I'll start this one out by saying that I Know this topic has been discussed before but since it seems that the EPA has thoroughly put a stop to any new dpf deletes I think this topic will probably get more attractive. My question is how can you or can you even clean these dpf systems. My truck is a 2012 with 155,000 miles on it and is starting to give me issues with the EGR and constantly going into Regen (about every 120 miles from roughly 500 when I first bought it). The EGR rebuild is "fairly straightforward" but the dpf not so and I simply don't have the extra 2500+ laying around to replace the whole thing. I've heard of guys with the big trucks soaking their filters in simple green and then pressure washing them, obviously those systems are designed to be disassembled and ours are not but it got me thinking, will simple green damage anything in the pickup version of a DPF system. My thought process is basically to pull the system off my truck, remove and plug all sensors and cap both ends then fill and soak the whole thing with simple green for a day or two, maybe even make a cap that I could hook a high flow circulation pump up to and flush the whole thing. If anyone has any input on this please share, I will be buying all the parts for the EGR so I can try and tackle that this weekend, but I don't want to touch the dpf until I'm sure I won't absolutely destroy it by trying to save a few bucks.

 

I'm half tempted to think there is something else afoot here, is the truck throwing any codes? If so, which ones? Also soaking in simple green or something similar most likely won't hurt anything, and pressure washing out will be fine, but don't expect it to create a miracle either. Your idea is pretty straight forward and I believe it will be effective as long as you are sure not to get too close to anything with the pressure washer, don't want that catalyst to start breaking apart, etc.

 

The truck is currently throwing the code for the EGR insufficient flow. Most likely the cooler is plugged as it's a 100,000 mile service part from what I've read. As for the DPF, I have had a few incomplete Regen codes thrown, I do drive quite a bit in the city for work but I only got those codes while driving on the highway at 70+ for long periods. I'm fully aware that cleaning will not make it perform brand new but if I could gain back a some of the performance and fuel mileage I had when I first bought the truck id be happy, I went from pushing 18mpg average to lucky to get 15mpg.

 

Have you tried performing a stationary regen using Forscan?
I would try that, a couple times with some mileage in between before I would remove the system and try home remedies.

 

Driving in the city with lots of stop and go driving is hard on pollution equipment in a diesel. You may have a dirty sensor giving the computer a incorrect reading. Do you ever tow with your truck? These things love to work and maybe you need to get the exhaust temperatures higher to clean the filter. Even if you get it cleaned you will need to get out on the highway more to keep it clean. Stop stopping the regen process, you need to let it finish.

 

I'm pretty much in the same boat as the OP and been reading the internet and watching YouTube showing people cleaning the filters. While not a Ford engineer this is the cliff notes conclusion I've come to.

While I'll agree that "city" driving and not letting the regen process will is not the best it seems as if you do everything right your DPF will still accumulate some ash. As hot as these things get you still can't burn off everything. After a while the ash builds up you will never get your "flow" back to 100% Which is probably why the DPF filter has a lifespan. (of 100,000 maybe as mentioned in the third post)

For example: I recently enabled the DPF filter screen on my truck with Forscan and now have the % screen on the display. Previously I'd use Forscan lite on my phone which only told me if the regen was on/off. I'd simply drive until it came off at which point I'd assume it was at 0%. Now with the % screen it will somewhat quickly drop to 30%, hang there for a while, then stop the regen process. While I've read that many do not always drop to 0% they get a lot closer than I am getting, I figure I have a good amount of ash that simply can't be burned off.

My truck was bought used and is at about 120,000. I'm new to diesels so I'm figuring this out as I go but it makes a lot of sense to me. It also makes a lot of sense to me to clean it with soap and water to save the couple of thousand it will take to replace it. YouTube is filled with people doing this to other models as well as the Ford 6.0 and 6.4. I haven found any with the 6.7 but we are just getting to this point. Our DPF filter itself doesn't seem that much different than the earlier engines. Incidentally I've only seen them use water, not simple green, although some use a specific DPF cleaner (Sorry don't remember what it was called). I don't think simple green would hurt. I think the idea of a circulation pump is awesome but from what I've seen probably overkill.

I'm not in a hurry to tackle this project but still planning to do so. It will be when the weather gets warmer and I have a few extra days off, just in case thing don't go as planned. I'll give it a few more regens (I'm only at about 3 since I've enable the screen) to see what happens and time to see if any of the current 6.7 owners go online as a Guinea pig.

 

What is forscan, I'm aware of the forced regens but I didn't think there was a way to do that without taking it to a dealer or a shop with Ford's programming. As for my driving, I'd say 1 out of three regens actually get fully completed (I always try and complete them but sometimes there's no time). I do tow a fair amount with the truck though. A fouled sensor has crossed my mind and I plan on just replacing them anyways as they aren't terribly expensive. The reason I ask about cleaning the system is because I Know the driving I have to do is detrimental to the emissions on the truck and I Know as a result that my filter is probably dirtier than most others.

 

This is a service kit that makes the DPF removable. I have not called the company. Just throwing this out there. Someone linked to this here some time ago.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...l#post19034326

 

There are enough threads on Forscan both here and on other Ford Forums. Ford Focus has a lot of info on the programs itself. Forscan has it's own page too. Do NOT pay for it. It is a free download. There are sites out there trying to sell it.

But in a nutshell with a laptop, a USB cord (Bluetooth and WIFI are options but USB supposedly is much better) that plugs into the OBD port, and a free program ($10.00 after your trial license ends, but there are ways around that) you can get into the computer and change settings. I've only dabbled in it a little but have activated the remote start (needed to buy the correct key), navigation, and changed the three turn signal blinks to five. I activated the DPF filter screen which simply shows how full the filter is in % increments of 5. It's nice to know when it is getting close to full so you can kind of plan a longer trip to regen. That's really minor stuff but it has already saved me $$$ getting options I really don't need. I've programmed a new key for my mom's car when she only had one (you need at least 2 to program a new key or pay the dealer $$$), and I've changed some setting on my son's car.

It's basically the poor mans version of Ford's IDS which the dealers have. It probably has all the functions the IDS has. The biggest problem is there really is no instruction manual on the Forscan.

Forscan lite is an app download (5 or 6 bucks) for your phone or tablet to monitor hundreds of PIDS, or signals your truck is throwing out. I use a pretty inexpensive Bluetooth OBDII adapter (BAFX) and it works great.

Both Forscan and Forscan light show the option to force a regen (OCR, Operator Commanded Regen). I've never tried it so I don't know how/if they work but it seems like they would. Other scan tools have this option too so it's not only the Forscan that will do this.

 

We really need somebody here that has attempted to cut the DPF out, weld on those flanges and went through the super heated cleaning process then put it back is service to see what the outcome is. It's not something that has been popular in the past because deleting it was easier and more reliable down the road. Now that deleting is becoming harder maybe it will be a more popular modification?

 

you can simple green the EGR cooler too.

 

FWIW mine usually gets down to 30% after a regen and it's always done that since 25k miles.

 

What would you like to know? It's been a common repair here for years. The success rate depends on how long you wait. All bets are off if any of the media is broken or melted. The cost is about 60% total cost of OEM replacement. We use a local shop in Stockton for our fleet trucks. The shop is actually mentioned in the link.

 

Im glad im deleted. This egr and dpf will destroy your engine and at very least cut the longevity in half. Just think of all that soot thats put into the oil every second while its running and then that soot is lubricating your engine? Crazy. Then ball park 5k to replace everything once its clogged. Only to happen again.

 

I wish I could say the same, I have all the components to do the delete but can't get a tune to save my soul that's why I'm looking to refresh some of my emissions crap before it starts doing any real damage. Almost wish I'd have just bought a 6.0 but I really do like the way the 6.7 handles a trailer