Kalimex, the UK distributors of JLM Lubricants products, argues that DPF specialists should take special care amidst the cost of living crisis to ensure customers aren’t hit with a hefty bill to replace their DPFs.
With new car sales falling December 2022: “This toolkit is our friend. fast and motorists keeping their cars on the road for longer, the professional motor mechanic holds the keys to long term vehicle vitality. Recent years have seen the migration from parts to products as reliable vehicle fixes, not to mention the emergence of repair over replace. Underpinning all this is recent research confirming that motorists trust their mechanic to suggest high quality additives and lubricants, expecting these products to be top tier, not bargain basement. (Darren Darling refers to cheap as chips DPF Refill Fluids and DPF cleaning products for example as ‘Fire Juice’!) So, where’s your opportunity in this?
“The independent professional motor mechanic is, in effect, the fourth emergency service,” says Mike Schlup from Kalimex. “And for those workshops offering DPF services, they should have the JLM Lubricants range of DPF products centre stage. Because even the most badly blocked DPF can be cleaned on the vehicle and restored to normal settings – without a forced regen in sight.”
Here’s what Darren had to say about the JLM DPF Clean and Flush Professional Toolkit at the JLM Lubricants conference, December 2022: “This toolkit is our friend. Data is of course key in determining the condition of the DPF so when the JLM DPF Cleaner is not the right choice we use this because it thoroughly cleans a badly blocked DPF. I can clean the DPF on a vehicle and not have to raise the DPF temperature to extremely high levels which incidentally runs the risk of thermal damage. A vehicle with a blocked DPF can come into my workshop at 5000mb idle engine spec, when it should be below 10mb. And I can safely use this toolkit to bring it back within good operating specification. After the clean, I will take the vehicle on a 20-30 minute road test. It’s always satisfying to return and see the pressure back in alignment – right down, job done!”
Forced regenerations
Darren is forthright about forced regenerations of the DPF, commenting: “Every month we see hundreds of damaged beyond repair DPFs due to poor attempts at repairing the car. This is frustrating for the motorist and for us having to tell them they must now replace the DPF at a cost of thousands. In principle, cleaning a DPF is simple. However, they’re easily damaged by high temperatures and a misuse of additives. This tends to happen when garages reset adaptations to get warning lights out when it’s not safe to do so or, when they conduct forced regenerations. The problem is on the rise with more garages now keeping DPF repairs and cleaning in-house. Most DPF cleaning equipment is advertised as a straightforward way to make a fast buck when it is not. But at whose expense? The motorist. This is why I only endorse the JLM Lubricants range of DPF products. They get it right first time, on time, every time.”
Of course, if you’re offering a premium service using best-in-class products this should not come at a bargain basement price. Reassuringly many motorists are not looking for the cheapest service at the lowest price – they want a service they can rely on. However, it’s worth pointing out that with the JLM kit, because it’s simple and low cost, the workshop’s investment is a fraction of the expense compared to leasing or buying a big machine, which means payback within only a handful of jobs. For those workshops that still believe the only way to clean a blocked DPF is to either send it to a specialist or remove it from the vehicle, this is game changing stuff.
“You can be cost competitive using JLM products and still make a decent profit for your workshop,” says Barry Lawson, Ewan Lawson Motors. “Our sales are up on last year because our customers not only trust the products we use at the point of servicing and repair, but they also use them in between workshop visits as recommended by us.”
The JLM Lubricants range of DPF products also includes a Cerium Platinum DPF Cleaner to use at the first sign of a DPF blocking and a DPF Refill Fluid. JLM Lubricants also offers a Diesel and a Petrol Emissions Reduction Treatment – high specification formulas that are used in between workshop visits.
