An exhaust gas treatment system for an internal combustion engine includes an exhaust gas pathway configured to receive exhaust from the engine, a diesel particulate filter (DPF) element positioned in the exhaust gas pathway to capture particulate matter from the exhaust, and a regenerator operable to increase a temperature of the exhaust that passes through the DPF element. The system also includes a controller configured to selectively operate the exhaust gas treatment system in a first mode in which the regenerator is inactive such that a temperature of the exhaust is within a first range, a second mode in which the regenerator is activated to increase the temperature of the exhaust to a first target temperature beyond the first range, and a third mode in which the regenerator is activated to increase the temperature of the exhaust to a second target temperature greater than the first temperature.