I have a 2001 F150 with the 4.2L V6 and 63,000 miles. Right now, my annual occurrence of Check Engine and OBD code P0401 has come up. Oddly enough this usually happens right before the vehicle inspection is due.

A new DPFE solves the problem for about a year. The original part lasted 4 years, and I have just bought my 5th replacement this week. I have used Motorcraft and OEM parts, but it doesn't seem to make a difference.

Any ideas why the life is so poor? I have checked the EGR system, checked the ports, verified the operation with a vacuum pump. Back-probing the DPFE shows it has failed.

At least this time I was able to buy a replacement with a lifetime warranty.

Thanks for your help,

 

Offer some info on your driving habits such as short trips, short run times on the motor etc.
It may have a bearing on the failures.
The exhaust has a large amount of unburnts hydrocarbon, water vapor and acid contaminants that kills the DPFE from accumulations.
Good luck.

 

Yes, it does get mostly short trips, though every now and then it gets driven further at higher speeds (two college kids away from home, we do a lot of moving stuff around). Plus local hauling - mulch, lumber, etc.

It's just strange that it's a pretty predictable failure, with parts from different sources. I wonder about putting longer hoses in to possibly cool the fumes a bit, or to put some kind of strainer in the lines, like a wad of fiberglas.

 

Not much you can do about it.
Cooling condenses the vapor and solids as it is and causes corrosion/ blockage.
The device has to detect small pressure differences across a .040 orfice in the metal tube.
The accuracy of the test is close to 2% making failure much more sensitive to test failure.
Good luck..

 

OK, Bluegrass, and thank you for your help.

Regards,

Wayne