An exhaust gas purification apparatus, for an engine having a combustion chamber, comprising an exhaust passage, a particulate filter arranged in the exhaust passage for removing particulate in exhaust gas exhausted from the combustion chamber by oxidation, and a device for controlling the characteristics of the exhaust gas flowing into the particulate filter, wherein, when the judging means judges that the particulate filter will be deteriorated by heat, the controlling device changes the characteristics of the exhaust gas flowing into the particulate filter to prevent the particulate filter from being deteriorated by heat.