Ford of Europe is making diesel particulate filter (DPF) systems available across a large percentage of its vehicle model lines and will now also offer ‘retro-fit’ systems for the majority of diesel-powered models already on the road.
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New Ford Motorcraft-branded retro-fit systems will also be available to suit a wide range of older models, the company said on Friday.
Ford currently offers DPF systems for its Focus and Focus C-Max models. Current UK price lists, in fact, currently list both DPF-fitted Euro-4 and non-DPF Euro3-compliant models.
According to Ford, a DPF is now standard equipment for its Duratorq 1.6-litre 109 PS TDCi engine (a variation of the 110PS ‘HDi’ unit available in PSA Peugeot-Citroen models), and optional on the 2.0-litre 136 PS variant (offered as the ‘HDi 136’ engine by PSA in models such as the 206, 307 and 407. Peugeot UK is also currently offering some models in its price lists with the choice of Euro3- or PDF-fitted Euro 4-compliant engines).
The PDF systems on the Ford models rely on the use of a liquid additive to enable diesel particulates to oxidise at relatively low temperatures in the filter.
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By GlobalDataTo satisfy the heavy demand for these DPF-equipped models, particularly in Germany, the automaker has increased production as a result of increased availability of DPF systems.
Ford of Europe will also continue to develop advanced DPF systems for its next generation Duratorq TDCi engines (developed and built in a co-operative deal with PSA) with higher torque and power outputs exceeding 110 kW (150 PS).
The next Ford product to be equipped in production with a DPF system will be the Mondeo.
Although all Ford Mondeo Duratorq TDCi powertrains meet the most stringent Euro Stage IV emissions standard without a DPF, the popular 85 kW (115 PS) and 96 kW (130 PS) versions of the two-litre, Duratorq TDCi engine will be offered with an optional new ‘coated’ (C-DPF) system from early 2006.
In this system, the internal surface of the filter itself is coated with a catalyst to enable oxidation of particulates in the filter. A liquid additive, therefore, is not required.
The Mondeo Duratorq TDCi engine with C-DPF will initially be offered in Germany plus the Scandanavian, Austrian, Swiss and French markets. Other markets – including the UK – will follow shortly afterwards, depending on demand which in turn is largely driven by local governmental tax incentives or penalty regulations.
With the Mondeo offering the maintenance-free C-DPF system, Ford will soon offer three different DPF systems across its diesel product range.
“This demonstrates Ford’s commitment to delivering a range of technical solutions, each tailored to the demands of any type of diesel powertrain,” the company said.
As well as equipping new vehicles with filter systems, Ford of Europe is working on providing older cars calibrated to the Euro Stage 3 and 4 emissions standards with retrofit DPF systems. It will soon begin to market these kits as ‘Ford Motorcraft Retro-Fit’ systems.
“The intention is to offer customers every possible means of support to maintain the residual value of their vehicles while providing them with potential tax benefits as national governments take action on diesel particulate filter regulations,” Ford said.
National tax incentives and regulations in individual markets for diesel particulate filter systems will determine the future of the automaker’s supply plans for this third filter system variation.
Unlike the closed ceramic filter body used in the volume production models, the retro-fit kit consists of a wrapped metal foil system with trap pockets to filter the flow of emission gases.
Because the complex process of filter regeneration cannot be achieved through variations in the engine management system due to differences in injection strategies, for example, the retro-fit system relies on the filter’s natural regenerative capabilities under higher load conditions.
The retro-fit system has therefore been designed to be open, to allow the engine continuous and unrestricted operation even with a fully loaded filter. The overall efficiency of this filter system has been determined to be between 30 and 40%.
The Motorcraft retrofFit systems are being developed for the volume diesel models of all Ford vehicle lines. Ford intends to offer these aftermarket kits in any market where there is potentially significant demand.
