Alfa Romeo Diesel Particulate Filters (DPFs) are often present in this manufacturer's vehicles and are built into the exhaust systems of newer models. DPFs are necessary to capture and eliminate Diesel Particulate Matter or soot from diesel engine exhaust. During the combustion of diesel fuel, smoke and tiny particles of soot and ash are produced, which are captured by the DPF. If the DPF fails, the vehicle can experience a buildup of exhaust back pressure, which can cause it to become immobile. DPFs are designed to last for over 100,000 miles, as long as the vehicle is operated correctly. When the DPF filter becomes blocked, it is unable to burn away all the excess diesel particulate matter that it filters from the exhaust. To remove the residue, the car must be driven at high speeds for a sufficient amount of time to raise the temperature, or the engine will inject extra fuel to increase the temperature and burn away the soot from the filter.
Alfa Romeo began fitting DPFs to their vehicles in the mid-2000s, with the Alfa Romeo 159, Brera, and Spider being some of the early models to feature the technology.
