There has been an increase in demand for DPF deletes, with consumers seeking a tougher sound from their exhaust or gaining the perceived benefits of better horsepower and fuel efficiency.
It is important to know that legally, DPF delete kits are only for Racing Purposes, Holders of ADR exceptions, Holders of Primary Producer Exemptions within Australia, ADF vehicles, Certain categories of Mining Vehicles OR Export-destined vehicles that are no longer required to meet ADR standards. Once the product has been installed, the vehicle is no longer compliant with relevant ADR norms and, therefore, should not be operated, whether On-Road or Off-Road within Australia (Unless one of the above conditions apply).
Cutting the DPF out of a vehicle altogether or using a delete pipe carries great risks. For one, you might be bypassing the legitimate opportunity to supply a replacement DPF or charge appropriately for a correct vehicle issue diagnosis (which is generally not related to the DPF itself, see last month’s article “DPF Replacement or Deeper Issue”). Another legitimate concern is that you might be running the gauntlet with the Department of Transport and inviting your customer to come back to you for answers about any fines they may receive. You may also void the customer’s insurance policy in the event of an accident, as the police report would find that the vehicle has been tampered with and is deemed un-roadworthy.
Vehicles with time or kilometer-based regenerations that haven’t been tuned will try to regenerate even though there is no DPF present. This can cause large clouds of unburnt or partially burnt diesel to be released from the exhaust system, and in many vehicles, the removal of a DPF can cause the vehicle to go into limp mode as well as cause engine light illumination. With some late-model cars, removing the DPF may completely shut down the use of the ECU, meaning a trip back to the dealer for reprogramming or, in severe cases, complete replacement of the ECU. All of the above can be avoided if the vehicle receiving the DPF delete is tuned to support the modification.
It is incumbent upon the owner/operator of the vehicle to check and ascertain if the vehicle meets the regulatory requirements of Australia and/or the destination country after the product has been installed. They are responsible for checking their insurance coverage and vehicle warranty once this product has been installed.
With all of this in mind, we recommend communicating the risks to customers when they are making decisions in this space and saving some expensive headaches down the road.
To view our wide range of DPF's click here.
