Do you own a diesel powered General Motors, Chevrolet or GMC truck spanning model years 2007 through 2021? GM has a new TSB out that you’ll need to be aware of.

Owners of certain 2007-2021 GM vehicles with a diesel engine may sooner or later get an error message declaring “CLEAN EXHAUST FILTER SEE OWNERS MANUAL NOW”  or something similar. If so, it’s vitally important you understand why this message is appearing and how to fix it.

GM recently released a Technical Service Bulletin that goes over this issue and how diesel owners should react if and when it happens to them.

Technical Service Bulletin: #10-06-05-002I
Release Date: 11/2/2020

Vehicles TSB #10-06-05-002I Applies To

  • 2007-2018 Chevy Silverado / GMC Sierra
  • 2019-2021 Chevy Silverado / GMC Sierra 1500
  • 2019-2021 Chevy Silverado / GMC Sierra 2500/3500/4500HD/5500HD/6500HD
  • 2007-2009 Chevy Kodiak / GMC TopKick
  • 2016-2021 Chevrolet Colorado / GMC Canyon
  • 2014-2015 Chevrolet Cruze
  • 2018-2019 Chevy Equinox / GMC Terrain
  • 2007-2021 Chevrolet Express / GMC Savana

With The Following Engines

  • L5D – 6.6L Duramax Turbo-Diesel
  • L5P – 6.6L Duramax Turbo-Diesel
  • LML – 6.6L Duramax Turbo-Diesel
  • LGH – 6.6L Duramax Turbo-Diesel
  • LUZ – 2.0L Turbo-Diesel
  • LWN – 2.8L Duramax Turbo-Diesel
  • LH7 – 1.6L Turbo-Diesel

GM-Trucks.com Silverado/Sierra HD Owner’s Forums

Error Messages You May Encounter

  • “CLEAN EXHAUST FILTER SEE OWNERS MANUAL NOW”
  • “CLEANING EXHAUST FILTER KEEP DRIVING UNTIL MESSAGE IS CLEARED”
  • “CLEANING EXHAUST FILTER CONTINUE DRIVING”
  • “DIESEL PARTIC FILTER IS FULL CONTINUE DRIVING”
  • and may also be throwing error code P2363

What Is A DFP?

These engines are equipped with a diesel particulate filter to clean the exhaust gasses before they leave the vehicle. This system requires a regeneration period to clean the “soot” or diesel particulates from the DPF system. The amount of time between regeneration periods depends on fuel consumed, hours of engine operation, miles driven, and other factors determined by the engine control module (ECM).

The DFP system should be able to regenerate automatically during normal driving. The driver may never know the system is undergoing a cleaning cycle.

However, there are several situations where the ECM cannot initiate a DFP regeneration cycle. Those situations include extended idling, stop and go traffic, and extended driving under 30 miles per hour.

If for any reason the diesel particulate filter cannot regenerate itself, one of the above error messages will display in the drivers information center.

What Can I Do If I Have a DPF Regeneration Error?

If your diesel powered GM vehicle trips one of the above errors regarding the DPF system, driving above 30 miles per hour until the error message disappears is the easiest way to fix this issue. Driving above 30 miles per hour will allow the DPF regeneration cycle to occur. The cycle is not complete until the error message goes away.

If you reset the error message and do not take action or continue to idle while this error message is present, you may damage your DPF.

The TSB Advises Dealerships To Educate Owners By Relaying The Following

  1. The importance of the message and responding to it immediately. Clearing the message will only make the message disappear temporarily and not correct the condition.
  2. Guide the customer to their Owners Manual or Diesel Engine Supplement and review the information titled: “Diesel Particulate Filter”, in order to familiarize them with the operation of the system.
  3. Extended idle time MUST be avoided while the message is displayed because the DPF system is not capable of self cleaning at idle.
  4. Instruct the customer that the most efficient way to clean the filter is to DRIVE the vehicle at more than 50 km/h (30 mph) UNTIL the warning message goes OFF.
  5. Ignoring the message and continuing to drive with the warning message ON and the exhaust filter not being cleaned as required will eventually result in the following:
    1. The malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) will illuminate at which point the DPF warning message will be displayed and a chime will also sound.
    2. Diagnostic Trouble Code DTC P2463 will be set as a result of excessive soot loading in the DPF.
    3. The Engine Power Is Reduced message will be displayed. The engine WILL operate in reduced engine power when this occurs.
    4. Once this occurs, self cleaning of the DPF is no longer possible and dealer service will be necessary.
    5. Possible irreversible damage to the DPF may occur, requiring repair or replacement