The diesel particulate filter – DPF – is designed to trap soot and harmful particles from the exhaust before they enter the atmosphere. It’s been a standard fitment on diesel vehicles since Euro 5 emissions legislation came into force in 2009, and it works well under the right conditions.
The problem arises when a vehicle spends most of its life on short urban journeys, never getting hot enough to complete a self-cleaning regeneration cycle. Over time, the filter blocks, and a blocked DPF causes a cascade of problems that won’t resolve themselves.
The good news is that a new DPF – which can cost upwards of £1,500 plus fitting – is rarely necessary. In our experience, 99% of DPFs can be professionally cleaned at a fraction of that cost. We see only one or two a year that are genuinely beyond cleaning.
DPF cleaning is available at our Gatwick site, where we use Carbon Clean DCS 20 cleaning equipment – professional off-car cleaning machines that produce printed pre- and post-service results so you can see exactly what’s been achieved.
We don’t simply remove and clean the DPF without first understanding why it blocked. Typical causes include poor injectors, EGR faults, and inadequate servicing; and cleaning a DPF without addressing the root cause means it will block again. Our process is:
We also offer an off-vehicle DPF cleaning service for trade customers and other garages. Simply drop off the DPF at our Gatwick site, and we’ll clean it and provide pre- and post-clean readings. Local collection is available for a small charge.
We aim for a one-day turnaround on all off-vehicle DPFs, with a one-hour while-you-wait option also available.
If your vehicle is used predominantly for short journeys, an occasional longer run at motorway speeds helps the DPF self-regenerate and clear accumulated soot. Keeping on top of servicing, particularly oil changes at the correct interval and with the right specification oil, also makes a significant difference to DPF health over time.
CCM has been trusted by customers across Surrey and Sussex for over 30 years, and recognised by the industry to match, with awards including back-to-back Automechanika Best Multi-Site Garage wins, consecutive IGA Best Independent Garage titles, and the Top Garage Award 2025.
To book your DPF Cleaning in Gatwick, use our online booking or contact us online. Alternatively, give us a ring.
© CCM - 2026
