Multiple, Short Trips
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Elder User
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 668
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From: FL
Multiple, Short Trips
With the reality that I've purchased the 6.7L Diesel and the reality that I do often make short trips, now I'm kind of paranoid that I'm going to have problems.
Luckily I live in FL where the temp almost never goes lower than 33F, but there's no getting around short, frequent trips. So I'm wondering:
1. If I make one-to-four trips per month on the Interstate at around 2,000rpm for 30- 45 minutes at a time -- and -- pay attention to the information center and do as it suggests, will that negate the 'damage' I'm doing from the short, frequent trips?
2. Short, city trips mean lots of idling at traffic signals. If that's bad, but you're supposed to idle at start up and shut down, which is worse? (I know the idle at shut down is more important after hard work, and the idle at start up is more important at cold start.)
I guess what I'm trying to get to is, (in warm weather) if I start-and-go and (when not working it hard) if I park and shutdown, and do those interstate trips, is that enough to take care of this very expensive machine? Or is there a better way to go about it given the realities above?
Luckily I live in FL where the temp almost never goes lower than 33F, but there's no getting around short, frequent trips. So I'm wondering:
1. If I make one-to-four trips per month on the Interstate at around 2,000rpm for 30- 45 minutes at a time -- and -- pay attention to the information center and do as it suggests, will that negate the 'damage' I'm doing from the short, frequent trips?
2. Short, city trips mean lots of idling at traffic signals. If that's bad, but you're supposed to idle at start up and shut down, which is worse? (I know the idle at shut down is more important after hard work, and the idle at start up is more important at cold start.)
I guess what I'm trying to get to is, (in warm weather) if I start-and-go and (when not working it hard) if I park and shutdown, and do those interstate trips, is that enough to take care of this very expensive machine? Or is there a better way to go about it given the realities above?
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 6,748
Likes: 119
From: Tallassee, ALabama
You are worrying too much to begin with. Drive the truck as needed and as desired. Starting and stopping the regen is not a problem. The truck will pick up and attempt to clean the DPF.
If you reach a point of needing a regen and have received the message "EXHAUST OVERLOADED DRIVE TO CLEAN", then you must take a joy ride to clean the DPF.
Til then, drive the truck and enjoy it.
You might consider buying a monitor such as the Edge CTS/CTS2. These units allow you to do a stationary manual regen.
If you reach a point of needing a regen and have received the message "EXHAUST OVERLOADED DRIVE TO CLEAN", then you must take a joy ride to clean the DPF.
Til then, drive the truck and enjoy it.
You might consider buying a monitor such as the Edge CTS/CTS2. These units allow you to do a stationary manual regen.
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 481
Likes: 0
the short trips is mostly a problem due to the regen and emissions system. If you do mostly short trips its likely the truck will regen everyday and or never complete a full cycle. This can cause issues in the engine like I and many other have experienced with the valve shudder/jackhammer issue. I would not be concerned with the warm or hot weather more than I would the short trip in a diesel.
I found it funny when I spoke to Ford about the problem, they suggested that you drive to compete each regen cycle. I find this comical because on a stock programmed truck you do not have an exhaust filter gauge so you really do not know when the truck is completed a cycle. Secondly I find it very hard to believe that out of all these trucks on the road I cannot believe every single one finishes a complete cycle every time!
Now that I have the filter gauge in my truck I pay attention and always try drive until its complete but it doesn't always happen. If all you do is short trips and city driving a lot you will most likely have crappy mpg because it will basically always be in regen. Will it cause a problem?????? time will tell.
I found it funny when I spoke to Ford about the problem, they suggested that you drive to compete each regen cycle. I find this comical because on a stock programmed truck you do not have an exhaust filter gauge so you really do not know when the truck is completed a cycle. Secondly I find it very hard to believe that out of all these trucks on the road I cannot believe every single one finishes a complete cycle every time!
Now that I have the filter gauge in my truck I pay attention and always try drive until its complete but it doesn't always happen. If all you do is short trips and city driving a lot you will most likely have crappy mpg because it will basically always be in regen. Will it cause a problem?????? time will tell.
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 6,748
Likes: 119
From: Tallassee, ALabama
I highly doubt will regen every day. I drive my 2015 around town and occasional trips of 30 miles or more one way and never had a jack hammering problem. I rarely drive till complete unless I am making the 30 mile tips.
The efficiency of the DPF will decrease over time if full regens are not performed periodically. The sad part is, the DPF is a consumable item and not covered under warranty, emission nor 3/36 or the engine warranty, unless it is in fact defective.
The efficiency of the DPF will decrease over time if full regens are not performed periodically. The sad part is, the DPF is a consumable item and not covered under warranty, emission nor 3/36 or the engine warranty, unless it is in fact defective.
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 6,748
Likes: 119
From: Tallassee, ALabama
The CTS/CTS2 is what I suggested for you if you that you might need to do a stationary manual regen. They do allow to you monitor various parameters such as the % full the DPF is, the gr/l of soot, EGT sensors.
BUT, there are cheaper ways to monitor the parameters. One it TorquePro and the other is ForScan. Both allow you to use your smartphone or tablet with a wifi or bluetooth obdii adapter. Both are relatively inexpensive apps. I think TorquePro is $5 and maybe ForScan is free.
ForScan with a laptop/computer allows you to change some parameters in the truck PCM/BCM such as TPMS alarm pressures, the ghost/Exhaust soot screen, led lamp outage thresholds, dark car, etc.
I have used both but prefer the CTS/CTS2 since if gives me the option to do the stationary manual regen. The one drawback is the price of approx $380 for the CTS2. The CTS has been superseded by the CTS2 but can still be found used on eBay at times.
BUT, there are cheaper ways to monitor the parameters. One it TorquePro and the other is ForScan. Both allow you to use your smartphone or tablet with a wifi or bluetooth obdii adapter. Both are relatively inexpensive apps. I think TorquePro is $5 and maybe ForScan is free.
ForScan with a laptop/computer allows you to change some parameters in the truck PCM/BCM such as TPMS alarm pressures, the ghost/Exhaust soot screen, led lamp outage thresholds, dark car, etc.
I have used both but prefer the CTS/CTS2 since if gives me the option to do the stationary manual regen. The one drawback is the price of approx $380 for the CTS2. The CTS has been superseded by the CTS2 but can still be found used on eBay at times.
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 463
Likes: 1
From: San Marcos, TX
IMO everything Just Strokin has said is dead on. I've had my CTS in a 2012 and now over 2 years in a 2015 and watch it constantly. It is a useful tool for monitoring the DPF and many other things. I'm a short trip driver also and have learned to live with the frequent regens. A few months back I upgraded my CTS to the Evolution and regret it. Any power level other than stock initiates some warnings and I don't know if they are significant or just an anomaly of tuner programming. After spending hours on the phone with Edge they were unable to offer a fix and my $$$ could have been spent on a box of premium cigars. So now it's back to stock and I still have a CTS that stays "Evolution" on the screen! (Although it did seem to get better mileage in level 3 "Race"). Go figure, a race level in a Super Duty. I drive the Vette if I want to race.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 5,245
Likes: 4,266
From: Kaysville Utah
Just drive it. Stop worrying about short trips. I'm a builder. I make a dozen starts/stops per day. My house to the lumber yard, stop by the plumbing supply, drop by the jobsite, swing over to the bank, run into the City Building Department, back by the job site. And so on. I make a lot of 2-3 mile trips each day.
And yes weekends, I hook up the horse trailer and drag a load of horses up the mountain. So maybe that cleans it all out. I've had 7.3L, 6.0L and now 6.7L engines, I run them 100,000 to 150,000 miles and have not had an engine failure. I did loose two EGT sensors in my 2011 6.7 at about 120,000 and 145,000 miles.
My trucks just have not cared about short drives even in Utah's hot/cold climate
And yes weekends, I hook up the horse trailer and drag a load of horses up the mountain. So maybe that cleans it all out. I've had 7.3L, 6.0L and now 6.7L engines, I run them 100,000 to 150,000 miles and have not had an engine failure. I did loose two EGT sensors in my 2011 6.7 at about 120,000 and 145,000 miles.
My trucks just have not cared about short drives even in Utah's hot/cold climate
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I'll second what Just Strokin and Painted Horse have said.
I wouldn't worry about warm-up in Florida - heck I really don't worry about it up here in Alaska... I remote start it while walking to the truck and by the time I get in, get buckled up and ready to leave it's more than enough time - at least IMHO. And the truck will tell you if it's too cold to drive off right away. I only see that message in a overnight cold soak at -20F or lower.
Cool down... You can see temps without any additional gauges... You'll notice they drop pretty quick - even in the Florida heat. I wouldn't run highway speeds for a long time, stop quick and shut the truck off immediately... Like running the Florida Turnpike and pulling over to fuel up at a Turnpike rest area, I might let it idle for a minute, before turning it off if my temps were higher than normal. Even when I run long distances at highway speeds, by the time you get off the highway and to wherever you are going to stop, you are probably cooled off enough. Digital gauges are your friend in this case.
One thing you can do for warm up/cool down if it bothers you, is use the remote start. IMHO, long warm ups and cool downs just waste fuel.
I wouldn't worry about warm-up in Florida - heck I really don't worry about it up here in Alaska... I remote start it while walking to the truck and by the time I get in, get buckled up and ready to leave it's more than enough time - at least IMHO. And the truck will tell you if it's too cold to drive off right away. I only see that message in a overnight cold soak at -20F or lower.
Cool down... You can see temps without any additional gauges... You'll notice they drop pretty quick - even in the Florida heat. I wouldn't run highway speeds for a long time, stop quick and shut the truck off immediately... Like running the Florida Turnpike and pulling over to fuel up at a Turnpike rest area, I might let it idle for a minute, before turning it off if my temps were higher than normal. Even when I run long distances at highway speeds, by the time you get off the highway and to wherever you are going to stop, you are probably cooled off enough. Digital gauges are your friend in this case.
One thing you can do for warm up/cool down if it bothers you, is use the remote start. IMHO, long warm ups and cool downs just waste fuel.
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ty04gold
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Feb 6, 2011 12:26 AM