GSF warn garages against risky DPF removal
GSF Car Parts are working to raise awareness amongst independent garages of their Professional DPF Cleaner as a low cost alternative to risky removals or expensive repairs.
The national motor factor’s campaign follows an announcement in April that government would be investigating diesel particulate filter (DPF) removal ahead of a crackdown.
In 2014 a ‘visual inspection’ for DPF was added to the MOT. Up until April this had led to 1,188 vehicles being found without DPFs, according to figures obtained from the Department for Transport (DfT) by the Guardian in April.
Commenting on these low detection levels, Dave Garratt, chief executive at the Garage Equipment Association (GEA), said: “Visual inspection does not actually tell you if there is a core in the canister.”
The DfT has now commissioned research to find ways to accurately detect DPF removal by measuring exhaust fumes, to potentially implement with other changes to the Roadworthiness Directive, already scheduled for 2017-18.
GSF’s Professional DPF Cleaner was developed during 2015. The non-flammable solution – suitable for all aluminium, magnesium, zinc or cadmium parts - is supplied in 5 litre packs, and GSF say it offers a unique alternative to garages looking to clear diesel particulate filter (DPF) blockages quickly, effectively and profitably.
The DPF is simply removed from the vehicle and filled with the solution overnight. The liquid gently breaks down and cleans the residues. Afterwards, it’s just rinsed with clean water and refitted.
In tests, Vetech DPF Professional Cleaner has been shown to remove all visible dirt, soot and ash trapped in the filter cores. Even the worst examples have all been returned to over 95% of their ‘as new’ capacity.
GSF say the treatment is incredibly cost effective compared to the other legitimate options of DPF replacement, specialist off-site cleaning services or machine-based treatments reliant upon capital equipment.
“The response has been incredible from the garages that have tried it,” said John Wright, Head of Garage Equipment and Customer Development at GSF. “We visited a garage last week about something unrelated but noticed a car on the ramp without the DPF. The owner told me he’d sent it away for cleaning and he was going to be waiting nearly a week with a ramp tied up.
“We told him about the Vetech DPF cleaner and he ordered it there and then to have ready on the shelf for next time.”
Almost 29,000 deaths are attributed to particle pollution each year in the UK, according to a report published by DEFRA in September 2015.
Besides the threat to health, the thousands of businesses still offering DPF ‘deletion’ services rely on unsuspecting motorists not realising that the vehicle may later fail its MOT. The law states that it is now illegal to drive a vehicle in the UK without a DPF if it was originally designed with one. Other risks include invalidating car insurance.
Importantly, DPF blockage can often be a symptom only. Faulty injectors, throttle bodies, EGR valves and sensors can all be underlying causes. Deletion services are a risky and unreliable ‘cheat’ as the shortcut will typically not involve a thorough diagnostic or fix.
John Wright added: “The cost of removing a DPF is likely to be more than it is to treat it with the new Vetech DPF Professional Cleaner anyway.”
Garages are advised to contact their local branch for details. There’s even a brief video of the product being tested by a garage available to view here.
Further Information
James Onions T. 07966 138883 | james.onions@thinmarketing.co.uk | www.gsfcarparts.com
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