Hi Folks! This is my first post in the forum! Excited to be here!! Here's the basics....

I just took delivery of a 2011 F-350 Lariat 6.7 Powerstroke Super Cab last night. I also own a 7.3 F-350 that was stolen in Seatac WA on 12/30, then recovered on 1/2. It's has some pretty serious problems now. It's going to take months to get the repairs done, so I thought this is a great time to add to the family...hahaha

When I test drove the truck, it had the "Drive to Clean Filter" message (yellow border, no "Filter Full Text") and I erroneously figured the truck just needed a good drive. After taking delivery last night, I got it out on the highway after it had time to reach a good engine temp. I got the "Drive to Clean" message at startup, then while on the highway the "Cleaning Filter" message. After about 35 minutes of driving I got a "Cleaning Completed" message. Then literally 2 minutes later I get the "Drive to Clean Message". In 24 hours I've completed this cycle 4 times in total.

Sorry not to have better data as I just learned about Forscan last night. BTW, I'm confused about which OBD reader to get. If I want to use the full version of Forscan, can I use the OBDLink MX+ to adjust settings like a manual OCR and adding the DPF % screen?

I'm thinking the constant regens are either a bad pressure sensor or a completely clogged filter. Very open to hear your thoughts and thanks in advance!

 

With no codes, I would at least initially lean towards a clogged-up system.
I had a bad sensor a year ago and it through a CEL & code. The DEF heater went out at about the same time. Apparently there was a recall on the 2011 - 2014 6.7's and the DEF heater and a sensor there was replaced under that recall / service bulletin - no cost. But, like I said, I had a CEL and a couple of codes on that.

I have a Scan Gauge II plugged into mine full time. It tells me what the percentage of soot is in the filter and has a X gauge that tells me when regen is on and when it is off. The messages you refered to pop up so fast on my info center that 9 times out of 10 I miss them....except for the one that says continue driving to clean.
I do not have Forscan so someone who has it will have to chime in. However, in other posts in the forum there has been a lot of discussion of it and yes they have talked about using a blank screen to display info you are talking about. I believe most of those discussions have involved trucks a bit newer than ours.

 

I know everyone wants to fix these for themselves, but many times, the smart money is to farm it out to the dealer. It can be cheaper and less frustrating in the long run to get a proper diagnosis and repair. You might be able to solve it by throwing parts at it, but you don't have all of the resources it can take to address these issue. For example, you replace some sensors because some guys on a Internet forum tell you they had that problem and it was sensors. Maybe you'd get lucky. If not, you have new sensors and a broken truck. What are you going to do if it's a PCM programming issue? Yeah. That's a dealer job and they would also be able to interrogate your PCM to determine what version you are running and if the problem is because of a programming issue. That is actually a very common issue with the 6.7 in the earlier years. Of course, it could be the worst news of a compromised DPF, but you want to know for double damn sure that is the problem before you choke out the cash for that one.

 

No disagreement here! But the earliest a dealer can get me in is Feb 1 and I need to be on the other side of the country by then. I should probably mention that I live on the road fulltime in a truck camper.

I have an OBD reader being delivered to today. I"m also going to grab a windows laptop. First step is to get Forscan running and assess the percentage clogged, then probably run an OCR. We'll see what happens after that.

 

Is it possible that the truck was deleted and the tune was removed?

I could be wrong but a dealer selling a vehicle that won't pass emissions is probably against the law. A MIL/CEL that is active would have failed an emissions inspection here in Colorado.

 

I hadn't thought of that! Would make sense if it was deleted and then they put the DPF back on.

 

That happens. However, I would think the active regeneration related messages (such as drive to clean) would not prompt.

 

Did you buy this from a private party or a dealer? Send that sucker back to the dealer that sold it to you and demand they fix it and put you in a rental car until it's fixed.

How many miles on this truck? The DPF has a life expectancy of about 125k - 150k before it needs to be cut apart and cleaned or replaced.

 

So I did just that, took it back to the dealer. They've done a stationary regen to no avail and believe the problem is related to a TSB which updates the computers and sensors. We'll see.

 

Let us know what they find. If it’s somehow related to a TSB, let us know which TSB and why they believe that.

 

Yep, like Mike said. Let us know what they find and if there is TSB or 'Customer Satisfaction Program' numbers / details are.

 

I had a 2015 F550 with a 6.7 in it that did this exact thing. It had ALOT of idle hours, not many miles.

Ended up being a mass flow sensor.

Dealer I got it from didn't know anything. You need to go to a dealer or diesel mechanic that is familiar with the 6.7s. They will sort it in short order or you are at the wrong place - in my experience.

Good luck