Participating Kenworth and Peterbilt dealers now offer a diesel particulate filter (DPF) cleaning service that utilizes the FSX Inc. cleaning machine. The FSX machine cleans both ends and each cell of a DPF, which can have up to 6,000 individual cells. The FSX machine can clean filters from automobiles, off-road equipment and trucks, from light duty all the way up to heavy duty.
One feature of the FSX machine is the TrapTester 7, an air-flow test bench that tests a filter before and after it is cleaned to determine the extent of ash buildup, says Jeff Sass, general marketing manager for Paccar Parts. “Without the testing capability, it’s impossible for technicians to know how clean the filter is after a DPF cleaning,” Sass says. “The air-flow test allows them to determine if the filter is clean enough to re-install on the vehicle.”
The pneumatic TrapBlaster 7, or air knife scanning technology, directs air through high-pressure jets to clean each cell of a dirty DPF individually on both ends, Sass says. While the forced air is powerful enough to clean stubborn ash and soot off the filter, it will not damage cell walls or platinum coatings or dislodge ceramic from the filter casing, he says. For filters that require extra cleaning, the FSX system offers TrapBurner, which provides the capability to thermally clean the DPF in compliance with OEM specifications.
A manual override feature on the TrapBlaster allows technicians to adjust the cleaning during the process, and an adjustable nozzle system allows them to clean under filter flanges and into recessed cavities. Technicians also can adjust the machine to clean filters from 5 inches to 36 inches in height and from 6 inches to 21 inches in diameter. A two-stage HEPA filtration system called SootSucker 2 captures ash from each DPF, eliminating the problem of dust settling back on the filters.
