A week or so ago I installed the scan gauge II from my 2010 in my 2015. I set it up to display information associated with regen's, i.e. EGR 1, distance since last complete regen, soot load, and regen on/off. Yesterday we headed out on a Labor Day Weekend camping trip. Just a short trip to a place we go every Labor Day. It's about 75 miles but filled with hills, one is named Three Mile Hill and it is steep (run away truck ramps and everything).

Anyhow, it was the first chance I had to see regen data while towing. What I noticed was that once EGR 1 temps got into the 700-800's and above the soot levels started decreasing as long as the truck wasn't pulling hard and without the truck going into regen mode. Pulling the hills increased soot levels regardless of EGR 1 temps. Descending Three Mile Hill I used the exhaust brake and it did great. Maintained 45 mph (in Tow/Mode) the whole way day without touching the brakes once. I noticed that soot levels increased rapidly while the exhaust brake was engaged.

I'll end with a question. When we started out on our short trip the soot level was reading 2.60. About 5 miles into the trip I saw it increase to 2.72. I expected to see a "Exhaust Filter Cleaning" message but did not. A few miles later, with EGR 1 temps in the 700's, soot levels started dropping to around 2.30. I thought 2.67 or there abouts was when the truck went into regen mode. Is that correct?

 

I do not know the answer to your question. I use EGT1 and EGT4 to monitor regen status since I usually miss the message window. The temperatures are about equal during non-regen operation and EGT4 will rise to 1100-1200F during a regen, with a near constant throttle position, while EGT1 stays closer to a normal exhaust temperature. 10-15 miles of highway driving is enough to complete the cycle. I can usually get 400+ miles on the "distance since last complete regen" display towing or not.

What parameters are you using for soot load and regen on/off? I wonder if they will work on my '12.

 

its not exactly 2.67.. Its around there and exhaust temps need to be relatively high too.There are a few parameters to meet not just soot level.Ive watched mine go above 2.7 and once I get on the highway for a period of time it will regen.

 

Thanks for the replies. I may have to start monitoring EGR 4.

For soot loading and regen on/off I got the parameters from the SG II website. I think they have them sorted by year. I used the ones for 2014 and they work fine.

 

I've seen my soot level as high as 3.67 and as low as 2.37 before the regen started.

 

The 2.67% is kind of an average.
Today while towing my 13,000lb GN horse trailer, I got the Cleaning Exhaust Filter and my soot levels were 1.43% When it started and it cleaned down to about .84%. So who knows what the logic is that triggers the regens.

Passive Regen happens anytime the Exhaust temps are above 572° F. But as you mention, Sometimes when the truck is working hard, you are creating more soot at 900° than the passive regen can deal with.

 

My 2012 would start exactly at 2.67 every time. It would only go higher if I was in the throttle but as soon as I let up it would start.

I just traded on a new 2015 and it's different. Right now it's at 2.78 and hasn't started yet.

Another difference is the oil temp on the 2012 stayed around 199 not pulling. The 2015 stays around 203-206. Could it be that they're running a little higher engine temp on these?

 

Just for reference as information on the regen characteristics of the 2015 6.7l grows, the soot reading on mine is now at 3.07 and rising with no regen other than passive.

 

I wish my 11 would go on and on between regen like that! I decided to try Mobil 1 oil on the last change and the regen frequency with it is about as bad as Rotella T6. As expensive as it is, I think I have learned my lesson to stick with the Premium Blue Extreme 5W40. It is the only motor oil that doesn't cut my average regen distance in half.

 

I might try switching to Valvoline as well. Also, I'm not going to use a Cetane boost or any other fuel additive in this truck. I'm thinking maybe some DEF contamination was causing the progressive degradation of the exhaust filter in my 2012. If I'm correct, the first stage of the DEF is catalytic, which could be damaged by contamination.


Right now, the 2015 seems to be doing great with passive regen, making the active cycles much farther apart. Better fuel mileage? Maybe...

 

I switched to valvoline also and noticed a difference from Rotella.

 

DW these trucks have the same cooling system and are putting down more power so they are going to run hotter. It must have not been a worry for Ford with the changes to the 15.

 

That makes sense, however on the 2012 the coolant temp was nearly always the same as the oil temp which ran around 199 here in the summer. On the 2015 the coolant temp is always lower than the oil temp. Oil temp averages around 203 and I've never seen the coolant temp above 200. Could be sensor variation I guess, and trivial I'm sure. Regardless, the 2015 seems to be so much more refined compared to the 2012 (as were the 2013 & 2014 I'm sure).

 

I just witnessed the first complete regen since I installed my Scan Gauge II on my 2015. I just wanted to share what I saw so others may be able to benefit.

The soot level was 3.56 and distance since last complete regen was 407 miles when the regen started. It lasted for about 15 miles and around 12 minutes or so since I was on a highway traveling about 65 mph. The regen stopped when the soot level hit 1.19 but continued to reduce to 1.02 as I was driving and until I parked the truck.

As an interesting side note. I had my truck undercoated earlier this week. During the regen this morning I exited the highway about 10 minutes into the cycle and came to a stop light about a 1/4 mile after the exit. The regen was still in process. I was sitting there at the light and started smelling fumes and seeing smoke coming out from under the truck. Of course I knew it was probably undercoating that had gotten onto the exhaust burning off. A truck driver behind me got out of his cab and came up to my window to tell me he saw smoke coming out from under my truck. I told him about the recent undercoating and the regen. He nodded and understood. It was very nice of him to come up and tell me though.

 

I have had my ScanGageII for a couple of years now. I tried the parameters for particulate filter, regen on/off, etc. mentioned above. I took the data from the ScanGageII website which is for a 2014 truck. These points don't work for my 2012. I was careful inputting the data into the unit. Anybody else with a 2012 have better luck than me?