Nissan Navara DPF problems and cleaning
A DPF warning light on a Navara usually means soot is building up faster than the pickup can burn it off. We read the codes where the Navara is parked and clean the filter on site for £275 + VAT, so it can go back to work the same day.
DPF warning signs on a Navara
Any one of these is worth getting checked before the filter blocks completely.
- A DPF or diesel particulate filter warning light on the dash
- The pickup feeling flat when it's loaded or towing
- Limp mode, with the revs held down until the fault is cleared
- The cooling fan running on after you switch off, or a raised idle, which can mean a regeneration was cut short
- Fuel use creeping up with no change in how the Navara is used
Why DPFs block on a Navara
A DPF clears itself by burning soot off at high exhaust temperatures, which needs a decent run at steady speed. Pickups that idle on site and stop and start all day are hard on DPFs, because the filter rarely gets hot enough for long enough.
Other faults can fill it early too. A sticking EGR valve, a leaking injector, a faulty pressure sensor or the wrong grade of engine oil can all add soot or confuse the ECU. Our blocked DPF guide covers each one.
What we do about it
The first step is a diagnostic check for £100 + VAT, carried out at your yard, site or home. If the readings show a soot blockage, we clean the DPF with the filter still fitted for £275 + VAT, using a cleaning solution followed by a forced regeneration.
We can also delete the DPF in the software for £220 + VAT.
Why does my Navara's DPF keep blocking?
Usually because the regenerations aren't finishing. Short hops, long idling on site or a fault such as a sticking EGR valve all stop the filter clearing itself, so we look for the cause as well as cleaning it.
What does the DPF warning mean on a Navara?
It means the ECU thinks the filter is holding more soot than it should. On a D40 or an NP300, the light is the early warning, and catching it then usually keeps the job to a clean.
Can I keep using my Navara with the DPF light on?
Short trips will make it worse. If the light is steady and the pickup feels normal, book a check soon, but if it's flashing or the Navara has gone into limp mode, keep use to a minimum until it's looked at.
Will a forced regeneration clear it?
Sometimes, if the filter is only lightly loaded. When the soot has packed hard, a regeneration on its own often fails part way, which is why we put the cleaning solution in first. Our forced regeneration guide has more.
Is a Navara DPF delete legal?
Not on a pickup driven on UK roads. We delete Navara DPFs for off-road and export use only, and our guide on DPF removal and the law explains why.
Sort the DPF problem on your Navara
Give us the registration and tell us what the dash is showing, and we'll arrange a visit to your yard, site or home. Other Nissan models are on our Nissan DPF page.
If the same pickup has an EGR fault or needs more pull for towing, see Navara EGR problems and Navara remapping.
Eccles, Manchester M30 0SF