And paper is supposed to ignite at 451 deg. (remember the movie) If the EGT's are really that high at the exhaust tip I'm kind of scared to take one out into the fields.

 

It's too bad the OEMs won't install a switch that will allow the driver to postpone a regen while the truck is in an area the driver feels is too dangerous for regens. GM class 6 and 7 trucks using the same Duramax that are in the P/Us have such a switch. I'm sure the Intl. trucks using the same 6.4L engine have such a switch. All class 8 units have a switch.

Will it take a farmer/rancher burning several hundred acres ignited by his truck to convince the OEMs they screwed up? Wait until a highway dept. truck starts a median on fire. Then things may happen albeit a bit too late.

 

So who on this site is smart enough to figure out how to wire this switch in? Sounds like a mod I would be interested in.

 

No kidding, that wasn't on my options list!!

 

The first thing I'd do is write a complaint to the NHTSA site explaining your concerns and probable solution. Next, contact a public action line, such as a local news station and see if you can get a foot in the door this way. Unfortunately, the OEM cares less about the end user than they should. They rarely take calls from Joe Blow, but may listen if a local news station rattles their chain. The last thing Ford wants/needs is to have it go public. Once the public understands the dangers, the end results, as far as Ford is concerned, are clear.

I'm currently in Missoula, MT where there are several grass and wild fires. This place is as dry as a popcorn fart. Wouldn't take much to set it ablaze. Much of the Western states are just as dry. I wonder how long it will be until we see a truck in the center of a burned out pasture or hay field?

Below is the link to the NHTSA complaint form.

http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/

 

That was the original point of this post. On paper it sounds like half of America should be on fire by now, but in reality I haven't heard of a single fire being started by one of these trucks.

I was hoping to avoid speculation since these trucks have been running around for a while and get some answers from people who actually have driven them into their fields.

Of course if it really does catch the fields on fire and I don't find out before I buy mine, I'll be sure to post of picture of my truck in the middle of my burned out field.

 

I can understand where some of the concerns are coming from. It is a learning experience for all of us. On another thread a heating contractor checked the regen temp. this is from him " I caught my first regen today, and grabbed my infrared heat gun. Exhaust notched 380 F" We need a lot more serious input from the effect not just speculation. Wouldn't the temperature on headers on either a gas or diesel be a high temp also. I would think that would pose a potential of a grass fire more than the heat coming out of the exhaust?

 

There's usually some shielding below the exhaust pipe right below the motor to protect the hottest part of the pipe. I've never had any issues with the older diesels causing problems, but I do remember the rash of grass fires after the EPA had catalytic converters put on gas burners.

Since the regen increases exhaust temperature by design I was wondering if they learned from their earlier mistakes or completely forgot about dry grass.

 

I have a feeling the OEMs have forgotten just where some of these trucks will be used. They've forgotten about the Prairy states wheat farmers and the Midwest corn and soybean farmers. There's a reason why class 8 rigs are allowed to postpone a regen. An example is fuel haulers. Tank farms won't allow active regens of any vehicle while on the grounds. I don't think light duty trucks should be any different.

 

I have a new F450 flatbed 6.4 and it went into regen yesterday. It dang near burned the mudflap off the truck. If I wasn't right there I think it would of started a fire. We will see how the dealer will correct my situation.
I will say the concerns are high for fires in the Pacific Northwest since our summers are 100+ degrees and humidity levels usually are 15% - 20%. We farm wheat here on our ranch and I would not take this into stubble any taller than 4-6 inches. I was talking with a fire apparatus manufacturer today and their concern is the double shrouding on the exhaust and stubble and weeds being trapped in those areas and then starting the truck on fire. These rigs are just starting to get into service in this area so time will tell how dangerous they are going to be. Gotta say I do love the truck though I am ordering a new replacement bumper/grille guard tomorrow.

 

Just to throw fuel on the fire (no pun intended), a local tow truck operator said he has been busy towing dodges back to the dealership. Apparently, their dpf isn't regenerating enough to keep the dpf from plugging solid. It has to go to the dealer for them to perform a manual regen to "unplug it".

 

Sounds like both Ford & Dodge would benefit from that manual regen switch. I'm still waiting on someone to figure out how to do this for us. Sounds like a great use for one of those upfitter switches.

 

Unfortunately, all you would have is a lot of people not using the regen function at all, and the tow trucks come because of "constipation".

 

This would be an inherant problem. I've spent many thousands of dollars flying around the country to rescue one of my trucks because the driver cancelled a regen once and forgot to turn it back on. The dash even gives him/her plenty of warning so the switch can be thrown in time. But, they choose to ignore the warning signs. Ignorance is not warrantable.

 

It would be interesting to know how many of these towed Dodges are being driven casually as commuter vehicles and grocery getters.

The above is another example of the failure to plan by the OEMs. If the truck isn't being driven long enough for an active regen to take place, or hard enough for passive activity, then a manual regen is needed. The customer shouldn't be burdened by the inconvenience of having the dealer do it when he/she is quite capable. This winter will prove to be another disaster. Combine colder ambients with a vehicle that can't make enough temperature to regen already, and you get a truck on the side of the road. Been there, done that.