It ’ s not easy being a diesel driver in today ’ s world . Between clogged diesel particulate filters ( DPFs ), stricter EU directives and the highly publicised Paris agreement on climate change , the future of diesel looks bleak . Here , Mark Burnett , VP of the Lubricants and Fuel Additives Innovation Platform at NCH Europe , explains how using additives can make existing diesel technology less damaging to the environment .

If you ’ re a diesel driver , you will most likely have heard the horror stories of failed DPFs . One minute you ’ re driving down the road in a perfectly well-maintained car and the next minute your car has gone into limp mode , leaving you with limited electronics and only one usable gear with which to get to the nearest service centre .

In the worst cases , drivers have reported screeching noises coming

from the DPF shortly followed by plumes of smoke from the exhaust and an explosion of soot over the engine bay .

Despite the potential hassle , DPFs play an important role in capturing harmful particulate matter ( PM ), or soot , and oxidising it to prevent the car from polluting the air with high levels of noxious emissions .

The latest Euro six standard , introduced in September 2015 , sets limits on the amount of permitted emissions , including nitrogen oxide ( NOx ), carbon monoxide ( CO ), hydrocarbons and particulate matter .

Although it ’ s great that the UK is taking these steps — the latest figures from the UK ’ s Department for Environment , Food and Rural Affairs ( DEFRA ) show an overall decline in air pollution — there is not much benefit in acting alone . Cue , the Paris accord .

Designed to tackle the wayward direction of global climate change for the next hundred years , the Paris agreement is a deal struck between nearly 200 countries .

The key elements of the agreement include : keeping global temperatures well below two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial times , limiting greenhouse gases emitted by human activity , reviewing each country ’ s contribution every five years and rich countries helping poorer countries switch to renewable energy . It ’ s a historic step , and one that means 2017 could have signalled the beginning of the end for diesel technology .

For many people , however , this change cannot come soon enough . For years , there has been a perception that diesel vehicles are more environmentally-friendly than their petrol counterparts , when this simply isn ’ t the case .

Diesel cars actually produce just as much carbon dioxide as petrol and more noxious emissions .

The problem is that drivers , fleet managers and original equipment manufacturers ( OEMs ) in the industrial sectors have already invested heavily in diesel and it will take time to transition to cleaner alternatives .

Rather than wait for the change , OEMs in particular can do more to make their existing diesel vehicles less damaging to the environment by using fuel additives . Additives have historically been shunned because some actually reduced fuel economy instead of improving it and customers would have been better off using a more premium fuel instead .

Where additives do work is for specific tasks such as unclogging injectors , cleaning the fuel and , crucially , improving DPF performance

. NCH Europe ’ s DPF Protect additive , for example , reduces the temperature at which the DPF burns soot , from 550 degrees to 400 degrees Celsius .

Instead of waiting for the engine to get up to temperature — something that usually requires the vehicle to be driven at speeds of over 40mph for over ten minutes — the additive triggers the regenerative process by lowering the temperature at which the DPF activates , lowering the amount of dangerous particulate matter emitted into the air .

While it will still take many years for technology and legislation to bring about an overwhelming improvement in climate change , there is still more we can do in the here and now to make existing diesel technology cleaner .

www . ncheurope . com / en

As the cold snap continues and temperatures are once again expected to plummet , drivers have been given simple tips and tricks to stay safe despite the ice on cars and roads . Motoring giant Leasecar . uk issued guidance for motorists on how not to be defeated by ice , and to stay safe when driving in frosty conditions .

Checking tyre tread , being smart with de-icing and de-misting windscreens and knowing which gear to drive in will help motorists to stay safe in icy conditions .

The team at Leasecar . uk advised drivers to heat their cars up slowly to prevent the windscreen misting on the inside , and explained how to make simple de-icing sprays by mixing water with salt , alcohol or white vinegar .

Motorists can also create makeshift frost guards out of blankets or towels , especially if they are soaked in salt water and laid over the windscreen the night before .

Drivers should also keep to slow speeds in high gears to retain as much control of the car as possible – you may even find it better to start off in second gear .

If you skid , come off the gas , do not brake and steer into the direction of the skid in order to straighten up the car .

It is also advisable to stay on main roads as they are more likely to be treated or used well enough to have melted ice – or even simply avoid the journey altogether where possible .

Tim Alcock of Leasecar . uk said : “ Driving in icy conditions is never fun , so don ’ t make it any harder than it has to be .

“ Use our tips to stay safe on icy roads and keep the miserable business of de-icing and de-misting windscreens to a minimum .

“ Always be prepared for a breakdown ; make sure you ’ ve got your breakdown assistance details to hand , and that you have warm clothes and a torch in the car .”

Dos and don ’ ts for driving in icy conditions

Do

• Check the inflation and tread of your tyres – the legal minimum is 1.6mm but experts say it should be at least 3mm to be as safe as possible .

• Make sure your lights , mirrors and number plates are clear as well as all your windows ( you are legally required to be able to see out of all your windows )

• Remove any snow on the roof that might fall and obstruct your view as you drive .

• Drive slowly in as high a gear as possible

• Allow greater stopping distances

• Keep your oil , screen wash and fuel levels up .

Don ’ t

• Drive if you don ’ t have to ; if the road is icy and the journey isn ’ t necessary , just don ’ t do it .

• Pour boiling water on your windscreen to de-ice it – it ’ s a great way to crack it . You can make effective de-icing sprays by mixing salt and water , or even two parts alcohol to one part water , or three parts white vinegar to one-part water .

• Brake or accelerate quickly .

• Start the blower on hot to demist the windscreen . This actually causes mist by heating up air that then cools and condenses on the windscreen . Start the heater on cold and slowly turn it up as the air gets drier . You can even use air con along with the heater .

• Use anything but a proper window scraper to de-ice the car – you could damage the windows and windscreen and break whatever it is you ’ re using .