Circuit/System Description

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2008 GMC Sierra, 2008 GMC Cab & Chassis Sierra, 2008 Chevrolet Silverado, and 2008 Chevrolet Cab & Chassis Silverado. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

The particulates in the exhaust gases are collected by the diesel particulate filter (DPF). When the filter becomes saturated with particulates, they are oxidized by a regeneration process. The regeneration process increases the exhaust gas temperature, heating the diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC), and the DPF. The accumulated particulate matter in the DPF will then be safely converted to harmless gases and the DPF will then be clean and ready to filter additional particulate matter.

The engine control module (ECM) monitors the system with inputs from two exhaust gas temperature (EGT) sensors 1 and 2 and a differential pressure sensor. This diesel particulate filter diagnostic provides a means for monitoring the exhaust particulate filter (EPF) efficiency. The resistive exhaust flow is monitored to determine if a DPF substrate is missing or a defined DPF failure has occurred. The resistive exhaust flow is calculated from mass air flow and DPF differential pressure. This diagnostic will run after a successful regeneration event has completed. This includes a successful service regeneration event.