Diesel Particulate Filters (DPF) have
made their way to the North American market. And, according to LIQUI MOLY,
nothing sucks the performance of a diesel powered vehicle faster than a clogged
diesel particulate filter (DPF).
LIQUI MOLY has introduced a solution to
bring a customer’s diesel vehicle back to life with a DPF cleaning kit that can
become part of a repair shop’s standard service offering. Customers will
immediately feel the difference after this critical service is performed, the
company states. The DPF service can be completed without removing the filter
from the vehicle and should be performed at standard intervals to maintain
performance.
LIQUI MOLY teamed up RSP Motorsports of
Komoka, Ontario, Canada, to put the value of the DPF cleaning kit to the test.
The test vehicle was a 2007 Mercedes ML 320 CDI that was in for diagnostics by
the customer with a CEL, complaining of heavy throttle response and higher fuel
consumption. The read-outs from the DME control modules showed fault codes in
common with rail diesel injection with the diesel particulate filter plugged
[fault code P2626-001 CD14]. The vehicle was placed on an AWD chassis dyno for
testing. The testing showed significantly slowed throttle response and
decreased vehicle performance, LIQUI MOLY says.
The two choices were to replace the DPF
at a cost of more than $3,000 or perform the DPF Cleaning Service for $350. The
vehicle was serviced with the LIQUI MOLY DPF cleaning kit. Once the service had
been completed, the DME modules were cleared and reset and the vehicle was
placed back on the AWD chassis dyno to repeat the testing from the beginning of
the process.
The results:
• The CEL did not illuminate, which
means the particulate filter checked out OK as it related to the measurements
by the diagnostics and the DME software.
• Maximum engine HP and torque had
increased between 2,000 to 4,000 RPM (4-8 percent)
• The engine performance (HP) increased
by up to 36 percent, which had a substantial impact on fuel economy.
To see the DPF kit in action, go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=020MdntTw34.
