Method for cleaning a component of an exhaust aftertreatment system and an exhaust system

A method for cleaning at least one component of an exhaust aftertreatment system, the exhaust aftertreatment system being located downstream of a combustion engine in an exhaust flow path delimited by an outer wall, the exhaust aftertreatment system comprising at least three devices, a first device of the at least three devices being releasably mounted in the outer wall upstream of the at least one component in the exhaust flow path a second device of the at least three devices being releasably mounted in the outer wall downstream of the at least one component in the exhaust flow path, the at least one component comprising at least a first component and a second component, the first component being located upstream of the second component in the exhaust flow path, a third device of the at least three devices being releasably mounted in the outer wall between the first component and the second component, each of the at least three devices being in the form of a sensor or an injector, the method comprising:

• sealing the exhaust flow path upstream of the first device and downstream of the second device;
• removing at least the first, second and third devices, thereby providing at least three openings in the outer wall into the exhaust flow path, so that a cleaning flow path of the exhaust aftertreatment system is provided;
• and
• introducing cleaning fluid into at least one of the at least three openings, so that the cleaning fluid flows across the at least one component via the cleaning flow path by:
• introducing the cleaning fluid into only the opening provided by removing the third device, such that the cleaning fluid flows in opposite directions across the first and second components, or
• simultaneously introducing the cleaning fluid into at least two of the at least three openings.