WHAT ARE THE LEGALITIES ON DPF MODIFICATION?

GUIDE DPF: Part 3

What is a DPF delete?
The most common modification you’ll see to the DPF system is the DPF delete. Essentially what this entails is the removal of the DPF unit from the exhaust and replacing it with a piece of straight pipe. There also needs to be modifications made to the ECU on the four-wheel drive, to ‘switch off’ the DPF system from the computer’s side, so it won’t throw codes or live life in limp mode. There are sensors for the DPF that monitor flow, pressure and temperature, to indicate to the ECU when to do a regen. If there’s no longer a DPF, there’s no need to regen, right?

Why would you do it?
The argument for a DPF delete goes like this: it removes the need to service the DPF and removes the possibility of the DPF failing, ‘possibly’ causing engine damage, or burning a hole in your wallet when you need to replace it (we’ve not heard of a DPF failure causing engine damage, however). That said, a DPF that has failed will throw error codes, drop you into limp mode, and will need to be replaced.

From a performance perspective, the delete reduces backpressure, so you get a slight increase in power, and you also do not have the gradual reduction in power as the DPF becomes clogged up before a regen. Most folks who rave about DPF deletes giving them ‘hooooge power gains!’ will have it done when they’re getting their vehicle tuned; so it’s a bit of a misnomer.

From an economy standpoint, deleting the DPF will increase your economy, as we said above, it injects raw fuel into your exhaust to complete the regen. There’s also the bit where if your four-wheel drive is becoming sluggish due to a half-full DPF, you’ll bury the right foot further to maintain your normal driving style. But, more about the ‘economics’ of a DPF delete next.

Click here to take a closer look:

* Based on U.S. outdoor track testing in September 2017 of current Discoverer A/T3™ vs. new Discoverer AT3LT™. Aust. Registered Design No. 201812526.

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DPF fines for NSW (similar around Aus):

WHAT ARE THE LEGALITIES ON DPF MODIFICATION? CONT'D

Vehicle owner/user:
The owner/user of a motor vehicle must ensure that any anti-pollution device that has been fitted to the motor vehicle has not been removed under the Protection of the Environment Operations (Clean Air) Regulation 2010.

On the spot fines of $300 apply to individuals. If found guilty by the courts, a maximum court-imposed penalty of up to $22,000 can be applied for an individual and $44,000 for a corporation.

Businesses who delete/modify DPF systems:
A person who removes, disconnects or impairs the operation of an anti-pollution device fitted to a motor vehicle is guilty of an offence under the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997.

On the spot fines of $1500 for a corporation and $750 for an individual applies. If found guilty by the courts, a maximum court-imposed penalty of $1,000,000 for a corporation or $250,000 for an individual can be applied.

"Maximum court-imposed penalty for an individual is $22,000!"

Is a DPF delete legal?
Okay, so the $22,000 question: is it legal, and can you get fined for deleting the DPF? The short answer is, yes you can get fined, and no, it’s not legal. We had a yarn with the NSW Environmental Protection Agency, and they confirmed it is absolutely illegal (because you’re screwing with the pollution gear on a vehicle), and the accompanying on-the-spot fine for driving a vehicle with a DPF delete is $300. That said, the maximum court-imposed penalty for an individual is $22,000!

Where this becomes more in depth, is that considering the fine you can get for deleting it is $22,000, you’d be better off leaving it on there, and spending that money on diesel. The question this begs, however, is how long would you need to drive your fourby, for the economy you’d gain from the delete to outweigh the fine … probably close to 300 years.

WHAT ARE THE LEGALITIES ON DPF MODIFICATION? CONT'D

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What is a DPF delete?
The most common modification you’ll see to the DPF system is the DPF delete. Essentially what this entails is the removal of the DPF unit from the exhaust and replacing it with a piece of straight pipe. There also needs to be modifications made to the ECU on the four-wheel drive, to ‘switch off’ the DPF system from the computer’s side, so it won’t throw codes or live life in limp mode. There are sensors for the DPF that monitor flow, pressure and temperature, to indicate to the ECU when to do a regen. If there’s no longer a DPF, there’s no need to regen, right?

WHAT ARE THE LEGALITIES ON DPF MODIFICATION?

Why would you do it?
The argument for a DPF delete goes like this: it removes the need to service the DPF and removes the possibility of the DPF failing, ‘possibly’ causing engine damage, or burning a hole in your wallet when you need to replace it (we’ve not heard of a DPF failure causing engine damage, however). That said, a DPF that has failed will throw error codes, drop you into limp mode, and will need to be replaced.

From a performance perspective, the delete reduces backpressure, so you get a slight increase in power, and you also do not have the gradual reduction in power as the DPF becomes clogged up before a regen. Most folks who rave about DPF deletes giving them ‘hooooge power gains!’ will have it done when they’re getting their vehicle tuned; so it’s a bit of a misnomer.

From an economy standpoint, deleting the DPF will increase your economy, as we said above, it injects raw fuel into your exhaust to complete the regen. There’s also the bit where if your four-wheel drive is becoming sluggish due to a half-full DPF, you’ll bury the right foot further to maintain your normal driving style. But, more about the ‘economics’ of a DPF delete next.

GUIDE DPF: Part 3

* Based on U.S. outdoor track testing in September 2017 of current Discoverer A/T3™ vs. new Discoverer AT3LT™. Aust. Registered Design No. 201812526.

Click here to take a closer look:

SCROLL TO CONTINUE WITH CONTENT

ADVERTISEMENT

Is a DPF delete legal?
Okay, so the $22,000 question: is it legal, and can you get fined for deleting the DPF? The short answer is, yes you can get fined, and no, it’s not legal. We had a yarn with the NSW Environmental Protection Agency, and they confirmed it is absolutely illegal (because you’re screwing with the pollution gear on a vehicle), and the accompanying on-the-spot fine for driving a vehicle with a DPF delete is $300. That said, the maximum court-imposed penalty for an individual is $22,000!

Where this becomes more in depth, is that considering the fine you can get for deleting it is $22,000, you’d be better off leaving it on there, and spending that money on diesel. The question this begs, however, is how long would you need to drive your fourby, for the economy you’d gain from the delete to outweigh the fine … probably close to 300 years.

WHAT ARE THE LEGALITIES ON DPF MODIFICATION? CONT'D

"Maximum court-imposed penalty for an individual is $22,000!"

DPF fines for NSW (similar around Aus):

WHAT ARE THE LEGALITIES ON DPF MODIFICATION? CONT'D

Vehicle owner/user:
The owner/user of a motor vehicle must ensure that any anti-pollution device that has been fitted to the motor vehicle has not been removed under the Protection of the Environment Operations (Clean Air) Regulation 2010.

On the spot fines of $300 apply to individuals. If found guilty by the courts, a maximum court-imposed penalty of up to $22,000 can be applied for an individual and $44,000 for a corporation.

Businesses who delete/modify DPF systems:
A person who removes, disconnects or impairs the operation of an anti-pollution device fitted to a motor vehicle is guilty of an offence under the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997.

On the spot fines of $1500 for a corporation and $750 for an individual applies. If found guilty by the courts, a maximum court-imposed penalty of $1,000,000 for a corporation or $250,000 for an individual can be applied.

DRIFTA LED POWER POLES
magnetic led
light strips
led twist lock
power poles
led power
poles

SCROLL TO CONTINUE WITH CONTENT

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