If I'm trying to keep diesel truck happy healthy and soot free I should try to keep rpms up right? Like 2000 or so? But I thought I saw where lugging raises even spikes EGTs. Now nobody should be lugging and bogging because that's got to be bad for engine but don't I want high EGTs to burn soot? I just need to know if I should be locking out higher gears, winding out more to reduce soot.
Thanks

 

Soot and high EGTs are a product of excess fuel. Lighter loads mean less fuel so less soot and lower EGTs. The only issue to watch for is excessively cool running, which can lead to cylinder wall washing, and on post 2007 trucks insufficient temperatures for a proper DPF regen.
Generally diesel engines run at a self regulating soot level, just a light coating on everything and that's it.

 

Stock, my 2015 would lug at 800-900 rpm in 6th gear and regen every 350 miles. 5-Star tuned, it shifts at higher rpm with 1100 and above for cruising. My regens are now every 500 miles. Draw your own conclusions.

 

Right, it was running too cool to do a passive regen. Did it gain oil as well?

 

5-Star saw regen reductions also while testing on their truck and think it from more torque with less throttle. To be fair, prior to tuning I was so annoyed with the stock shifting that I often locked out 6th gear. Snow today so interstate traffic was 40 mph (5th gear, 1100-1200 rpm) yet I still got some passive regen with EGT4 in the 400s. I will check the oil when the weather is milder.

 

use a cetane additive

 

I use Opti-Lube Summer Plus (OL Winter lately) for increased cetane (reduces soot by improving combustion) and lubricity. I also use Archoil AR6200 as it also reduces soot and improves fuel burn.
Some have reported that Valvoline Premium Blue Extreme 5W40 has reduced regens in their trucks. I have some for the next change in the spring.

 

My regen experience with my 6.4 with 84k miles was that it was more frequent with 5w40 and less frequent with 15w40. My engine sounds scary with 5w40 and may have had a rough life before I got it.