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DIESEL PARTICULATE FILTERS
Posted by Glenn Hamilton on 29th Apr 2021

All modern 4x4 vehicles sold in Australia come equipped with a Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) as part of their original exhaust system. A DPF is designed to capture and remove diesel soot from the exhaust gases of a diesel engine. Most DPFs eliminate around 80% of the soot, with some achieving 100%.
The DPF collects soot until it reaches a certain level, typically around 70%. At this point, it performs a regeneration process, where unburnt fuel is injected into the filter, ignites, and burns the soot into smaller particles before releasing them into the atmosphere. Some DPFs undergo smaller, more frequent regenerations but function in a similar manner.

DPFs can present issues due to problems with vehicle software, fuel quality, or injection pressure. Australian emission laws prohibit the removal of a DPF from a vehicle. Owners of vehicles with removed DPFs may face significant fines, as also the individuals or companies that performed the removal.
If a DPF is removed, an ECU edit is required to erase all references to the DPF and its sensors, which is a costly exercise. Removing the DPF can also lead to failed inspections, such as Roadworthy or Blue Slip tests, as the vehicle will not meet Australian emission standards. Restoring the factory DPF and re-tuning the ECU to its original settings can be an expensive process.
As a reputable exhaust manufacturer, we advise against removing the DPF from your vehicle. The performance difference is minimal and largely depends on the vehicle's specific tuning.

Regards
Outback Exhausts