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Diesel van: how to stop the particulate filter clogging

CalosGroup editorial team · Published on 3 November 2026

Why the DPF of a van used in town clogs up, how to help it regenerate and which warning signs must not be ignored.

The diesel particulate filter (DPF) traps the soot from the exhaust and burns it off from time to time: this is regeneration. For it to happen the exhaust has to reach a high temperature for a few minutes, which almost never happens on short trips in town.

The signs

  • particulate filter warning light on;
  • cooling fan running with the engine off;
  • higher idle, acrid smell, rising fuel consumption;
  • engine going into limp mode and losing power.

What helps

Use engine oil to the manufacturer's specification (oils suitable for particulate filters have low ash), keep the air filter and sensors in good order, and do not switch off the engine in the middle of a regeneration.

If the warning light stays on after a motorway drive, take the van to a workshop: a filter clogged for a long time gets damaged, and emptying or removing it is illegal.

The steps

  1. At least once a week drive for 20-30 minutes at a steady speed on an open road or motorway, at medium engine speed.
  2. When the warning light comes on, if you can, keep driving at a steady speed for about twenty minutes to let the regeneration finish.
  3. Do not switch off the engine if you hear the fan running or the idle is high right after a trip: it is often regenerating.
  4. Use only oil to the manufacturer's specification for engines with a particulate filter.
  5. Have the differential pressure sensor, EGR valve and injectors checked at a workshop if regenerations happen too often.

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