Sometime in the next 18-24 months I'll be getting a new truck.I want and diesel Ford something terrible and have always wanted one.

My questions: I don't really work a truck all that much and mainly drive to work and back 15 miles of mixed driving each way. Is this bad for a diesel engine?

Tim

 

As I've been given to believe:

6.9, 7.3 - no problem.
6.0 - no problem AS LONG AS you hammer it once or twice per month.
6.4 - no go; regen cycles MANDATE 1-2 hour continuous drive times, at least once per week.

Of course, YMMV.

My '07 6.0 doesn't seem to mind (so far; 2.5 years and 28K miles) the short drives I usually make (5-10 miles) but then again, at least once per week, I'm at 60+ for at least half an hour getting across the DFW Metro area for some reason or other, thus getting everything well and truly up to operating temperature. And most of the time I'm NOT gentle on the skinny-pedal.

-blaine

 

I have benn driving mine the last four years that i've owned it the same amount daily execpt for vacations and havent had problems execpt for wear and tear thats normal.

 

Tim, a lot of this depends on which diesel you're looking at like Blaine mentioned above. 15 miles of commute time is enough time generally to get the truck up to operating temperature and you should be fine with that in a pre-DPF truck like a 6.9, 7.3, or 6.0. As Blaine said, the only problem with the 6.4 truck and those kinds of trips, is the fact that it needs time to regen. Now, some 6.4 owners are shutting off in mid regen and the truck just starts back into regen on the next startup and I don't know what effect if any that has on the engine.

FWIW, I only have about a 6 block commute to work but I always drive around for a little while on my way to and from work to get it up to operating temp. before shutting it off. So far, I've had no ill effects from it and my truck has been flawless.

 

Just think,, It gives you the perfect excuse to take her out every weekend to the furthest fishing hole, so you can get all her juices flowing properly, of course!!!

 

I've pushed my NEW truck purchase back 18-24 months because there is so much excitement looming over the horizon with new engines, SD face lift and hopefully further F-150 refinements that would enhance those that are coming in 2010.

The 6.0 scared the hell out of me. I'm a simple working man and can't afford those types of repair bills.

The 6.4L disappointed me with MPG's. Thank you Mr. EPA!

The 6.7L seems promising as hell and I want one.

The 6.2L gasser coming soon is going to be a gas hog from hell and there is no way that I would even consider getting one in a SD.

The 5.0L has definately intrigued me and is near the top of my consideration list.

My daughter still plays travel softball and my new truck will take over the long haul duties that currently employ the Expedition as well as be my daily driver.

Sorry to bore everyone with my thoughts, just needed to know if the diesel will handle it and it sounds like it will.

Tim

 

I never knew this. I'm willing to bet that neither do most of the owners of those trucks either.

 

I suspect they do not either. I seem to recall reading somewhere that Ford's regen cycles take 40-45 mins to complete. You'd need at least the full hour; 15-20 minutes to get the truck to recognize that it was in a proper driving mode to initiate a regen cycle, and then the 45+ minutes to complete it.

The once-per-week recommendation comes from listening to the noise out here on the road from Class-8 drivers who report that their trucks enter regen mode at least once per week; a friend with one quoted me at every 90 hours of engine time, on his truck with a Cummins ISX.

Let me put it this way; the truck knows how to deal with interrupted regen cycles, but in order to cut the number of regen cycles down, and to do them RIGHT, you have to keep the truck running continuously at highway speeds till the cycle ends.

Class-8 rigs have very little problems with this, whereas smaller rigs do. I will be VERY interested to see how things go in another year when the '08's start hitting DPF changeout requirements.

---------------

For those who keep up with the SCR-based systems (and my general dislike of them), believe it or not, I think the SCR solution is probably the better solution for "small" rigs, where the EGR/DPF solution is better for big-rigs. Start-stop driving and short trips seem to be where SCR has the upper hand. EGR/DPF seems to be the better solution for extended drive times where DEF consumption becomes excessive.

For what it's worth, I AM seeing DEF being added to shelves in truckstops; it's in 2.5 gal containers, and Pilot has announced that it's nearly ready to install DEF pumps on the fuel islands.

That being said, I'm not sure you could GIVE me a SCR-based diesel rig.

-blaine

 

All I can say is that I drive my 05 6.0 just like I drive any car.... I jump in it and go...
I send my sweetie out in it without a thought / concern that it may fail...
I do the maintenance....

But WOW !
This regen cycle requirement SOUNDS like something the "acted stupidly" government would force onto the mfg's !!!!

You DO know that ALL ford's (and most other mfg's) engine life changes recently (7.3 to 6.0, etc...) were forced by the EPA mandates, don't you ?


Let's see:
New Health Care Czar says all human's have to go through a regen cycle...
the older ones fart too much...
we have to retire them to meet species average mpf !

And we want them running health care ???

 

OK guys, I'm not up on diesel accronyms and technology.

Please tell me what REGEN stands for?

DPF / SCR?

Thanks,

Tim

 

SCR = Selective Catalytic Reduction
DPF = Diesel Particulate Filter

REGEN = Regeneration ~ Regeneration is the process by which exhaust temperatures are increased so the particulates are combusted.

These all work together to reduce emissions.

 

Thank you sir! I tried to rep ya but it wouldn't let.

Tim

 

Ahem,, Ma'am!! Thank you very much!

 

I'm so sorry and please forgive me?

Tim

 

No worries. Happens a lot, actually!! Ha! Ha!! Ha!!!