Our Services
From emissions testing and data analytics to duty cycle assessments and root cause failure analysis, Soot Science delivers precision diagnostics for cleaner, more efficient engines. We combine advanced technology with hands-on expertise to optimise performance, protect downstream systems, and keep your operations running at their best.
Engines are our thing, and that is what we focus on.
Exhaust gas profiling provides a powerful lens through which engine health can be monitored. It allows for early detection of wear, inefficiencies, or risk factors that could damage downstream systems like Diesel Particulate Filters (DPFs), or just plainly emit bellows of unwanted smoke and gas.
For DPF-equipped engines, a healthy engine isn’t just an environmental concern, they’re vital for operational longevity. Even minor upstream degradation can lead to excessive fuel consumption, filter clogging, and unscheduled downtime.
Our outcome-based approach assists customers with the design and implementation of their Emissions based strategy, as each site is different. We place particular focus on the following items:
- Providing specialized training to the customer’s staff, to ensure they can read and understand the emissions report and then know where to go to facilitate repairs. It is imperative that from the boots on the ground to Management understand what they are looking at
- Sharing our experiences allows for early problem identification and quick problem solving to seamlessly implement the strategy into operations without disruption.
These are the highly specialized tools we use to measure the exhaust gas emissions with. Since these are sensitive equipment, they require special daily care and dependent on use, more often than specified calibration.
Our technicians are specially trained to ensure the daily maintenance routine is executed properly, and to evaluate filter contamination throughout the day. (one very dirty test can contaminate all the filters, which will necessitate changing as to not contaminate the next test).
Calibration ensures that we can trust the values the devices are measuring. The manufacturer specifies calibration once a year, but we have found that the number of tests should be the qualifier, and not time. Therefore, depending on your operation, we can calibrate devices up to 4 times per year, to keep them testing optimally. The devices are calibrated locally, but only by specially manufacturers appointed and trained Soot Science staff members.
Anyone can take an emissions sample, but that doesn’t mean the data acquired is useful or comparable to already existing data.
To ensure our data integrity:
- Our technicians are trained on how to conduct the emissions tests the same every time.
- Where possible we make use of test points, this ensures that the measurement on a specific machine is always taken at exactly the same point,
- When using test points we make use of a connection convention to further improve testing consistency
- The software we use for the report only allows the technician to load in the raw data, everything else that needs to happen to arrive at a report does so automatically, without human intervention.
Our software allows us to generate the results report immediately after the tests are concluded, allowing for on-the-spot problem identification and repair facilitation. If the reports are shared on public platforms, then we also monitor these for consistency of the result.
The data is regularly analyzed for patterns, anomalies and improvements, and reported on or tracked weekly or as required.
The data is also used for the compilation of benchmark values per engine type, or per Tier/Stage type. These benchmark values are used to compare the measured values to, to identify problematic engines and pinpoint problematic engine parts, like injectors, worn piston rings, turbo wear or injection timing variation effects.
External factors we include in the reports (when available):
- Exhaust Back Pressure (BP) – Indicator of DPF saturation or flow restriction
- Exhaust Gas Temperature (EGT) – Proportional to engine load and efficiency, excellent identifier of parasitic loads, assisting to identify hidden inefficiencies due to mechanical drag or resistance
With the legislation in South Africa becoming stricter, customers are increasingly more aware of the risks posed to them by the engine, and the condition thereof, in the equipment they buy or have refurbished.
We have seen an uptick in requests for emissions tests to be done on equipment at the OEM prior to the customer accepting delivery.
The emissions test serves both as a baseline result for the customer to work from, but also provides peace of mind that they receive a healthy engine
Baseline testing is usually the first step for most customers that want to fit DPFs to their fleet. They use the information to gauge the engine health condition prior to fitment. Most DPF OEMs have specific pre-fitment requirements to ensure the longevity of their DPFs. The baseline testing provides both the customer and the DPF OEM with valuable decision-making information.
It is however true that Emissions Based Maintenance will not be applicable to all sites. For those customers we offer a once-off baseline testing service, whereby their whole fleet is tested and reported on. This usually provides the customer with a good overview of the state of maintenance of the equipment and identifies where possible problem areas are.
We have also seen some customers use this information to implement a more rigorous maintenance strategy or make decisions on replacement units to minimize their exposure.
Since the engine is the powerplant in the equipment, it is always tied to another device, or devices. Often times these devices can malfunction, adding additional loads, drags or negative impacts on the engine.
A duty cycle test is the only acceptable way to test if the engine and equipment are working together as intended. The results of the duty cycle test indicate whether intervention is required, as an imbalance will negatively affect the emissions profile of the engine, leading to high fuel consumption, or even premature failure.
As engine specialists we know engines inside and out, and often the failure of the engine is caused by something external to the engine. Failing to find the root cause of failure increases the risk that the replacement engine can fail prematurely from the same cause.
We specialize in assessing the failed components to determine the root cause and advise on improvements or corrective actions.
We measure, evaluate, and advise on the effectiveness of after-treatment systems including catalytic converters and particulate filters. Our focus is not only compliance but efficiency, ensuring these components function as intended, do not degrade engine performance or cause unplanned downtime.
“Your best asset is a trained workforce.”
We offer other engine specific training. If you are interested in a complete list, please get in contact with us for more information.
