Aftermarket October 2022

C hanging driving patterns are affecting exhaust systems, as LKQ Euro Car Parts Marketing Director Colin Cottrell observed: “Hybrid working means that shorter, less frequent car journeys are the norm for many. This can present challenges for vehicles’ exhaust systems, which need to run frequently to maintain peak performance. This is especially the case for DPFs. DPFs face blockages when they don’t reach a temperature that’s high enough, for long enough. This state is usually achieved through motorway driving, and helps to cleanly burn off the excess soot that naturally builds up through everyday use. Without this process, a car’s performance will be hampered. ”A DPF check has been part of the MOT since 2014, so this is something for garages to be aware of over the autumn, with peak demand having shifted to this time of year as a long-term consequence of the Coronavirus pandemic MOT exemption. “For independent garages, being able to offer carbon cleaning as a core service is a great way to drive revenue, 38 AFTERMARKET OCTOBER 2022 EXHAUST SYSTEM AND DPF www.aftermarketonline.net DOING IT RIGHT Exhaust systems are increasingly complex, so technicians need to keep up with the latest developments as legislation continues to tighten while increasing customer satisfaction and retention. Historically, DPF blockages required specialist maintenance, but LKQ Euro Car Parts now supplies cleaning solutions that can both shorten repair times for customers and reduce the need for garages to outsource. The Carbon Clean DCS-16 DPF cleaning system allows independent repairers to carry out DPF cleaning themselves.” Guidance Mike Schlup, MD of Kalimex, UK distributors for JLM Lubricants, observed: “Unfortunately there remains a significant lack of awareness on how to deal with diesel emissions problems and more importantly how to prevent them. We work closely with Darren Darling’s independent DPF Doctor Network and can feedback that they are seeing a huge number of cases where the DPF has been destroyed by unnecessary regens and overuse of additives. Sadly, such cases are referred to a DPF Doctor as the Last Chance Saloon when they should be the first people to contact. “What many workshops are missing out on is guidance on how to diagnose the underlying cause of DPF or diesel Earlier this year NGK introduced a range of EGR valves to its NTK Vehicle Electronics portfolio