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Signs Indicating a Blocked DPF

Model: (Various brands) Various
Part: Diesel particulate filter

Video tutorial

Let’s look at the signs that indicate the diesel particulate filter (DPF) in your vehicle is blocked: the first is obviously a drop in performance. When you press the accelerator, the car does not respond, accelerates slowly, and lacks power when climbing or overtaking.

The second sign is excessive fuel consumption: you will notice a significant increase in consumption because the ECU injects more fuel in an attempt to initiate DPF regeneration. The third sign is the radiator fan remaining on even when the engine is off: this likely means you interrupted an ongoing regeneration by turning off the car while the system was trying to clean the DPF. If you see white/blue smoke and smell an unusual odour from the exhaust, this is the fourth sign: it indicates excess unburnt diesel that cannot be burned in the filter and exits directly from the exhaust pipe.

Naturally, the fifth (and most obvious) sign is the warning lights illuminated on the dashboard. When these appear, the blockage is already quite advanced.


Posted on 12 August 2026 by ScegliAuto


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