May 2020

G asoline Direct Injection (GDI) engines perform better, are more economical and more environmentally friendly than indirect- injected petrol engines. However directly injected combustion engines become dirty internally at a much faster rate than indirect-injected petrol engines. According to Gilbert Groot, founder of JLM Lubricants, rectifying the root-cause is not straightforward: “As the fuel injectors are exposed to heat and the by-products of the combustion process, contaminations become baked onto the injector tip, blocking its fine holes - diameters are smaller than a human hair - and altering the spray pattern. Sophisticated engine management will compensate for this injector fouling by adjusting the fuelling automatically but only to a point. When the long term fuel trim deviates beyond a typical 25% from its standard setting, the engine warning lamp is likely to illuminate, accompanied by the reduced power 'limp home' mode. The challenges we faced were to address the symptoms and affect a cure and curtail future build-up. We rose to this and after extensive research and testing, the JLM GDI Cleaner was developed to remove stubborn build-up of dirt and to ensure that valuable parts in the engine stay clean. “With our GDI Cleaner we are offering the professional motor mechanic a unique one shot in-tank additive that has been developed with a 90-strong laboratory/testing team from a world class publicly listed company. It addresses a problem that is set to grow year on year. As the contamination process of a GDI engine is gradual the first issue that many owners report is either an illuminated engine management light, reduced power or excessive exhaust emissions causing failure at the MOT stage. Thereafter the first port of call for a fix is a professional motor technician.” No need to remove the Injector “The JLM GDI Injector Cleaner addresses the aforementioned problems by cleaning the inside of the injectors and the injector mouth, restoring fuel economy and lowering emissions. It offers mechanics a fully tested solution to a growing problem. Until now the options have been complex and expensive because of the need to remove the injector from the engine. And with more complicated injectors there’s the very real risk of damaging the vehicle when trying to remove it, notwithstanding that injectors are expensive to replace. By contrast, with the JLM GDI cleaner the application process is simple; shake the bottle, pour in the tank and test drive. It can also be used as a maintenance product on a ‘prevention before cure’ basis making it a must have in every workshop.” Testing with top results “Laboratory tests at the Millbrook Proving Ground in Bedfordshire during 2019 proved that JLM's GDI Injector Cleaner gave a faster and more complete clean-up performance, compared to other detergent technologies that tend not to focus on the contamination issues that GDI technology causes. The JLM GDI Injector Cleaning technology was tested against the leading traditional gasoline detergent technologies/ chemistries. “Our chemical formulation has been specifically designed for GDI application, whereas other detergents are for IVD and may, or may not, give limited GDI benefit. And for the professional workshop the speed at which the GDI Cleaner works is an important benefit,” said Gilbert. “During testing, the active ingredients were shown to remove and inhibit fuel injector contamination. Fuel consumption was also shown to have decreased by just over 4% during the tests. Particulate emissions reduced too. This was the reason why deposits levels within the intake manifold and behind the inlet valves were shown not to have increased during the tests with reduced soot levels being introduced via the exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve. Particulate reduction also highlights the environmental benefit of using this product regularly in a preventative capacity.” Optimal combustion benefits “Because the JLM GDI Cleaner cleans the extremely small nozzle-openings of the gasoline injector nozzles it enables 34 AFTERMARKET MAY 2020 TECHNICAL www.aftermarketonline.net TOP OF THE TESTS: JLM GDI INJECTOR CLEANER JLM Lubricants has developed a GDI Injector Cleaner that’s been tested by Millbrook Proving Ground in Bedfordshire Above: Fig.1 Below: JLM GDI Cleaner