Suzuki VITARA Series, Owner'S Manual

Page: 158 / 482

3-18
OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE
54P00-01E
Diesel particulate filter (DPF
®
)
(For diesel engine model)
The DPF
®
filters off the soot particles in
the exhaust gas, so the DPF
®
could get
clogged depending on the driving condi-
tion. The DPF
®
is cleaned by the regener-
ating function that combusts the soot
particles in the DPF
®
by raising the
exhaust gas temperature during driving or
idling.
When a certain amount of soot particles is
accumulated in the DPF
®
, the DPF
®
will
regenerate automatically to avoid clogging
the filter. When the DPF
®
regenerates
during idling, the engine revolutions will
increase by about 100 rpm and the radia-
tor fan will operate. Therefore, you may
hear a little louder engine sounds (includ-
ing the fan sounds) and/or the exhaust gas
temperature could be higher due to com-
bustion of the soot particles.
NOTE:
When you drive or idle your vehicle, white
smoke may be emitted depending on the
grade of fuel used.
This is due to automatic regeneration of
particle filter. It does not affect the way the
vehicle runs.
DPF
®
warning light
64J244
If the DPF
®
warning light comes on when
driving, the DPF
®
is nearly clogged. You
should regenerate the DPF
®
when the
DPF
®
warning light comes on. To go out
the warning light, the vehicle must stay in
motion until regeneration has been com-
pleted.
The process normally takes about 25 min-
utes.
The optimum condition to end the process
is achieved by keeping the vehicle in
motion at a speed of 50 km/h (31 mph) or
higher, or an engine speed higher than
2,000 rpm.
However, you should drive carefully and
within the legal speed limit, and should
take into consideration the surrounding
traffic condition.
If you drive your vehicle until the light goes
out, the regeneration of the DPF
®
will be
completed.
NOTE:
When the soot particles accumulated in
the DPF
®
are combusted, the amount of
the engine oil may increase due to the dilu-
tion with the fuel. This is not a vehicle mal-
function. The soot particles accumulated in
the DPF
®
are combusted automatically
during driving. However, they may not be
combusted in the following cases.
• When you drive at low speed for a long
time.
• When you repeat a short-time or short-
distance driving.
1) When the DPF
®
warning light comes
on, drive at a speed of 50 km/h (31
mph) or higher for more than 25 min-
utes to regenerate the DPF
®
properly.
For details, refer to “Diesel particulate
filter (DPF
®
) (For diesel engine model)”
in this section.
2) When the oil change request light
blinks, change the engine oil and oil fil-
ter, and reset the oil life monitoring sys-
tem. To reset the oil life monitoring
system, consult your SUZUKI dealer.
CAUTION
Keep away from the exhaust pipe
when the engine is running. If the
DPF
®
is regenerating, the exhaust
gas temperature could be higher.
NOTICE
Regenerate the DPF
®
when the DPF
®
warning light comes on. Failure to
regenerate the DPF
®
will cause a
vehicle malfunction due to the
clogged filter.