A new approach to cleaning DPF filters –what car repair shops really need today
Table of contents
In Europe, DPF cleaning services are provided by specialized DPF service centers. They serve auto repair shops, vehicle fleets, and individual customers, providing professional, repeatable, and safe filter cleaning.
For years, basic DPF cleaning consisted of flushing the filters with water and detergent combined with sequential pulses of compressed air, followed by drying and reassembly of the filter. This approach was sufficient for older, more durable filters. However, modern DPF filters are more compact, delicate, and sensitive to improper handling. Stricter emission standards, such as Euro 7, further exacerbate these challenges, requiring greater precision and effectiveness.
The DPF customer has changed – and the service should change with them
Workshops offering DPF filter cleaning are now facing growing expectations from both individual customers and business owners with commercial vehicles. Customers expect:
● Reliable results – not just “better flow,” but complete removal of ash and soot.
● Filter protection – especially for modern ceramic inserts that are prone to cracking.
● Clear diagnostics – air flow measurement before and after cleaning and proof of performance improvement.
● Transparent documentation – printed or electronic reports that can be trusted.
● Certainty of long-term performance – especially in the face of increasingly stringent emission standards.
DPF service workshops that do not provide these elements will soon be considered obsolete – regardless of the experience of their operators.
🔗 Read more: Euro 7 & DPF Service — Dates, Requirements, and How to Prepare
Why basic hydrodynamic systems are falling behind
Traditional DPF cleaning machines, built 5–10 years ago, were designed with earlier generations of filters in mind. They still work, but they have significant limitations:
● No preparation stage for wet cleaning – older machines immediately force high-pressure water into clogged channels, which can easily damage the filter.
● Lack of effective thermal cleaning – blowers used for drying have a high air flow rate, but are unable to remove soot and ash residues remaining in the rinsing water. When the water dries, contaminants stay in the filter channels, reducing cleaning efficiency. There are no strong air pulses that could blow them out during drying.
For many DPF service centers, these limitations mean longer cleaning times, lower efficiency, and customer dissatisfaction.
🔗 Read more: Outdated DPF Machines in a Changing Market – Why New Standards Require New Technology
Otomatic DPF-Hybrid – designed for today's needs
Modern workshops need DPF cleaning machines and equipment that deliver better results with minimal risk of error. This is where the Otomatic DPF-Hybrid™ system stands out, combining three key stages:
● Pre-cleaning (pneumatic) – loosens dry deposits and blows them out of the filter channels, preparing the filter for the next cleaning stage.
● Hydrodynamic cleaning – standard wet cleaning with optimized flow.
● Thermal cleaning (pulse drying) – hot air pulses remove fine PM particles and ash left behind by the rinsing water before they dry inside the filter.
This prevents soot and ash residues from remaining in the filter and ensures more thorough cleaning, which is particularly important for passenger car filters, as they clog more quickly.
Artificial Intelligence - SmartClean – for consistent, automated results
For workshops that want to reduce employee training time and minimize the risk of operator error, the Otomatic DPF Platinum AI model offers:
● Intelligent filter recognition – automatic detection of filter type and structure.
● Automatic adjustment of flow, pressure, and temperature – the cleaning process adapts itself to the filter.
● Cleaning parameter logging – enables the generation of detailed reports.
⚠️ Note: AI SmartClean™ does not change the filter cleaning technology itself – it streamlines the process, reduces operator involvement, and makes cleaning faster, safer, and more repeatable.
🔗 Read more: Two Forces, One Filter – Why Hybrid DPF
A new standard in DPF cleaning – available today
With Otomatic DPF-Hybrid™, your workshop can offer filter cleaning at the level today’s customers expect: faster, more effective, and safer.
👉 Cleaner filters. Better diagnostics. Happier customers. The future of DPF cleaning starts right here.
About the author
Christopher Smolec - CEO of OTOMATIC
Expert in business development and customer relationship building. Since 2018, he has been actively involved in promoting and updating machines and methods for cleaning diesel particulate filters, often known by the acronyms: DPF, FAP, GPF.
