Our services
Exhaust Including DPF Cleaning
DPF Cleaning and Exhaust Repairs
Fleet Services Autocare Limited provides DPF (diesel particulate filter) cleaning, DPF fault diagnosis and exhaust repairs at customer premises across Berkshire, Hampshire and Surrey. In most cases a blocked DPF can be cleaned and returned to service - at a fraction of the cost of a replacement filter. We diagnose the cause, clean the filter, and fix the underlying fault so the problem doesn't simply return.
What a DPF Does and Why It Blocks
The diesel particulate filter traps soot from the diesel exhaust and burns it off periodically through a process called regeneration. Regeneration needs sustained heat - typically reached on longer runs at higher speeds, where the exhaust gets hot enough to burn the trapped soot away.
The problem is duty cycle. Vehicles used mainly for short, stop-start journeys never reach the conditions regeneration needs, so soot accumulates until the filter blocks. It's why DPF problems are so common on urban delivery vans and vehicles that rarely see a motorway. Underlying faults make it worse: failed sensors, EGR problems, injector faults or the wrong engine oil can all prevent regeneration, and unless they're fixed, the filter simply blocks again after cleaning.
Get In Touch
We're trusted by businesses and drivers across Berkshire, Hampshire and Surrey to keep their vehicles serviced, maintained and on the road.
Phone: 0118 973 0157
Email: Online Contact Form
DPF Cleaning vs DPF Replacement
This is where the cost difference is significant. A replacement DPF can run to £1,000–£3,000 or more in parts alone. Cleaning restores the existing filter in the majority of cases at a fraction of that.
We diagnose the cause of the blockage first, clean the filter, and fix the underlying fault so the problem doesn't recur. Where a filter is genuinely beyond recovery - physically damaged, melted, or fully ash-loaded after a long life - we'll tell you honestly rather than charge for a clean that won't last. The aim is to recover the filter you have wherever it's economical to do so, not to replace what can be saved.
DPF Removal - Why We Don't Do It
It's worth being clear on this, because it's widely offered: removing or hollowing out a DPF is illegal for road use. It's an automatic MOT failure, it's an offence to drive a vehicle with the DPF removed on public roads, and it defeats an emissions control fitted for good reason.
We don't remove DPFs - we restore them. A properly cleaned filter with the underlying fault fixed gives you a vehicle that's legal, passes its MOT, and runs as it should.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a blocked DPF be cleaned rather than replaced?
In most cases, yes. Cleaning restores the existing filter at a fraction of the cost of a replacement, which can run to several thousand pounds in parts. We assess the filter first and advise honestly if replacement is genuinely necessary.
Can I keep driving with the DPF light on?
It's best not to leave it. A partially blocked DPF can often still be cleaned or regenerated; a fully blocked one may cause limp mode and further problems, and is harder to recover. Dealing with it early is dramatically cheaper than leaving it.
Why does my van's DPF keep blocking?
Almost always the duty cycle - short, stop-start journeys that never let the filter regenerate - or an underlying fault such as a failed sensor or EGR problem preventing regeneration. We diagnose which it is and fix the cause, not just the symptom.
Is DPF removal legal?
No. Driving a vehicle on public roads with the DPF removed is illegal and an automatic MOT failure. We don't remove DPFs - we clean and restore them so the vehicle stays legal and passes its MOT.
Can you clean a DPF at my premises?
Yes. DPF cleaning, diagnosis and exhaust repairs are all carried out on site across Berkshire, Hampshire and Surrey.
Why do DPFs block across a whole fleet of vans?
Because working vans often share a duty cycle - urban, stop-start, short routes - that's exactly what prevents regeneration. If it's affecting several vehicles, the pattern of use is usually the cause, and there are practical steps that reduce repeat blockages. We can advise across the fleet.
