Diesel particulate filter
P2463
Diesel Particulate Filter: Soot Accumulation
The filter that traps soot from a diesel's exhaust is clogged or isn't working as well as it should.
Fix it soon
Can I keep driving? For a short while, gently. Have it checked in the next few days, and stop if the car feels, sounds or smells different. The engine will limit its power as the filter fills. Left too long, the filter has to be replaced, which is costly.
Common causes
- Lots of short trips, so the filter never gets hot enough to clean itself
- A failed pressure or temperature sensor
- A faulty injector or EGR valve making extra soot
- The wrong engine oil
Listed roughly from most to least likely. The same code can have different causes on different cars.
What to do
- If it's safe and legal, drive at a steady highway speed for 15 to 20 minutes so the filter can burn off the soot.
- If the light stays on, have a shop run a forced regeneration.
- Use the low-ash oil your manual names.
General guidance. Your owner's manual wins. If a red warning light is on or the car drives differently, stop safely and get help.
Related codes
Track this automatically in Tagwell Auto
Tagwell Auto keeps your car's service dates and mileage, so when a code shows up you know what was done last. With a Bluetooth reader for the car's diagnostic port (called OBD-II), the phone app can read the code itself.