Commenting on the diesel particulate filter (DPF), opportunity emanating from the number of diesel vehicles on UK roads, Doug Bentley, Head of Research and Development at Klarius Products, said: “The popularity of diesel cars in the UK has well and truly peaked, but they still form a large proportion of the car parc. “It’s clear that garages will need to maintain these vehicles for a long time to come. This will involve repairing complex exhausts featuring DPFs, but thankfully, Klarius Products can provide the products and knowledge to help.” Complete replacement Doug continued: “According to government data, 8% of all new UK car registrations in 2022 were diesels, and as of Q1 2023, there were 10.67 million privately owned diesel cars on the road. Many of these vehicles adhere to Euro 5 emissions standards or above and will feature a DPF that will need to be maintained or replaced when it reaches its end of life. Unfortunately, over time, DPFs can become clogged with ash. The driver is usually notified of this via a check engine light or limp home mode. Like most faults, it’s more common on high mileage diesel cars, usually with 80,000 to 100,000 miles. It also manifests on vehicles that make numerous short journeys, which don’t generate the 36 AFTERMARKET OCTOBER 2023 EXHAUST SYSTEM AND DPF www.aftermarketonline.net heat required for DPF regeneration. “If driving style or mileage aren’t to blame, a sensor is probably the culprit. A faulty temperature or pressure sensor can adversely affect the active regeneration process. Failed sensors can also cause a fuelling issue, which can heat the internal DPF to melting point. Once the cause of the DPF failure has been identified, there are numerous fixes, like sensor replacement. Forced regeneration is another option, where diagnostic equipment induces the process to hopefully clear the device. However, in some cases, a complete replacement may be required.” Doug added: “Specifying a new DPF can be a minefield. However, choosing a type-approved replacement that has been tested on real-world vehicles of correct make, model and production year will ensure a replacement that fits and functions correctly. For this eventuality, Klarius Products provides an exceptional range of DPF replacements that meet or exceed OEM performance. More than that, Klarius has a dedicated technical helpline on 01538 752 561, with experts ready to support repair garages in problem solving, system identification and DPF ordering.” For more information, visit: www.klarius.eu Huge increase Changing requirements could mean big changes in the Above: DPF cleaning from Ivor Searle DOING IT RIGHT Despite the rise of EVs, garages will need to keep up to date with the latest developments around exhaust systems, and diesels are not going away either
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