BBC investigates DPF removal
6 November 2014 
A recent BBC ‘sting’ operation into diesel particulate filter (DPF) removal has failed to highlight aftermarket alternatives, according to DPF manufacturer Klarius.
An episode of the current affairs program Inside Out, broadcast on October 20th, saw presenters acting as members of the public and asking ten garages in the Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire area to remove the DPF. Five agreed, either by removing the filter completely, or taking the internal elements out, leaving the casing so the vehicle would pass a visual MOT inspection.
Doug Bentley, Head of Product Development at Klarius comments: “There is undoubtedly a higher demand for replacement DPF units as a result of repeat short journeys, we know this because we introduced new replacements for BMW, VW, Fiat, Kia and Nissan models last month due purely to growing market demand.
“The show focused on garages willing to do what customers were asking for, which was to help them avoid the cost of a replacement by removing the DPF or tampering with its internals. It did not, however, take the time to explain how to avoid the problem in the first place. Neither did it differentiate between the cost of an OE replacement (often over £1000) and a good aftermarket alternative (normally a few hundred pounds).”
Removal of the DPF will cause a vehicle to fail an MOT, as it is an integral part of the exhaust system aimed at reducing dangerous emissions from the vehicle. In order to prevent them being clogged, drivers should use the vehicle on a journey where temperatures rise enough to trigger a passive regeneration. This is something the BBC program failed to address.
Responding to the issue highlighted by the program the DfT has announced that all MOT garages will be formally notified that they risk losing the authorisation to perform MOT tests if they offer to remove DPFs. Garages have the opportunity to fit good quality aftermarket parts to repair vehicles with problem DPFs and at the same time help to educate customers about how to use their vehicle in a way that prevents DPF blockages in future.