PMM takes a look back on some of the DPF-related articles we have run with Kalimex and the DPF Doctor Network.
2022 was an incredible year for the DPF Doctors – members of Darren Darling’s independent DPF Doctor Network and a team of professionals at the top of their game with all things DPF related. The team at PMM want to thank Kalimex for working closely with the DPF Doctors to provide detailed content our readers have enjoyed all year round. As you may know, Kalimex is the UK distributor of the JLM Lubricants’ range of products, which it supplies to thousands of stockists throughout the UK as well as directly supplying the DPF Doctors. So, we decided to conclude the year end with a summary of the most popular DPF-related articles from Kalimex.
In this article, “Why it’s a big No for Forced Regens,” Darren and DPF Doctor Chay Blyth didn’t hold back: “Too many technicians promote themselves as DPF specialists when they have neither the skillset nor the diagnostic expertise to meet the standard required for a first-time fix. Yet there’s a massive financial gain for garages with genuine DPF knowhow to capitalise on the increase in blocked/damaged DPFs due to the stop-start short journey driving that’s been established in the last few years. They need to invest in their technical development,” says Darren.
Chay Blyth agrees saying: “Out of every 10 DPF assessments I undertake, 6-7 are damaged beyond repair. The main issue is a lack of understanding from the customer but also from other garages. There is widespread use of cheap additives with a high iron content being applied regularly (fire juice as it’s commonly referred to in the DPF Doctor network), incorrect cleaning techniques and mechanics simply hitting that forced regen button on the scan tool, hoping for the best.
What they don’t realise is that too many forced regens – as few as three – will melt the DPF! Yet I see mechanics not even asking a customer if their car has had a forced regen before and if products with a high iron content have been used. If so, in what quantity.”
“All too often I take a call from a desperate customer and upon asking the initial question: ‘Has your car been seen by another garage?’ I’m met with the standard reply of: ‘Yes. They initially told me to put some DPF cleaning stuff in the fuel tank from Halfords and to thrash it for twenty miles on the motorway. That didn’t work, so the garage tried several forced regens. Then I was advised to come to you.’ Unfortunately, by this stage, we’re almost always dealing with a damaged beyond repair DPF – across all makes of car.”
In another popular article, ‘The Importance of DPF Maintenance’, DPF Doctors shared a series of tips on how to keep a DPF in good condition including:
“One of the most effective things you can do is to change the oil and include an engine oil flush as part of the process. Carbon and diesel will accumulate in the oil, particularly on vehicles that are struggling to complete DPF regen cycles, and this contamination will promote DPF blockages. Clean oil helps to protect the DPF. Modern diesel engines are designed to trap emissions contaminants within the engine and exhaust to prevent them entering the atmosphere. One of the major drawbacks is that oil vapour is recirculated via the air intake with the intention of burning this off via the combustion process. The problem is that the oil contaminates the air intake which in turn traps soot particles, slowly constricting the air flow and the performance of the engine. Using a professional air intake cleaning process, such as the JLM Diesel Intake Extreme Clean System, will maintain engine performance, reduce emissions, and protect the DPF.”
To complete our look back on 2022, DPF Doctor style, we bring you the interview with Darren Darling in which he talked about the live, online, and interactive training he had developed. This was from the description of the unique training portal:
“There are three sections to the portal. Every workshop signing up for Darren’s training has unrestricted access to this for 12 months. ‘Live Training’ broadcast in full HD from Darren’s HQ in Ashington. Delegates can ask questions and Darren will answer them live.
‘Training Reruns’ section where every training session is uploaded so it can be viewed 24/7. Members can catch up on training and keep up to date at their own convenience. There are over 90 2- hour training sessions. Video Guides’ section – a searchable series with over 100 short training videos offering ‘just in time’ training. Ideal for when a technician has a job in their workshop, and they need guidance. Members can access the portal 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. They can also attend as many live training sessions as often as they like; no pressure to learn everything to perfection first time around.
