Diesel particulate filters have proven to be one of the most controversial additions to modern diesel vehicles. On one hand, DPFs play an essential role in reducing diesel emissions by capturing and burning excess soot and other particulates during the regeneration cycle. On the other hand, countless diesel truck owners have expressed frustration with many aspects of DPFs, including their tendency to clog up and potentially cripple engine performance.
Many diesel owners have responded by simply removing the DPF system from their vehicles. While DPF deletion offers the most straightforward option for dealing with DPF's performance and reliability issues, there are also other workarounds that can help restore lost power, performance and fuel economy. These workarounds can be used alongside DPF deletion to boost overall performance and fuel economy or as an alternative in states with stringent emissions equipment inspections.
Performance Tuners
Diesel engine performance tuners can be used in conjunction with a DPF delete to stabilize performance and even add power and torque. Performance tuners give you the ability to customize your diesel engine's performance perimeters, from fuel delivery to engine redline and turbo boost pressures. For instance, you use your performance tuner to increase fuel rail pressures for better fuel atomization, resulting in an engine that burns fuel more thoroughly while significantly reducing soot generation.
There are plenty of performance tuners on the market with a broad array of features. Many performance tuners also feature presets that make it easier to adjust your engine settings for improved performance and reduced soot.
Water/Methanol Injection
For decades, racers and gearheads have used water/methanol injection to give their vehicles a significant boost in engine performance. Water/methanol injection works primarily by absorbing heat energy from the surrounding air as it enters the intake and combustion chamber. During the compression phase, the liquid continues to absorb heat energy as it changes into a gas. This helps lower combustion temperatures, which in turn increases air density while lowering exhaust temperatures.
Meanwhile, the methanol in the water/methanol mix ignites with the diesel fuel, giving the engine a bigger boost in power. The end result is an engine that burns fuel more thoroughly, significantly reducing the likelihood of soot buildup.
There are a few drawbacks to water/methanol injection, however. Incorporating a water/methanol injection system into your existing diesel engine can prove expensive, depending on the size and scope of the project. In addition, there's also the potential for the engine to hydro lock if the system malfunctions or is used improperly. Fortunately, most water/methanol injection systems feature safeguards that help prevent accidental engine damage during use.
DPF-Back Exhaust
In addition to sapping performance and posing longevity issues down the road, another caveat of DPF systems is that they can get in the way of installing custom exhaust solutions. Many truck owners have turned to DPF-back exhaust systems as a way of getting around these issues. As the name implies, DPF-back exhausts are installed from the DPF rearward.
Unfortunately, the effects of adding a DPF-back exhaust system are marginal, at best. Although DPF-back exhausts eliminate restrictions further down the exhaust route, they do little to alter the design and function of the DPF itself. As a result, the performance-robbing exhaust restrictions posed by the DPF itself still remain. DPF-back exhausts offer very little performance gain in comparison to a complete DPF removal.
On the other hand, DPF-back exhausts allow the stock DPF system to remain intact, ensuring a quick pass upon visual and in-depth emissions inspection. DPF-back exhaust systems also produce little to no change in exhaust note, which could be an benefit or drawback depending on how loud you want your diesel truck to be.
To learn more, contact a company like Cantune.
I have never been an especially handy person, but a few years ago I decided that I needed to learn more about my vehicle. I was tired of always relying on someone else to fix things, so I began reading more and more about the process. I realized that there were a lot of things that I needed to do, so I began taking a little course on at-home auto service. I still have a lot to learn, but now I can at least go through and change my air filter and check my oil. Read this blog to learn more about auto service.