DPF Filter Scrap Price and Some Ways to Sell it More Expensive

When you are having an old and malfunctioning DPF filter in your hands, the only question you may have in your mind is whether you can sell it and get some decent money. You may have heard that people manage to sell their converters and DPFs and get even more than they spent on buying a new aftermarket filter for their vehicles.

Today, we'll tell you how much an old DPF filter may cost - its scrap price may differ according to numerous factors. Also, we'll tell you how you can sell the DPF in order to get the best price offer. But bear in mind that things may change rapidly, so we'll give you a step-by-step instruction on how to learn the most up-to-date price for your DPF or cat converter.

Here's what we'll be discussing today:

1. Can you sell a DPF filter from a vehicle?
2. What's the average price for a scrap DPF and what does it depend on?
3. How can you sell your old DPF filter?
4. Why do businesses tend to buy these scrap parts?

Let's get started!

Can you sell a DPF filter from any car?

You may know that a DPF or Diesel Particulate Filter is usually installed in all diesel cars and you will not find it in any gasoline vehicle. It's used as a filter for particles that are formed during the combustion of diesel. Some DPFs are big and heavy while some are compact and light and this will affect their eventual scrap price.

Selling a DPF is not a hard task - many companies and private buyers will be glad to buy one. But unfortunately, the prices are different. One DPF may cost $20 while some others may even cost up to $800. Why? Because they contain different metals and precious materials.

Here's something you need to know about the DPFs:

• this part looks like a catalytic converter and it sometimes works like a catalytic converter, so locating it won't be an easy task;
• a lot of vehicles will have a DPF unit and also a converter installed separately in the exhaust system;
• sometimes, this part also comes with a heat screen because the temperatures are usually high here;
• the inner part of the filter contains ceramic honeycomb which is covered in certain catalysts like precious metals and other materials;
• the main task of DPF filters is to avoid soot and different particles getting into your muffler and then into the air;
• of course, over time, DPF filters get clogged and need cleaning or replacement depending on how badly they are damaged.

So, the DPF will be the first big unit that is installed in the exhaust system in your vehicle. Sometimes, pre-cats will also be used before this, they are installed directly near the exhaust manifolds. Then comes the DPF, but an EGR may also be installed before it. After that, comes a traditional cat and then a muffler. Of course, the combinations may vary according to the brand, model, and year of your vehicle.

So, if you've been thinking about whether a diesel vehicle has some converters to sell after they are clogged, then the answer is yes, it does. The only problem is that after deleting the DPF, in most cases, you will not be able to pass the fog test with your vehicle. It means that the car will need a replacement part which may cost you a fortune. So, can you sell the old DPF to buy a new one?

How much should an old scrap DPF cost?

Well, this question is too hard to answer with a short statement. We believe, currently, a DPF scrap would cost $20 to $800 per one unit. Why is the difference so huge? Because one unit will be sold as a scrap metal part while some others may contain up to 2 grams of rhodium and also some other precious metals like palladium and platinum. This makes such DPFs really expensive.

The reason that you can sell a certain DPF for $800 should make you think for a while before agreeing to any low-price offer you are getting in a local scrapyard. Hold on for a moment and think whether you can get a better price.

Here's what can influence the price of a scrap DPF filter:

• its model and year which is easily understood by looking at the serial number of the DPF;
• its purpose - DPFs from just small passenger cars are not that expensive while the ones from heavy equipment may cost a fortune;
• the size and type of the filter which are important if you can't find its serial number for precise estimation;
• the condition of the DPF - the heavily damaged filters can't be sold at really good prices, they are usually cheap;
• the prices for precious metals that your DPF has inside which is one of the key factors for estimating the eventual scrap price of the filter;
• the way you are selling the DPF - you may choose a company and even ask for a better price if you feel the offer is unfair.

Well, you can't change any of these factors but the last one. The only thing you can easily do is change the buyer of your DPF. For this, you will need to find a company or a private buyer ready to pay you more than a previous potential buyer offered to you.

Is it hard to do? Well, if you don't know anything about how recycling companies work in the US (and probably in other countries, too), it may be complicated. But once you know some more about them, you can easily check the best prices spending just 5-10 minutes of your time. Here's how you can do that.

Some ways to sell your DPF from a car

Selling a DPF is not a hard task if you know how to do it. First of all, you need to know the average price. Some services on the internet can offer you a paid prediction, but we don't think you should use them. The only thing you need is to take some pictures of your DPF filter and then send these pics to some of the recycling companies dealing with car catalytic converters.

The instruction is pretty straightforward:

1. Take the DPF off your vehicle (better with the help of a mechanic because you may damage it).
2. Take some pictures that would show the serial number and overall looks of the DPF.
3. In the next step, you are going to find at least three or even more recycling companies that deal with converters.
4. Use special forms on those websites you've found and send them pictures, you'll be able to quote.
5. After that, you will just need to wait until all these companies come up with some price offers.
6. Then, compare the offers and you will know the average price. Also, you can choose the best offer and just sell your DPF.

This is exactly how you can sell your catalytic converter if you need to do that. These companies buy out cat converters and DPF filters from people and businesses and then recycle them. They will sell all the precious metals that they will get during the recycling process and will get some revenue.

Of course, you may still want to try and sell your DPF via eBay or some other online marketplace or forum. But at least, you will know the average price and you will have some point to base on when coming up with the price you want to get for the scrap part.

What about other businesses that buy DPFs and converters?

Well, it's pretty predictable that you should ask about other buyers. You may think that we are promoting recycling companies and forgetting about all other businesses and private people that can buy DPFs. But we aren't. Why should we?

Here are some other ways to sell your DPF and some drawbacks we've noticed:

• Scrapyards - they are going to give you fast cash but they won't offer a good price. These guys want to resell your DPF, they never actually recycle these parts.
• Private buyers - these are the guys who will find your ad on eBay or in some forum. They are good to sell your DPF to unless the filter is deadly clogged or damaged.
• Middlemen - these are professionals who will give you quick cash, but they are just resellers and you can't expect they will pay you more than a recycling company.
• Exhaust shops. Another way is to sell your DPF right to the exhaust shop that does the job of replacing this part for you. But the price will probably be even lower than in case of scrapyards.

You can see that nearly all other methods of selling your catalytic converters and DPFs are not as lucrative as recycling companies. But to know it for sure, you may try. Just find some other guys and companies willing to buy the old DPF. You'll see how much they offer and will be able to make the right choice.