Notices
6.4L Power Stroke Diesel Engine fitted to 2008 - 2010 F250, F350 and F450 pickup trucks and F350 + Cab Chassis

Exhaust cleaning mode

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Apr 28, 2011 | 05:00 PM
  #1  
Bubba6.4's Avatar
Bubba6.4
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Exhaust cleaning mode

What is the big deal about driving until cleaning exhaust mode light goes off. Took a 150 mile trip, tired ready to stop and relax, light was still on should I keep on driving? or will this damage the truck?
 
Reply
Old Apr 28, 2011 | 06:01 PM
  #2  
SUPERDUTY_08's Avatar
SUPERDUTY_08
Elder User
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 682
Likes: 1
Originally Posted by Bubba6.4
What is the big deal about driving until cleaning exhaust mode light goes off. Took a 150 mile trip, tired ready to stop and relax, light was still on should I keep on driving? or will this damage the truck?
shut the truck off and go to bed. You may want to put it in park and let it idle a few mins to cool down. But expect it to go into regen the next time you drive.
 
Reply
Old Apr 28, 2011 | 11:18 PM
  #3  
powerstroke72's Avatar
powerstroke72
Super Moderator
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Liked
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 24,308
Likes: 42
From: SW Virginia
Moved to the 6.4L Powerstroke Diesel forum.
 
Reply
Old Apr 29, 2011 | 05:10 AM
  #4  
senix's Avatar
senix
Super Moderator
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Top Answer: 1
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 37,379
Likes: 1,863
From: Frederick, MD
Club FTE Gold Member
Shutting it off when the cycle is not complete once in awhile won't hurt too much. If it was far enough along in the event then it may not come on.

If you just started then it will most likely come on as soon as the motor/exhaust get up to the min temp necessary.

In some instances it may come on a little sooner with the "drive to clean" message. That is the attempt to make you drive because it really needs cleaned.

Do let it idle just a minute or two to cool things down if you do put the truck in park. That exhaust is hot and you have unburnt fuel in the motor that you don't want to just sit there and seep into your oil.
 
Reply
Old Apr 29, 2011 | 12:07 PM
  #5  
Bubba6.4's Avatar
Bubba6.4
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Thanks for the reply i talked to a Ford dealer rep @ jim burke ford He Said you Should keep driving but this does not make sense ithink it should reset itself next time you drive i taiked to several Ford reps and they don't have a reasonable answer i had to replace exhaust filter once already and they said it was because i did't drive truck until cleaning light went off.
 
Reply
Old Apr 29, 2011 | 12:34 PM
  #6  
senix's Avatar
senix
Super Moderator
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Top Answer: 1
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 37,379
Likes: 1,863
From: Frederick, MD
Club FTE Gold Member
You really want it to finish as much as possible. That is what is best.
You can also try using tow/haul to keep the rpms up if you are in city traffic.
 
Reply
Old Apr 30, 2011 | 10:55 AM
  #7  
galaxie641's Avatar
galaxie641
Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 4,517
Likes: 3
From: SE Wyoming
When it gets really bad the truck will go into regen pretty much immediately every time you put it in D, if it is doing that you need to drive it to completion. I've had this happen twice where the truck went on several short trips then was put in park and wasn't able to regen long enough and there was just no way around it until I got out on the highway.
 
Reply
Old Mar 7, 2012 | 10:32 AM
  #8  
King Ranch Cold Lake's Avatar
King Ranch Cold Lake
New User
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
I have a 2009 F-350 Super Duty (King Ranch) Diesel. There is an engine exhaust cleaner with this vehicle. The exhaust cleaner activates every 300 kms (185 miles). When the exhaust cleaner is activated you are suppose to continuously drive at 80 kms or faster (50 miles/hour) until the exhaust cleaner has completed it's cycle. The problem that I have is when you can't continuously drive 80 kms or faster until the cycle has completed. This happens when I am driving in the city. In this instance blue smoke will bellow out of the exhaust pipe. Not a good thing to see. Nobody likes to see an excessive amount of blue smoke bellowing out of the exhaust pipe. Is this normal? The Ford technician tells me that you have to drive it on the highway and there won't be any blue smoke. I find this odd and believe that there is something else wrong with the vehicle. I am going to try your advice and place the vehicle in "Tow" mode next time I am in the city and the vehicle attempts to clean the engine exhaust.
 
Reply
FTE Stories

Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts

story-0

Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalytic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

 Brett Foote
story-3

Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

 Joe Kucinski
story-4

AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make

 Brett Foote
story-5

Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-6

Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?

 Brett Foote
story-9

2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!

 Michael S. Palmer
Old Mar 7, 2012 | 10:47 AM
  #9  
senix's Avatar
senix
Super Moderator
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Top Answer: 1
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 37,379
Likes: 1,863
From: Frederick, MD
Club FTE Gold Member
keeping the rpms up will help some. Trouble is your driving habits and location. Driving in the city/slow sppeds is at odds with the emission system.

Trying getting it out on the road for the cleaning cycle to get it done and over with.
 
Reply
Old Mar 7, 2012 | 02:44 PM
  #10  
powerskull's Avatar
powerskull
Freshman User
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 48
Likes: 0
I dont understand what speed has to do with anything. I would think it is RPM and the speed is just a point that the rpms are at the right spot. I use tow/haul when the regen comes on in the city.

I am not going to get a divorce over this truck because I have to micromanage the way my wife drives it. I also don't always drive on the freeway and what do people do that don't have a freeway?

I do drive to clean and go out of my to let it finish and I have now brainwashed my wife into doing the same thing.
 
Reply
Old Mar 7, 2012 | 03:02 PM
  #11  
captainkbt's Avatar
captainkbt
Junior User
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 64
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by Bubba6.4
Thanks for the reply i talked to a Ford dealer rep @ jim burke ford He Said you Should keep driving but this does not make sense ithink it should reset itself next time you drive i taiked to several Ford reps and they don't have a reasonable answer i had to replace exhaust filter once already and they said it was because i did't drive truck until cleaning light went off.
I will use that next time I am late for work....."sorry chief.....had to let my truck regen". Point is, what the rep told you is kinda impractical. You cant always just "keep driving" or even sit there and let it idle.
 
Reply
Old Mar 7, 2012 | 03:24 PM
  #12  
powerskull's Avatar
powerskull
Freshman User
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 48
Likes: 0
I reset the trip odometer each time I finish a regen that way I know when or about the next one will come. I average 200-250 miles in the winter and 300 in the summer. My regen also last 20 min/ 20 miles almost to the dot. Letting your diesel cool down after a regen or heavy use is just good practice.
 
Reply
Old Mar 7, 2012 | 05:05 PM
  #13  
King Ranch Cold Lake's Avatar
King Ranch Cold Lake
New User
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Thanks for all the advice on the regen. I will try the tow/haul next time I am stuck in the city and the regen comes on. Just find it odd that it is designed to work on the highway. We aren't always on the highway when the regen starts. The blue smoke coming out of the exhaust is always embarrassing and can't be good for the engine.
 
Reply
Old Mar 9, 2012 | 03:33 PM
  #14  
VolvDL's Avatar
VolvDL
Freshman User
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
I am forced to do city driving and shut the truck down before the cleaning cycle is complete every once in a while. I've never had the blue smoke, but I have filled 4 lanes with white smoke many times. I honestly hope that people complain about this so we can find a better exhaust filtering solution. BUT, since it is required I enjoy a smoke out during the morning and evening commutes, and haven't noticed a reduction in power or performance during the smokey regens. Definitely more smoke when I can't complete a regen and it gets activated on the next drive. No love from the service centers in South Denver regarding frequent regens and smoke, they all say its normal.
 
Reply
Old Mar 9, 2012 | 04:22 PM
  #15  
King Ranch Cold Lake's Avatar
King Ranch Cold Lake
New User
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Exhaust Cleaning Mode

Normal? Okay. Ford definitely has to rethink their exhaust cleaning process. Most people find it discusting if there is an excessive amount of smoke exiting the exhaust pipe; blue or white. Just doesn't look good. Hopefully they will find some kind of solution to this image that is being portrayed by Ford.
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:20 PM.

story-0
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalytic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

Slideshow: Called the Fortress, the 850-horsepower pickup combines Raptor underpinnings with military-inspired features, survival equipment, and a starting price of $285,000.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-30 18:33:59


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

Slideshow: 10 most expensive Ford trucks ever sold on Bring a Trailer.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:24:34


VIEW MORE
story-2
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

Here's everything that has changed for the latest model year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-27 16:17:28


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

Slideshow: Top 10 Ford truck tragedies.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-18 19:34:33


VIEW MORE
story-4
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make

And it might be even better than that.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-18 19:26:42


VIEW MORE
story-5
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!

Slideshow: Does lowering an F-150 Lobo RUIN the ride quality?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-05-18 19:20:37


VIEW MORE
story-6
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

Slideshow: Ford's bizarre fishing-themed Explorer concept has resurfaced after spending decades largely forgotten.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:07:46


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

Slideshow: The 10 best Ford truck engines we miss the most.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 13:09:47


VIEW MORE
story-8
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?

Slideshow: first look at the 810 hp 2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road!

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-12 12:50:07


VIEW MORE
story-9
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!

Slideshow: Everything You Need to Know about the 2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-05-07 17:51:06


VIEW MORE