How can fleet managers maximise efficiencies?
Dr David Phillips, technical director at Eminox, explains how operators, fleet managers and workshop professionals can maximise efficiencies and achieve necessary emission compliance.
Emissions compliance is nonnegotiable for anyone operating or maintaining diesel-powered commercial vehicles in emission control areas and densely populated urban zones.
Understanding the purpose and maintenance requirements of a diesel particulate filter (DPF) is imperative to keep vehicles running and compliant with the latest emissions legislation.
Therefore. Dr David Phillips from Emionx is here to explain how you can maximise efficiencies and achieve all necessary compliances.
Compliance essentials
A DPF is a critical component in a vehicle’s exhaust system, designed to capture and store soot particles emitted from the engine. These soot particles, also known as particulate matter (PM), are harmful pollutants that contribute to air quality degradation and public health issues.
A serviceable component, a DPF should be maintained on a regular basis to ensure it continues to comply with emissions regulations. Doing so will help ensure efficiency in performance, however, dashboard lights can appear at other times, primarily when a DPF becomes blocked. This is most typically evident through compromised vehicle performance, black exhaust fumes and unusual engine smells, and all can have a negative impact on achieving essential emissions compliance.
If any of these scenarios occur, there are options available to ensure the vehicle maintains the necessary levels of emissions compliance.
Supporting operations
As a DPF is an intrinsic part of a vehicle emission control system, a speedy replacement with a superior quality product is vital to ensure the vehicle spends as little time as possible out of operation. A DPF failure can have a detrimental impact on day-to-day business operations and a direct impact to fuel costs and vehicle performance.
To support vehicle operators and workshop engineers, replacement Euro 6 diesel particulate filters to fit all major truck brands including Mercedes, Scania, Renault, Volvo, MAN, DAF, and Iveco are available from Eminox. All are manufactured to OEM specifications, are type approved, are supplied with fully compatible fittings and have a three-year, unlimited mileage warranty. In addition to replacement parts, distributors and large fleet operators can also benefit from remanufactured DPFs. This exchange programme utilises market leading cleaning processes fully compliant with OE requirements giving confidence a quality cleaned DPF is being fitted.
Continued compliance
Knowing that vehicle DPFs are in optimum working order brings reassurance regarding vehicle compliance, continued performance, and minimal downtime. Therefore, it is important fleet operators and maintenance teams act responsibly to achieve this.
This is particularly important when driving in the ever-increasing amount of UK based Ultra-Low Emission or Clean Air Zones (ULEZ or CAZ) as significant fines can be applied for non-compliance. For those who operate vehicles on the continent, even higher standards of DPF testing are present in Belgium, The Netherlands, Switzerland and Germany and it is expected future adherence is likely in more countries.
Eminox is proud to have the following accreditations at its UK and European facilities – IATF 16949 accredited, ISO 9001 accredited, ISO 14001 accredited and ISO 45001 accredited.
