Select Kenworth Truck Co. and Peterbilt Motors Co. dealers are getting the chance to equip their facilities with diesel particulate filter (DPF) cleaning devices from FSX Inc.; DPF cleaning technology tested and approved by their parent company, Paccar.
“We conducted extensive tests on three of the leading diesel particulate filter cleaning machines, including the FSX machine,” noted Jeff Sass, general marketing manager for Paccar Parts. “We found the FSX machine got filters 9% cleaner than the next best performing machine.”
Sass said that, over time and multiple cleanings, that additional 9% worth of soot and ash accumulates and could lead to increased cost, downtime and quite possibly, engine failure for trucks equipped with DPFs. “In our performance tests, we also found that after the first pass, the FSX machine cleaned a filter to acceptable air flow 23% more often than the next best performing machine,” Sass added.
He explained that the FSX machine cleans both ends and each cell of a DPF, which can have up to 6,000 individual cells, and offers more flexibility because it can clean filters from automobiles, off-road equipment and trucks, from light-duty all the way up to heavy-duty.
One unique feature of the FSX machine is the TrapTester 7, an air flow test bench that tests a filter before and after it is cleaned to determine the extent of ash build-up, Sass said.
“Without the testing capability, it’s impossible for technicians to know how clean the filter is after a DPF cleaning,” said Sass. “The air flow test allows them to determine if the filter is clean enough to re-install on the vehicle.”
While the forced air is powerful enough to clean stubborn ash and soot off the filter, it will not damage cell walls or platinum coatings or dislodge ceramic from the filter casing, he stressed. For filters that require extra cleaning, the FSX system offers TrapBurner, which provides the capability to thermally clean the DPF in compliance with OEM specifications, Sass noted.
Intervals for DPF cleanings depend on the engine size and manufacturer, plus operating conditions, he said, so truck operators should consult their OEM or engine manufacturer for DPF cleaning intervals. A standard DPF cleaning using the FSX machine takes 20 to 60 minutes, said Sass, with a thermal cleaning using the FSX machine’s TrapBurner running about nine hours.
