So after reading quite a few regen post and comments I was wondering a couple things:

1 - Is Regen the same as "Cleaning Exhaust Filter"? I have only seen this twice (6 weeks and 1400 miles). Once on the interstate and it only lasted 10-15 seconds, the 2nd time was on side roads while driving 45 mph or so and it only lasted 10 seconds or so.

2 - Is there a "normal" cycle I can expect to see it do this?

I didn't notice any difference in the engine sound or performance while it was cleaning.
Thank you very much for your help.

 

1. Regen and Clean Exhaust Filter is the same and typically lasts between 10 -20 miles while driving highway speeds. It could last longer if your driving in town. You can monitor your instant fuel mileage display to see when the Regen process has been completed as your fuel mileage will jump back up.


2. The cycle or frequency that this process occurs really depends on a lot of variables. I believe anywhere between 100 miles to 500 miles is considered normal by Ford. Typically while driving highway will have less frequency and driving in town will create more frequency regens.

 

Great to know, thanks Troy for your help!

 

What Troy said, but to add to it and to shed some light on what you mentioned about "lasting a few seconds", the alert on the dash only briefly illuminates and can be easily missed, but once the regen starts, it continues on until complete, or until it is shut down. The dash message is not on during the entire regen. It only comes on right at the beginning of the regen. Troy's suggestions for monitoring the regens were good suggestions. Watching the instant mileage was how I would monitor regen.

 

When mine does regen, when not towing. I can feel it when it first starts and engine noise is different.

 

mine makes no distinction other than the mpg change.

 

Back when mine would regen, that was the only thing I could tell differently as well.

 

Wonder if the 15 is different? Plus max tow pkg.?

 

My '15 seems about the same as my '11 was..........

When towing ......I don't see regens.

 

If mine starts a regen while I'm sitting idling it runs bit rough till you bump throttle bit

 

To the OP: The Cleaning Exhaust Filter message only indicates the start of the process and I use my Edge Insight CTS gauge pod to monitor regens. It has a red light come on that doesn't go out until the process is over, plus I can see my EGT1-4 on the pod. It usually last 20-30 minutes for me.
I finally started recording DPF regenerations because of a comment someone made that a tune without deleting would only clog the DPF. I had recently installed the 5-Star Daily Tow tune. First of all, let me say that my Super Duty driving is close to ideal. I have a 76 mile daily commute that is half 2-lane secondaries and half interstate, so almost no short trips and idling is something I try to avoid. I also use Archoil AR6200 fuel additive at full dose and Opti-Lube Summer Plus at the minimum dose, both say they reduce soot with cleaner burns. If someone had asked how often I regen, I would have guessed about every 300-400 miles. Well, I just recorded my second regen since I tuned and the answer is 600 miles! Soot gpl was at 2.78 and the last was just over 3.0. This was a surprise as I thought it did a regen every 500 no matter what. I also have the Edge Insight CTS so I didn't miss the 3 second splash on the dash.
I had my oil changed yesterday and took Valvoline Premium Blue Extreme 5w40 to replace the T6 5w40 I had been using. The dealer screwed up and used Motorcraft 10w30 instead. Yesterday morning was 16 degrees and it fired right up with 7500 miles on the oil and the "Change Oil Soon" indicator on. This morning at 18 degrees it started right up, but the first 3-5 seconds were rough. I will add AR9100 friction modifier as soon as it arrives.

 

I cannot stand how Ford will not display a message when the regen is complete. If you can get your dealer to program the exhaust filter % full screen, that mitigates this somewhat.

Therefore, you look for telltale signs. One thing I have noticed is that the turbo boost is a little higher and more responsive than normal. You will notice more boost pressure on even slight hills than is normal. I can detect a slight tonal change from the engine, but it is slight. Mostly, the economy gauge is the best tool...but sometimes, even that is not totally conclusive.

I don't mind the urea or EGR cooling one bit...its the regens that are most annoying about a modern diesel.

 

Thanks to all for the education! There is so much to learn and not enough time to sit on the internet to learn it all at once.
Please tell me more on your additives. I have in my cart several bottles of PM-22-A, is this still a good idea? Is the AR6200 about the same thing?
I will be doing my own oil changes and fuel filter changes. I will be doing a cross country trip in a couple of months and want to get as much info as I can so I know what to expect.
I briefly looked at the Edge CTS2 and it looks like a good idea to have it. I dont plan on doing any "add ons" to the engine or computer right now.

Thanks again to all for helping the new diesel folks out!

(Just installed a Gator FX3 cover a few days ago, took about 30 minutes to do. They are on sale right now for $754 with free shipping, will post pictures soon)

 

I run the PM22A in my '16. Some people run no additives at all, and others will swear by whatever brand they prefer. If nothing else, the PM22 is what Ford recommends. I'm hoping it helps with fuel pump lubrication.

 

Archoil's AR6200 is not the same as PM22A. PM22A, Opti-Lube Summer Plus, Standyne and others of that class of diesel additives are cetane boosters. Cetane is the diesel equivolent of octane in gas. The US standard is 40 cetane and the European standard where they use a lot more of it is 51 cetane. CA requires 50 and some of Texas requires 50 as well. Ford says a minimum of 40 with 45 in the winter. Higher cetane ignites sooner for a cleaner burn, less soot and more power. Some of them improve lubricity as well for longer fuel pump and injector life. Opti-Lube was the top performer in the 2007 study that seems to be the only study to date.
Lubricity Additive Study Results - Diesel Place : Chevrolet and GMC Diesel Truck Forums
AR6200 is a "combustion catalyst" that can be used in both gas and diesel. My experience is better fuel mileage in my diesel and better running of older gas engines.
AR6000 Fuel Treatments | Archoil