Method and device for the continuous determination of damage to systems used for the post-treatment of heat engine exhaust gases

The invention relates to a method for the continuous determination of the damage to at least one system ( 7 ) used for the post-treatment of exhaust gases from an internal combustion engine ( 2 ), caused by the lubricating oil, the fuel and/or at least one lubricating oil additive and/or fuel additive used. The inventive method consists in: (i) using a determined quantity of at least one radiotracer in order to modify the lubricating oil, the fuel and/or the additive for which the impact on the post-treatment system ( 7 ) is to be measured; (ii) measuring the quantity of radiotracer originating from the exhaust gases which has accumulated in the post-treatment system ( 7 ), said measurement being taken using a detector ( 10 ) which is sensitive to radiation emitted by the radiotracer that has accumulated in the post-treatment system ( 7 ); and (iii) transmitting the measurements taken by the detector ( 10 ) to a programmed computer ( 11 ) which can convert said measurements into the degree of damage caused to the post-treatment system by the lubricating oil, the fuel and/or the additive(s). The invention also relates to a device which is used to implement the inventive method.