A blocked DPF can often be cleared with a forced regeneration or a professional clean, which costs far less than a new filter. If the van has other faults or high miles too, selling it as it is can make more sense than paying for the repair.
What's your van worth as it is?
What a DPF does
The diesel particulate filter (DPF) sits in the exhaust and traps soot. To stop it filling up, the van burns the soot off now and then. This is called regeneration, and it needs a sustained run at speed to work.
Signs of a blocked DPF
- A DPF warning light on the dashboard
- Limp mode: the van won't rev or pick up speed
- The fan running after you switch off, or the idle staying high
- Higher fuel use and a smell of hot exhaust
Why van DPFs block
Vans that do short, slow trips around town rarely get hot enough to regenerate. Stop-start delivery work, faulty sensors or EGR valves, and the wrong engine oil all add to it.
Your options
Prices vary a lot by van and garage, so get a written quote before you decide.
Repair or sell?
If the repair quote is close to what the van will be worth once fixed, or the DPF is one of several faults, selling it as it is is often the better deal. Get a valuation and a repair quote, and compare the two.
Questions
Can I drive with a blocked DPF?
Only gently and not for long. Most vans go into limp mode to protect the engine, and driving on can damage the turbo. Decide what to do with the van soon.
Can I remove the DPF?
No. Removing a DPF from a van used on the road is illegal, and a van without one fails its MOT.
Will you buy my van with a DPF fault?
Yes. Tell us about the warning light or limp mode when you ask for your valuation, and we collect the van whether it runs or not.