeneration. If it gets completely full, take it to a shop. Taking care of your DPF will protect the environment and keep your vehicle running at peak performance.
Sometimes truckers are painted as heroic figures, like in Red Sovine's song, "Big Joe and Phantom 309," about a truck driver who swerves to miss a school bus full of children, losing his life and becoming a ghost who picks up hitch hikers. Much like the people who drive them, diesel engines carry their own myths. Here are 5 common myths surrounding diesel engines, and the surprising truth that will have you rethinking the way you view big rigs.
The first step to understanding how to keep your DPF clean is to know how it works. First, it filters out particles in the exhaust to make the vehicle more environmentally friendly. Next, it signals to the car or truck when the filter starts to become full of particles.
One thing you may want to consider is driving a vehicle that is lighter in weight...perhaps making the switch from a four-wheel-drive truck to a two-wheel-drive. The goal is to use as little power as possible, and a two-wheel-drive vehicle can give you around a 20 percent increase in fuel economy.
How Do You Keep Your DPF Clean?
Assuming your car or truck is otherwise problem-free, cleaning your DPF is as simple as maintaining driving patterns conductive to regeneration being performed. As long as you drive at freeway speeds on a regular basis, you shouldn't have any trouble. Problems come into play if you do a lot of city driving or allow your vehicle to idle for extremely long periods of time.
The reason why these two circumstances are problematic for DPFs is because the engine isn't working hard enough to generate the power necessary for regeneration to occur. Most vehicles with DPF systems installed will signal a warning if the DPF is 80% blocked.
The Truth: It's not just trucks and ships that use diesel fuel these days. More and more cars are fitted with diesel engines, and just about every neighborhood gas station has a diesel pump.
Myth: Diesel is dirtier than gasoline
If you ignore the 80% warning and keep driving at low speeds or idling your vehicle, your DPF will eventually become completely blocked. This situation requires professional attention. If you ignore the problem, you can cause permanent damage to your DPF and experience reduced performance of your car or truck. Some DIYers will try removing their own DPF and clean it with a pressure washer or air compressor.
Myth: Diesel cars aren't as powerful
So don't ignore warnings. If your DPF gets close to being full, push the engine so it gets enough power for regeneration. If it gets completely full, take it to a shop. Taking care of your DPF will protect the environment and keep your vehicle running at peak performance.
About the Author:
When the California Air Resource Board's diesel emissions regulations first came out, Michael Schwartz, now President of FleetServ, began getting calls from panicked Fleet Managers looking for straight-forward information and compliance assistance. While FleetServ (formerly known as ACT Compliance) was originally formed to meet this need, over time it has evolved into much more.
