Question about the regen process
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Tuned
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 262
Likes: 2
Question about the regen process
When my truck reaches 95 to 100% soot level the truck initiates the regen process. The truck used to stay in active regen until the truck got down to the high-teens percentage-wise but I've noticed now the regen process quits at around 35% and then steadily starts climbing and within a few miles (all freeway driving) is back up to 45%. This is one of the main reasons I'm only getting 100 miles between regens.
The truck only has 16K miles on it.
The truck only has 16K miles on it.
Postmaster
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 3,206
Likes: 3
From: Oakhust NJ Jersey Shore
Bring it back to the dealer, you should get much more than 100 miles between regen's. How much urea are you using, less than usual or more than usual. Sounds like a sensor is going bad and the regen is timing out. you should still have warranty with that. Let them pay for the repair.
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Tuned
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 262
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Thanks for the reply David. I had to add 3 gallons of DEF at around 6K miles and around 5 gallons at 13K.
I guess it might be time to bring it in. The truck should definitely regen less due to the all the freeway miles.
I guess it might be time to bring it in. The truck should definitely regen less due to the all the freeway miles.
Hotshot
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 10,107
Likes: 96
From: Hempstead, TX
DEF usage and regen frequency are not necessarily related. "Regen" is when the DPF gets clogged with soot and fuel gets injected during the exhaust stroke to burn it clean. "DEF" is injected into the SCR to reduce NOx emissions and is caused by high combustion temps, and that is what the consumer adds to the tank inside the fuel filler door. Hope this helps.
Official Ford Rep
Joined: Oct 2010
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Crystal
Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 6,600
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5 gallons of DEF every 6,000 is about as average as you can get. The tank is not filled from the factory and most dealers don't fill it during PDI (my guess to save money) unless you ask.
I agree you're producing too much soot for highway miles. Is boost PSI normal with a launch? It just seems like there is an air issue to be producing that much soot that quickly.
I agree you're producing too much soot for highway miles. Is boost PSI normal with a launch? It just seems like there is an air issue to be producing that much soot that quickly.
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New User
Joined: Feb 2011
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My 2011 regenerated every 100 miles give or take, last trip in it was 3 times in a 300 mile round trip with 1 or 2 stops. I took it in and they said, "the truck knows what it's doing" 200 miles later the stop safely light came on. Egt sensor failure... Traded it in on a new 2015 platinum f250 and get about 300 miles per regen same route of driving to and from work on hwy about 15-20 miles each way.
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2012
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From: San Marcos, TX
My 2011 regenerated every 100 miles give or take, last trip in it was 3 times in a 300 mile round trip with 1 or 2 stops. I took it in and they said, "the truck knows what it's doing" 200 miles later the stop safely light came on. Egt sensor failure... Traded it in on a new 2015 platinum f250 and get about 300 miles per regen same route of driving to and from work on hwy about 15-20 miles each way.
Same here. Watching the CTS soot level shows way different regen characteristics on the 2015 than what I was used to seeing on the 2012. The 2012 would always start a regen at 2.67 and burn down to 1.15 or so, but the 2015 might not start until 3.80 or then again it might be 2.20 and stop at 1.50 or burn down to 0.15. There is obviously some hardware and/or programming changes in the newer models for controlling this complex process. Always room for improvement.
I can testify from experience that if a regen starts and EGT 4 is at 1000 or above and you're at your destination, don't shut it off. Let it idle for 10-15 minutes and it will continue to burn soot. The red "R" will turn off but it still continues to burn soot until EGT 4 drops below 800 or so. Shutting the engine off sooner will stop the process immediately and you start a new regen all over again the next trip.
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 474
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From: Colorado
One more thing to consider is oil quality. Soot levels excluding a hardware failure, is a matter of driving habits and oil quality. I see most people here like Rotella. I switched from whatever was cheapest to Rotella and my regens are a lot further apart. My CTS is really a great tool for monitoring regens but a MUST for heavy towing for monitoring engine, tranny and electrical. I watch all 4 exhaust temps and it is true that after the regen cycle quits the soot keeps burning off until temps go down. Mine gets up around 1100 for the duration and usually starts at 2.66 and quits 1.30 but will settle around .98 before climbing again
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,155
Likes: 31
From: Idaho
I regen right around 100 miles
I have same issues as the OP. I spend most of my time in San Diego. So there is traffic.
I would love to know the results for OP because I have been to the dealer with no luck.
I would love to know the results for OP because I have been to the dealer with no luck.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 3,527
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From: West Michigan
Dealer most likely will do nothing without a CEL set. Even then, if they cant verify say a bad EGT sensor through testing, even though there may be a CEL code, they still wont replace. My dealer did not, anyway.
Not saying you have a bad EGT sensor, but your symptoms sound a lot like mine did before it set the CEL. Mine ended up being a bad EGT12 sensor that I ended up replacing myself because the dealer would not.
Not saying you have a bad EGT sensor, but your symptoms sound a lot like mine did before it set the CEL. Mine ended up being a bad EGT12 sensor that I ended up replacing myself because the dealer would not.