JLM explores the shifting relationship between drivers and diesels. As they’ve said before, diesels aren’t dead yet!
In December 2023, we contributed an article to PMM: ‘Electric Dreams or Diesel Demand?’ The crux was that the second-hand market for diesel vehicles would remain buoyant, that once the buzz surrounding EVs had died down, it would be business as usual. There remain many barriers in place to EV take up (less so the hybrids), the constant being the lack of charging points. If you don’t have several hundred pounds to spend on a home charging port, you’re reliant on an erratic charging system, with many chargers so slow you have no option other than to leave your vehicle tethered for several hours.
There has however been a reduction in the demand for diesel cars. In 2024 privately owned diesel cars were down by one million, compared to 2019 (-8.9 per cent) and had been displaced almost entirely by one million electric hybrid cars, 0.7 million. Demand for second hand diesel vehicles has not fallen as evidenced by the rise in used diesel car prices which have increased by 1.6 per cent in the 12 months to April 2025.
We’re not charging down the EV highway, yet.
“The research is interesting. Whilst it points to the inevitable dominance of EVs it’s a slow creep, led by the hybrids,” says Mike Schlup, JLM Lubricants UK. Sales of our diesel additives range continue to rise, year on year to motor factors and their technician customers.”
“Diesel drivers are keeping their cars for longer knowing that when they reach the end of their working life, there’s no going back. In the meantime, lubricants and additives that help keep their diesel in good condition are now seen as a necessity over a nicety. As has been reflected in research from Castrol, diesel owners are more likely to accept a technician’s recommendation for specific additives, based on proof of concept, not price. Cheap additives are being seen for what they really are. The stuff in the supermarket containing little or no active ingredients.”
The JLM Lubricants DPF range also includes a pro-only toolkit that will clean even a heavily blocked DPF, on vehicles. Other products can be sold to the customer in multiples, pointing to a growing income stream. JLM Lubricants DPF products for your workshop:
Diesel Particulate Filter Cleaner
- Contains the highest percentage of active ingredients including Cerium and Platinum which works at lower temperatures.
- Cleans the soot filter and reduces air polluting particulate matter hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and soot emissions.
- Reduces soot and fine dust emissions by up to 25%.
- Significantly reduces likelihood of clogging and increases DPF service life.
- Use at first DPF warning light.
DPF Pro Cleaning Toolkit
- Cleans and restores very dirty/blocked DPFs without removing.
- Use with the DPF Cleaning Fluid and the DPF Flush Fluid pack.
- Saves time and increases the number of DPF cleans in a working day.
DPF Regen Plus
- Perfect for servicing and in between workshop visits.
- Supports the regeneration process of DPFs.
- Regular use results in better DPF regeneration and a more complete oxidation of soot, improving DPF performance and reducing power loss.
- Cerium based for lower temperature regeneration and less ash.
DPF Refill Fluid
- Premium trade product, competitively priced for onboard dosing systems.
- Use as an alternative for all currently known manufacturers’ original parts numbers.
- Exchangeable fitments for different tanks.
The JLM Lubricants range of DPF products are part of the growing trend of repair over replace and products over parts. They deliver for the workshop, the diesel driver and the environment.
