Notices
6.4L Power Stroke Diesel Engine fitted to 2008 - 2010 F250, F350 and F450 pickup trucks and F350 + Cab Chassis

How Does Regen Know?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old May 17, 2010 | 04:21 PM
  #1  
RoadJunkie's Avatar
RoadJunkie
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 161
Likes: 0
How Does Regen Know?

So, just how does the regen cycle know to begin it's execution just as you:

1) Are between stations, in the middle of nowhere, and sweating as to whether or not you will make it to the next one before running out of fuel.

2) Are just about to pull into the driveway (or end your trip) after you've just driven more than enough miles to complete the regen.

3) Are towing your rig and pulling up the only high-grade mountain on the trip.

4) Any other time it is most inconvenient.

How does it know?
 
Reply
Old May 17, 2010 | 07:02 PM
  #2  
Grodyman's Avatar
Grodyman
Junior User
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 76
Likes: 0
I think when the LieOMeter reads over 12 MPG, the computer automatically puts the truck into regen, so your MPG will go back down to where it belongs.
 
Reply
Old May 17, 2010 | 08:27 PM
  #3  
cheezit's Avatar
cheezit
Post Fiend
15 Year Member
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 12,123
Likes: 35
From: N. Fort Worth, tx
Club FTE Silver Member

do you really want the awnser as to when and why regens happen
 
Reply
Old May 17, 2010 | 08:37 PM
  #4  
senix's Avatar
senix
Super Moderator
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Top Answer: 1
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 37,384
Likes: 1,867
From: Frederick, MD
Club FTE Gold Member
It is a total crap shoot. I ask Chris Brewer about giving us an option based upon a need to regen in XX miles, followed by a PCM controlled regen should the driver not pushing the button...but you see where we are with that suggestion.

Just drive the truck.
 
Reply
Old May 18, 2010 | 06:33 AM
  #5  
Gearitis's Avatar
Gearitis
Laughing Gas
15 Year Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 950
Likes: 6
From: Waco, Texas
Club FTE Silver Member

I have wondered the same on "how does it know" to regen just as I am pulling in the drive? I have just accepted it and go on and drive the dang thing. You are not going to change it much.
 
Reply
Old May 18, 2010 | 12:07 PM
  #6  
aquaman's Avatar
aquaman
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,006
Likes: 0
From: San Jose, CA
Wouldn't it be nice if we could simply flip the DPF around 180 everytime it needs to regen and just let all the soot blow onto the ground or disposable collection bag? Nah... that's too easy
 
Reply
Old May 19, 2010 | 07:00 AM
  #7  
waverunner800's Avatar
waverunner800
Senior User
15 Year Member
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 115
Likes: 0
Club FTE Silver Member

The truck's computer is constantly learning. One thing it learns, is where you live, and where you park at work. It memorizes all the little bumps in the road, and knows when you're just about to pull into the drive or park at work. If the computer is feeling vindictive, it will start a regen just to mess with you. It also talks to other Superdutys on the road. They are constantly asking each other when they've initiated a regen that most pi$$ed off their owner. They are constantly trying to out do one another. One I know of, the owner had to pee really bad. I mean REALLY bad. The computer knew this, because the seats were telling it the driver was squirming around. So, as soon as he got near the rest area, it threw the "DRIVE TO CLEAN EXHAUST" message up, just to see if he would keep going, and wet his pants. Once the seat figured this out, though, it got sort of upset (who wants to get peed on, right?), and decided to send the computer a message that put the truck in limp mode, thinking that would make the driver turn off at the rest stop. However, this backfired on the seat. Since the truck was in limp mode, it was going very sssllllooowww....so, you can guess what happened next...
 
Reply
Old May 19, 2010 | 07:18 AM
  #8  
senix's Avatar
senix
Super Moderator
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Top Answer: 1
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 37,384
Likes: 1,867
From: Frederick, MD
Club FTE Gold Member
Originally Posted by waverunner800
The truck's computer is constantly learning. One thing it learns, is where you live, and where you park at work. It memorizes all the little bumps in the road, and knows when you're just about to pull into the drive or park at work. If the computer is feeling vindictive, it will start a regen just to mess with you. It also talks to other Superdutys on the road. They are constantly asking each other when they've initiated a regen that most pi$$ed off their owner. They are constantly trying to out do one another. One I know of, the owner had to pee really bad. I mean REALLY bad. The computer knew this, because the seats were telling it the driver was squirming around. So, as soon as he got near the rest area, it threw the "DRIVE TO CLEAN EXHAUST" message up, just to see if he would keep going, and wet his pants. Once the seat figured this out, though, it got sort of upset (who wants to get peed on, right?), and decided to send the computer a message that put the truck in limp mode, thinking that would make the driver turn off at the rest stop. However, this backfired on the seat. Since the truck was in limp mode, it was going very sssllllooowww....so, you can guess what happened next...
I'm thinkin that you desire a lot reps for that one!
 
Reply
FTE Stories

Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts

story-0

Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership

 Brett Foote
story-2

10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained

 Brett Foote
story-4

10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-6

Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

 Brett Foote
story-9

Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

 Joe Kucinski
Old May 19, 2010 | 04:42 PM
  #9  
ruschejj's Avatar
ruschejj
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 6,521
Likes: 11
From: Greenwood, SC
Club FTE Gold Member
Also, anyone ever ride behind their truck on a motorcycle or scooter? Man they smell bad! Especially in regen. Now every time a cycle is riding my a$$ I get a little smirk on my face!
 
Reply
Old May 23, 2010 | 01:59 AM
  #10  
Toms53Ford's Avatar
Toms53Ford
Junior User
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 56
Likes: 0
From: Sanford, NC
Since i'm considering an 08 F450, what does this regen do and i'm assuming it comes on whenever it pleases? Does it slow the truck into a limp mode or what? Can the system be removed from the truck without voiding the warranty?
 
Reply
Old May 23, 2010 | 05:27 AM
  #11  
senix's Avatar
senix
Super Moderator
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Top Answer: 1
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 37,384
Likes: 1,867
From: Frederick, MD
Club FTE Gold Member
Originally Posted by Toms53Ford
Since i'm considering an 08 F450, what does this regen do and i'm assuming it comes on whenever it pleases? Does it slow the truck into a limp mode or what? Can the system be removed from the truck without voiding the warranty?
Regen as we call it refers to the cleaning of the exhaust system. Every so often the pcm tell the injectors to inject fuel on the exhaust stroke down the exhaust and into the DPF (diesel particulate filter). This basically creates and fire and burns off the soot that it collected in the dpf and then that burnt soot, now ash, goes out the pipe.

A proper running system and you will see clean tailpipes or maybe just a haze.

This cleaning operation varies according to load, fuel quality, the earth rotations and maybe the change of seasons. There is no way to control it. It is done by senors.

Removal will surely void the warranty, however there are those that put it back on for warranty work.
 
Reply
Old May 23, 2010 | 10:05 AM
  #12  
Toms53Ford's Avatar
Toms53Ford
Junior User
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 56
Likes: 0
From: Sanford, NC
So when it decides it's going to clean itself, does it slow the truck down, or does it continue at highway speeds? I plan on hauling cars with it.
 
Reply
Old May 23, 2010 | 10:09 AM
  #13  
senix's Avatar
senix
Super Moderator
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Top Answer: 1
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 37,384
Likes: 1,867
From: Frederick, MD
Club FTE Gold Member
I never notice a difference. Eng hp is suppose to be slightly reduced during the event because the injectors are only putting 4 pulses of fuel in the compression stroke vs the normal 5.

That 5th one is now on the exhaust stroke to burn that soot.

I pull a 14k 5th and never notice anything.
 
Reply
Old May 23, 2010 | 10:31 AM
  #14  
Toms53Ford's Avatar
Toms53Ford
Junior User
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 56
Likes: 0
From: Sanford, NC
That's good to know. I plan to pull a gooseneck with 3 vehicles on it. I'm looking at the F450 for it's 24,500# capacity.
 
Reply




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:15 AM.

story-0
Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals

Slideshow: Top 10 Fords at 2026 Ford Nationals

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-09 11:10:08


VIEW MORE
story-1
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership

Based on years of owning multiple modern Ford products.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-09 10:53:36


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches

SPONSORED: From muddy boots to rain-soaked cargo, these upgrades address some of the most common frustrations Ford truck owners face every day.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-06-08 18:50:34


VIEW MORE
story-3
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained

Here's everything you need to know about every Ford engine available for the 2026 model year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-05 12:58:01


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Ford trucks that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 09:51:16


VIEW MORE
story-5
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: the best gifts for dads & grads

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:58


VIEW MORE
story-6
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

Slideshow: Called the Fortress, the 850-horsepower pickup combines Raptor underpinnings with military-inspired features, survival equipment, and a starting price of $285,000.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-03 11:38:36


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

Slideshow: 10 most expensive Ford trucks ever sold on Bring a Trailer.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:24:34


VIEW MORE
story-8
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

Here's everything that has changed for the latest model year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-27 16:17:28


VIEW MORE
story-9
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

Slideshow: Top 10 Ford truck tragedies.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-18 19:34:33


VIEW MORE