The particle filter is a quite recent invention that is designed to take out harmful particles from the exhaust gases of latest diesels. It has long been seen as the miracle solution to these pollution problems. Nevertheless, it doesn’t work as well as designed and triggers more problems than it solves, which is why we will discover in this article when changing the particulate filter of a Opel Astra? . To do this, to begin with, we will identify what the particle filter on your car is utilized for, and then when to change the particle filter on your Opel Astra.

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What’s the purpose of a Opel Astra’s particulate filter?

So we commence our article with the reason to do this component recently integrated into diesel automobiles. As we outlined briefly in the introduction, the purpose of this filter was to solve the problems of pollution and harmfulness of exhaust gases from Opel Astra automobiles. Its functioning concept is to store exhaust gases that are unburned or that still contain harmful particles, and when it is at a sufficiently high temperature to trigger a second combustion that will finish burning and get rid of all these carcinogenic particles. Unfortunately, to reach this very high engine unit temperature, you have to be on the highway or have your Opel Astra engine unit revving up. So we have discovered as time passes that vehicles that are specifically on short trips or in the city do not allow the particulate filter to burn these gases and we will discover in the next section that these problems can force you to change the particulate filter of your Opel Astra .

When to change the particulate filter of a Opel Astra?

In this section we will identify what you are clearly attracted to here, if it is necessary to change the particulate filter of a Opel Astra and if so, when?

Is it necessary to change the particulate filter on Opel Astra?

There are 2 kind of particulate filter for vehicles, a particulate filter with additive, which does not concern the Opel Astra, but which needs to be recharged every 120, 000km with an additive that allows the regeneration of the particulate filter and consequently to burn all those harmful soot. The second one, the one we are keen on in this article, functions with precious metals that will create a chemical reaction at high temperature and trigger the regeneration of the filter and the evacuation of the carcinogenic materials. Nevertheless, as described above, it necessitates very high temperatures, if these are not reached the filter will clog. If the filter is not regenerated manually, drive at high speed for about 20 minutes to reach this temperature and thus regenerate your filter, you will clog it and risk damaging your turbo, your EGR valve or your engine unit. If you need to clean the EGR valve of your Opel Astra due to your particulate filter, do not think twice to look at our content on this subject to identify what the procedure is.

When to change the particulate filter of a Opel Astra?

As we revealed just before, a particulate filter is designed to last the life of the car, however some of you may possibly wonder when it is necessary to change the particulate filter of its Opel Astra? Take note that this component is extremely expensive, labor is not the most important problem because it is easy to access. But the component itself will vary enormously in price depending on your motorization, you can still count a range between 700 and 2000€. This change should only be considered in the circumstance of a completely clogged particle filter. If you don’t frequently take the motorway, we advise you, every month to drive 10 minutes on the motorway at least 3000 rpm . In spite of everything, the current particulate filter have not been well designed and remain troublesome, it is considered that due to the lack of a sufficiently frequent temperature rise and other design problems, you should begin planning to change your particulate filter from 200, 000km if you have a use of your XX that is more urban and a little more if it is mixed .

If you want more tutorials on the Opel Astra, go to our Opel Astra category.