A system for preventing the cleaning of the diesel particulate filter (116) comprises an electronic control unit (200) coupled to a proximity sensor (122), the electronic control unit (200) being configured to monitor the proximity sensor (122) and to determine that there is a predetermined distance between the proximity sensor and an adjacent structure (124) before the electronic control unit (200) will regenerate the diesel particulate filter (116). A method for preventing the cleaning of the diesel particulate filter (116) comprises the steps of electronically monitoring a proximity sensor to determine a distance from the proximity sensor to an adjacent structure, electronically comparing the distance to a threshold distance, and electronically preventing the cleaning of the diesel particulate filter (116) when the distances less than the threshold distance.
