DPF & Water Injection = Steam???

[eject]

I apologize in advance if this has been discussed…

Has anyone experimented with water injection as a method of DPF cleaning?

Something that crossed my mind a while back. We’ve all heard that water injection can steam clean the combustion chamber, I’m curious if it benefits would extend a bit further into the DPF.

This is merely a curiosity and by no means suggesting anyone try this.

 

[JELLOWSUBMARINE]

Absolutely on spot. The old timers water tune up has been used on many a car. The more precise meth/water injection is super good on keeping it clean while boosting power.

 

[2004LB7]

My experience from cleaning a few of them is it won't work the same as in your combustion chamber. The soot will turn into a sort of mud and increase back pressure considerably.

The cylinder has an actual explosion or vigorous combustion. Whereas the DPF is more of a "glow" or mild burning. Steam/water will cool it down to the point where nothing burns and then if it cools too much it's going to get worse.

If you manually rinse/wash a DPF and put it back into service before letting it fully dry you will get a lot more back pressure. On my truck, it was pushing past the exhaust gasket from so much pressure. Then after running for 30 minutes or so the pressure started to drop and the steam coming out the back subsided. Then the gasket sealed back up or at least didn't seem to be leaking

If you are injecting it through the intake then you most likely won't have enough steam to do anything meaningful to the DPF

Your best bet is to get the DPF good and hot to burn off the soot. If that doesn't work then a good washing may restore performance. On my truck.i installed band clamps so I can reverse the DPF and run the exhaust through it backwards and clean out even the ash without having to wash or mess with additional cleaning. I only flip it every few years to keep the levels low

 

[oilhammer]

In the case of the CJAA/CBEA, the failure mode of the DPF is the substrate cracks internally. So cleaning is irrelevant. It isn't going to fix anything.

On the others, who knows. Remember, the DPF is not a standalone component on CR TDIs. It is a part of other things.

 

[eject]

I appreciate the thorough response. I hadn’t considered a sooty-slurry, which probably would make things worse within the DPF.

 

[eject]

Remember, the DPF is not a standalone component on CR TDIs. It is a part of other things.

Very true, the DPF is a single component of an overly complicated emissions control system and likely the reason it’s becoming increasingly difficult to find a mechanic who will even touch a TDI.