Particulate filter (DPF/OPF)

A particulate filter catches fine soot particles from the exhaust gas. On diesels it is called the DPF (diesel particulate filter), on modern petrol engines with direct injection the OPF or GPF. The filter fills up and must regenerate periodically: the collected soot is burnt off at a sufficiently high exhaust temperature.

That regeneration requires a trip of some duration at temperature. A usage pattern of nothing but short, cold urban trips can interrupt the regeneration, so the filter clogs and eventually needs a workshop regeneration or replacement. That is not a design fault but a property of the system; it is a factual point of attention with mainly short-trip use, not buying advice.

We mention the presence of a particulate filter as a factual characteristic of the drivetrain. Whether regeneration problems occur depends on use and maintenance and is owner-dependent; we show that as context, not as a model score.