All diesel engines produce small soot particles (PM 10) due to the diesel burning as a liquid droplet rather than a vapour as petrol does.
These are the particles which the filter is designed to trap. PM10 particles are particularly hazardous to health as they are small enough to be inhaled and remain in the lungs.
The following gives a good account of the technology behind the DPF.
http://www.aa-academy.com/Training/Learning%20Zone/Diesel%20Particulate%20Filter%20(DPF).asp
I will nail my colours to the mast at this point and declare myself an eco warrior if that means that I am in favour of cleaning up the air in our cities.
When cats were introduced for petrol engines there were numerous scare stories which implied the end of civilisation as we knew it, as was the case when lead was removed from petrol. Much of this was based on ignorance of the technology and "bloke in the pub told me" scare stories. I am sure that in time as more people understand the workings of a DPF they will cease to be an object of fear.
Sorry link not copying over properly - may need to copy it into a browser
Edited by Vitesse6 on 17/02/2011 at 16:19
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