Black Soot - How Much is Normal?
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Senior User
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Black Soot - How Much is Normal?
For the first time, I have noticed some black soot in my exhaust tips. My 08 F250 has about 22,000 miles. When I cleaned it yesterday, there was some black soot in the tips. Not terrible, but it has never been there before. The engine is going into regen as it should. Thoughts or ideas please!
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Joined: Jul 2006
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From: Jeffersonville , Indiana
For the first time, I have noticed some black soot in my exhaust tips. My 08 F250 has about 22,000 miles. When I cleaned it yesterday, there was some black soot in the tips. Not terrible, but it has never been there before. The engine is going into regen as it should. Thoughts or ideas please!
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2004
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From: Aromas, CA
simple answer... no soot!! if u have 1 spec of black soot then u have a bad dpf and you should take your truck to the ford dealer and have it replaced. but dont think it will be easy.. from my friends experience it will be hard. they will fight u tooth and nail, and try to tell u that it is this or that... but not the dpf. but it is... these trucks are designed to have zero black soot leave the tail pipes. that is part of the new emissions package. the ford dealers dont want to hear it.. but the bottom line is that if u have ANY soot in your pipes then u have a faild diesel particulate filter
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2009
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From: Greenwood, SC
Read through this thread before you go in, I hope it helps. Helped me to understand a few things. You'll be armed with some good info and should be able to debate with the dealer, unless you already know all this stuff.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/8...n-the-dpf.html
Good Luck.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/8...n-the-dpf.html
Good Luck.
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From: Frederick, MD
Good link from ruschejj! I totally agree there are other diagnosics to check before you go parts swapping.
Is it actually black or a little graying of the pipes? I have about the same miles on mine and just a little graying is all.
Is it actually black or a little graying of the pipes? I have about the same miles on mine and just a little graying is all.
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no, this is definitely black. when i washed the truck and sprayed the tips, there was black water dripping.
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I just had the DPF replaced on my 08 F-250 with 7600 miles on it. The exhaust tips were clean for the first 3000-4000 miles then turned black. The owners manual does state there "may" be some minor staining. What was minor to me, and what was minor to my dealer were two different perceptions of staining. The bottom line, my DPF was cracked and it was replaced under warranty. Be persistant with your dealer. Make them test your DPF. If you have black exhaust tips have it checked-out.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2009
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From: Greenwood, SC
I just did a "white glove" test for kicks to back up my statement. I washed out the inside of my exhaust tips, made sure they were clean. I just drove about 900 miles with a large cargo trailer, weighs about 8K. I don't baby it and I don't use additive right now. When the exhaust tips cool off enough, I scrape the inside of them with my finger, there is absolutely nothing there, no black, no dust. The paint on my truck is dirtier than those pipes just from road dust.
My engine has just under 99,000 miles on it, FYI.
My engine has just under 99,000 miles on it, FYI.
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well, here is a very brief and inconclusive update. the dealer does not have a diesel tech available on Saturdays. So, I have to bring my truck in during the week, which is a MAJOR problem given my job. Furthermore, they don't provide loaner vehicles. Luckily I did purchase an extended warranty/service package so I think that will cover a rental if necessary. I am trying to figure out a time to get the truck to the dealer....
Posting Guru
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Some people have said they will see a little soot from time to time and it still falls in the normal category. Clean your tail pipes really well and be sure that it is a consistent problem. Since you just noticed it, it might have been from an incomplete regen or something like that. If they keep turning black then you definitely have an issue. Something else may have caused the DPF to crack but at the same time these filters seem prone to failure.
They had issues with the catalytic convertors when they first came out too. Its just part of the learning curve I suppose. All the diesels are having a higher than expected failure rate on these filters. Even the big semi's.
They had issues with the catalytic convertors when they first came out too. Its just part of the learning curve I suppose. All the diesels are having a higher than expected failure rate on these filters. Even the big semi's.
Super Moderator
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: Isanti, MN
I've also noticed that you see soot built up on the exhausts of most '07 and newer commercial trucks.
Seriously, though...what's the problem here? What's a little black soot on your tailpipe gonna hurt? If the DPF was indeed cracked, it should set a trouble code due to the reduced backpressure in the exhaust system. I wouldn't worry about it, it's certainly not going to hurt anything!
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From: Frederick, MD
the issue could be the state inspection process, tree hugger issues. I think CA inspects all trucks or is going to start soon.
It would fail a visual, I guess unless you scrubbed the pipes before hand.
It would fail a visual, I guess unless you scrubbed the pipes before hand.
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From: Isanti, MN
I see your point, Senix. But can that really cause a failure? I've never had a vehicle emissions tested, so I don't know exactly what they use for the inspection. I can only assume, however, that they use some kind of test device that actually samples exhaust gas and looks for pollutants.
Can they fail a truck just for the presence of soot?
Can they fail a truck just for the presence of soot?