If you drive a diesel car, please be aware that you must take care of your Diesel Particulate Filters (DPFs) in particular if you only take short journeys. Your particulate filter must regenerate itself every 300 miles or so which is generally done by driving for 10 to 20 minutes at 40mph or faster as this heats up the exhaust and burns off the soot in the filter.
Failing that, some cars have an ‘active regeneration’ process that adds fuel to the exhaust to raise the temperature which allows the filter to be cleaned at lower speeds. However, the revs must still stay above 2,000 for around 10 minutes.
If your DPF is becoming blocked, a warning light will appear on your dashboard. Don't ignore this as your vehicle could shut down which can result in major engine damage. The DPF will need to be removed and cleaned or replaced and you’ll have to pay for this work.
It will usually look like one of these symbols:
![DPF warning](/-/media/leaseplan-digital/gb/public-pages/support/faq-images/dpf-warning.jpg)
If this light comes on, taking corrective action to clear the DPF is fairly simple as all you usually need to do is take the vehicle for a drive of 10-20 minutes at speeds in excess of 40mph in a location that it's safe to do so, such as a dual carriageway. This will usually be enough and the light will turn off as the DPF has regenerated itself.
If you're unsure about DPF’s, please contact your LeasePlan Customer Service advisor who can help you.