Should the tailpipe be black?
Junior User
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 69
Likes: 0
From: Boise, Idaho
Possible but you would see a soot stain on the outside of the exhaust pipe. However, that would not cause the tailpipe to blow smoke or soot up. All of the failures I have heard of are the filter inside of the canister cracks and then the soot passes thru the point of least ristriction (i.e. the crack).
Junior User
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 69
Likes: 0
From: Boise, Idaho
Here is a cutaway view of a DPF filter off of a 2008 6.4L PSD. You can see that the filter medium is rather restrictive as well as fragile. There are many things that can cause the filters to fail but most of them are related to the addition of tuning devices and intake/ exhaust modifications or running unapproved fuel additives or the use fuels other than ULSD (15ppm Sulfer or less).
Did you buy the truck from a private party or from a dealer? If from a private party, do you think the previous owner would be willing to tell you if he had installed a tuner or any other modifications or not? Doesn't hurt to ask....
Many of the tuners for the 6.4L PSD engines do not require any hard wiring but rather connect to the OBD II diagnostic port and alter the ECM, TCM, and ICM module(s) programing. These can be removed without any traces of previous installation unless you have the proper diagnostic tools and even then, some claim they are still untraceable.
This second image is what you should see if the actual DPF canister had a crack in the exterior....
Here is a link to a video that explains the theory of a DPF equiped system and shows the inside of a typical DPF filter....
http://www.grainsandpowders.saint-go...dpfatwork.mpeg
Did you buy the truck from a private party or from a dealer? If from a private party, do you think the previous owner would be willing to tell you if he had installed a tuner or any other modifications or not? Doesn't hurt to ask....
Many of the tuners for the 6.4L PSD engines do not require any hard wiring but rather connect to the OBD II diagnostic port and alter the ECM, TCM, and ICM module(s) programing. These can be removed without any traces of previous installation unless you have the proper diagnostic tools and even then, some claim they are still untraceable.
This second image is what you should see if the actual DPF canister had a crack in the exterior....
Here is a link to a video that explains the theory of a DPF equiped system and shows the inside of a typical DPF filter....
http://www.grainsandpowders.saint-go...dpfatwork.mpeg
Thread Starter
|
Cargo Master
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 2,079
Likes: 11
From: LA and CO
Bought it from a wholesaler in Dallas. It pretty much sat there until I bought it. I looked it over real well before I bought it. I saw the mileage report when the wholesaler bought it and the mileage when I drove it and it wasn't much difference. The exhaust looked untampered as did the intake.
Tried to call the owner and he's never returned calls. Not really sure if it was chipped or not.
Tried to call the owner and he's never returned calls. Not really sure if it was chipped or not.
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 354
Likes: 0
From: Patterson, Ca.
I feel your pain. After 14,500 miles, a DPF, CAC, EGR, and a radiator I sold my '08 6.4 and bought a clean, low mileage 7.3. Had a John Wood Tranny, a 6.0 trans cooler, gauges, 4" turbo back exhaust and a DP Tuner installed and it performs as well as my 6.4 did and gets much better mileage. Best of all there is nothing but a muffler behind the turbo.
Junior User
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 69
Likes: 0
From: Boise, Idaho
Bought it from a wholesaler in Dallas. It pretty much sat there until I bought it. I looked it over real well before I bought it. I saw the mileage report when the wholesaler bought it and the mileage when I drove it and it wasn't much difference. The exhaust looked untampered as did the intake.
Tried to call the owner and he's never returned calls. Not really sure if it was chipped or not.
Tried to call the owner and he's never returned calls. Not really sure if it was chipped or not.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 7,868
Likes: 9
From: Rhode Island
Any soot at all in the tail pipe - especially coming back right after cleaning them means your DPF is cracked or damaged. It needs to be replaced. End of story.
You either need to force your dealer to do it, or find another one that is more willing.
You either need to force your dealer to do it, or find another one that is more willing.
Junior User
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 69
Likes: 0
From: Boise, Idaho
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer
Joe Kucinski
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies
Joe Kucinski
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
Postmaster
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,201
Likes: 4
From: waynesville, mo.
Just asking here, the vehicles that I have had in my bay with sooty pipes, I've added cetane boost and put in known good (high cetane) fuel, they've come back with clean pipes. Does that mean the good fuel "welded" the crack back up?
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 7,868
Likes: 9
From: Rhode Island
If there is any soot in the tail pipe, the DPF is cracked simple as that. No fuel additive can fix it.
It just probably means they haven't driven around enough for the soot to accumulate again.
It just probably means they haven't driven around enough for the soot to accumulate again.
Super Moderator
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 37,379
Likes: 1,863
From: Frederick, MD
before I rushed in for a new DPF I would want to ensure there are no other causes. Leaking injectors, EGR issues.
Early on we could say it was a bad DPF...and it usually was, but I would not jump to that conclusion so fast now that it has been around for 3+ years.
Early on we could say it was a bad DPF...and it usually was, but I would not jump to that conclusion so fast now that it has been around for 3+ years.
Postmaster
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,201
Likes: 4
From: waynesville, mo.
Style of driving and fuel quality are the major contributors to excessive soot. And no, I didn't clean the pipes, they cleaned themselves. Can a damaged DPF show in this way, sure, but there will be other indicators as well.
Junior User
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 69
Likes: 0
From: Boise, Idaho
The underlying problem (i.e. Leaky injector, EGT issues, etc...) could be what caused the DPF filter to fail so it would need to be addressed as well as the DPF replacement.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 7,868
Likes: 9
From: Rhode Island
The tailpipes can't clean themselves. They don't get nearly hot enough to burn away the soot that far away from the DPF.