How to Prepare a DPF Service for Euro 7 – Technology Ready for Stricter Standards

In just a few years, the Euro 7 regulation will redefine how diesel emissions are measured, monitored, and enforced across Europe. While vehicle manufacturers are adapting their designs, another major shift is coming for workshops: the way diesel particulate filters (DPFs) are cleaned and regenerated must also evolve.

If your DPF service wants to stay competitive and relevant, now is the time to upgrade your equipment and service standards. Especially as vehicles with Euro 7-compliant filters will soon appear on the roads – and they'll need servicing from day one.

What Changes With Euro 7?

Euro 7 goes far beyond previous norms like Euro 6. It tightens limits on nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulate matter (PM), but more importantly, it tests vehicles in real-world driving conditions over longer periods — up to 200,000 kilometers or 10 years.

That means the filters you clean need to function effectively much longer than before. If a DPF isn’t regenerated precisely and thoroughly, leftover contaminants can reduce filtration efficiency and increase backpressure — compromising compliance.

Workshops using basic or outdated machines may find themselves unable to keep up.

💡 See how market expectations are changing »

The Risk of Leaving Particulate Residue Behind

Most standard machines still use single-phase cleaning: flush with water, then dry with air or heat. It works — to a point. But these systems often leave fine PM particles inside the filter after the drying phase. As water evaporates naturally or with passive airflow, soot and ash settle and harden inside the DPF channels.

That may not be visible from the outside, but it directly affects filter performance — and under Euro 7, that’s not acceptable.

This is where Otomatic’s DPF-Hybrid™ technology makes the difference.

The Hybrid Advantage – Cleaning in Three Stages

Instead of relying on one method, the DPF-Hybrid™ process combines three complementary stages for better outcomes:

Pneumatic Pre-Cleaning

Before the water even enters the filter, a powerful air pulse removes dry soot and opens clogged channels. This step improves water penetration and prepares the filter for deeper regeneration.

Hydrodynamic Flushing

Water and detergent flush out built-up soot and ash, using directed flow to reach deep into the filter’s structure. It’s the same principle as traditional cleaning – but with cleaner access and better flow efficiency thanks to pre-cleaning.

Impulse Drying

Here’s where the real innovation happens. Instead of relying on passive drying, Otomatic uses high-pressure pulses of hot air to remove remaining moisture and fine PM particles suspended in the rinse water. These would otherwise dry and settle inside the filter, compromising the very reason for cleaning.
👉 Learn why traditional systems often fall short »

AI Automation for Consistency

To support operators and improve results, Otomatic’s AI SmartClean™ system automatically adjusts the cleaning cycle to match the filter’s type, size, and contamination level.

This eliminates the guesswork:
- No more manually setting pressures or timers,
- No more inconsistent outcomes between operators,
- No more risk of damaging delicate ceramic structures.

The AI doesn’t replace the cleaning process — it ensures it’s carried out precisely and safely every time.

Euro 7 Is Coming – Your Workshop Shouldn’t Wait

The first Euro 7-compliant cars and vans will arrive in 2030, with heavy-duty vehicles following soon after. When they do, they’ll need DPF servicing that meets modern expectations — and if your workshop can’t deliver that, customers will go elsewhere.

Upgrading to hybrid technology now:
- Prepares your business for future vehicle standards,
- Delivers visibly better cleaning results today,
- Allows you to serve both older filters and the new generation to come.

💬 Explore why old machines may no longer be enough »

Conclusion – A New Era of DPF Cleaninig

Preparing for Euro 7 is not just about regulation — it’s about staying ahead in a rapidly evolving market. The filters themselves are changing. The demands of customers are changing. And the definition of a “clean DPF” is changing.

Otomatic’s DPF-Hybrid™ system, supported by SmartClean™ AI, helps you meet all these challenges with one solution — giving your DPF business a clear edge.