Diesel Particulate Filters, Regens and the Combustion Process in Diesel Engines

Advanced emissions systems on newer diesel engines often utilize diesel particulate filters (DPFs) that help trap harmful emissions from being released into the air. When these filters start to fill up, they must go through a regeneration (regen) process that converts the soot accumulated in the filter into ash using chemical reactions at high temperatures.

Regens have plagued diesel operators with reduced power and performance throughout the past several years and, unfortunately, High Pressure Common Rail (HPCR) diesel engine technology takes most of the blame. There are multiple factors contributing to the combustion issues experienced by today’s diesel engines.

Fortunately, the primary issues can be easily addressed — allowing the system to function properly and achieve maximum combustion — by using Diesel Kleen +Cetane Boost.

1. Injector Deposits – Modern injectors have tolerances of 1 to 3 microns, so microscopic deposits will lead to injector plugging and/or insufficient fuel atomization.

2. Low Cetane – Naturally occurring cetane lower than 50 does not allow for maximum combustion, leading to an increase of unburnt fuel in the combustion chamber.

DIRTY INJECTORS lead to insufficient injection and poor atomization, resulting in reduced fuel combustion, power and performance.

CLEAN INJECTORS lead to proper fuel injection and atomization, allowing for more complete combustion.

Since diesels rely on compression ignition, the fuel must be able to readily auto-ignite — and quicker is better. A higher cetane number, indicating a shorter ignition delay time, usually means more complete combustion of the fuel. This translates into improved combustion rate and less soot loading in DFP.

Clean injectors and higher cetane numbers will produce a more efficient combustion process from injection to combustion. By increasing the combustion rate of the diesel, fewer particulates will be captured in the DPF — resulting in reduced soot loading and regen cycles, allowing for peak performance and power.