Mention the word additives and it will drive some technicians into a fierce debate. Should they be on the table or not? Mike Schlup, managing director of Kalimex, lays out some truths and untruths for PMM readers.
Cast our minds back a few years and you can see why for many mechanics additives have been off the table. Cheap as chips additives have made their way onto the shelves with many carrying bold claims not worth the paper they’re written on. For a time-pressed technician with high standards, figuring out the good guys from the bad ones is too long winded a process.
However, good quality additives with an audit trail showing their recognised testing credentials and, with clear labelling of their active ingredients should play a pivotal role in the workshop for many legitimate reasons. First off, they’re part of the growing trend of repair over replace and with motorists feeling the pinch at the pumps and at home, decent additives can help keep their vehicle in good condition with the added bonus of improved fuel economy. For the technician they can also create a new income stream with repeat purchase patterns.
DPF range
JLM initially built its name on the DPF range of products which still head up our leader board today. Take the JLM DPF cleaner, for example. Unlike many on the market including products marketed as premium, it doesn’t contain an iron-based catalyst which results in increased levels of ash deposits, and which assists particle burn by artificially increasing the temperature of the DPF. Instead, it contains cerium and platinum – precious metals which help carbon deposits in the DPF burn off at a lower temperature – around 400 C. This not only helps protect and extend the life of the DPF core, but it also produces less ash, again extending DPF life.
This hi-tech approach pretty much represents every product the JLM team develops. It must be fit for purpose in the workshop and contain the highest percentage possible of active ingredients.
Other products from the JLM stable in demand in workshops and sold to customers in between service visits include the GDI Cleaner. This specifically targets the tip of the injector of direct fuel injected engines, with more efficient fuel injection and less fuel consumption as a result.
This product is used on many vehicles including ones technicians class as hopeless cases. In fact, with this product we were entering an existing sector which had room for improvement. The formula was put through a number of exacting tests on real vehicles in real workshops. Within 60 minutes of application the injection pattern and the emissions were restored to the factory settings on all vehicles tested.”
Petrol systems
Petrol extreme clean is another JLM product mechanics regard as a workshop hero. It’s the solution to late model cars and engines with severe build up and blocking problems in various parts of the fuel system. These contaminations are tough and hard to dissolve with regular fuel additives. This product is suitable for all petrol engines including direct injection with or without a turbo or catalytic converter. The special detergent cleans the fuel system including injectors, inlet and outlet valves, spark plugs and combustion chamber. For diesel vehicles JLM’s diesel extreme clean cleans the entire fuel system with lower emissions and fuel consumption as a result. And the diesel injector cleaner makes light work of the tough job of cleaning the injectors, again saving fuel and restoring engine power.
Other JLM products worthy of a shout out for your workshop include:
EMISSION REDUCTION TREATMENT DIESEL
- Use before the MOT to reduce emissions and soot.
- Cleans the entire diesel fuel and exhaust system.
- Protects the Catalytic Converter.
- Increases engine performance.
- Promotes the regeneration of the DPF.
EMISSION REDUCTION TREATMENT PETROL
- Use before the MOT to reduce emissions and particulates.
- Cleans the entire petrol fuel and exhaust system.
- Protects the catalytic converter.
- Increases engine performance.
- Increases vehicle efficiency.
JLM ADBLUE PLUS
- Cleans and prevents crystal formation in the AdBlue dosing system.
- Conditions the AdBlue fluid for a longer time to ensure proper working of the AdBlue and SCR system.
- Reduces foaming at low temperatures.
- Prevents performance loss and the knock-on expensive repairs.
- Add to the AdBlue reservoir before filling.
