As you know, there is no direct indication on our trucks that shows that a regeneration cycle is underway. I have not invested in Edge Insight, yet, that does have a specific indication for regen. I have evolved my use of the ScanGaugeII to that of an exhaust system monitor. This happened mostly by accident through a weird connection between the truck’s instantaneous MPG display and the SG MPG display. My SG is setup to display the following four parameters: 1) Distance since last COMPLETE regeneration (DIS); 2) Exhaust gas temperature 1 (closest to the turbo)(EG1); 3) Exhaust gas temperature 4 (closest to the diesel particulate filter)(EG4); and 4) MPG. When DIS shows about 400 miles, I start paying more attention for a regen cycle …. today it was 484 miles. I usually miss the VERY momentary info window (and I missed it today also) that comes up to say a regen cycle has started. A regen cycle has started when the truck’s MPG is low (today about 7.5 MPG) and the SG MPG is about 20 MPG on a sustained mild climb. Normally the two MPG indications track closely. Some minutes later, exhaust temperatures started rising and leveled out at 850 F for EG1 and about 1150 F for EG4. The end of the cycle was indicated by a sudden match between the two MPGs. There was a significant lag in the reduction of the two exhaust temperatures to normal driving values. The DIS stayed at 484 and is reset when the ignition is turned off. Upon subsequent startup, DIS shows the distance driven from the completion of the regen cycle to engine shutdown. Also, I let the engine idle to cooldown, especially after working hard, so I use EG1 as a trigger to shutdown the engine less than about 400F.

 

That seems like a lot of what ifs to go through to figure out if the truck is in active regen. ScanGauge does a lot for a relatively low price, but I'm a firm believer that sometimes you get what you pay for. I looked at the SG and it wasn't hard to convince me to spend the extra money for what I felt to be a better option.

A better indicator of regen than EGT1 is EGT2 which is post DOC. EGT2 temp really flares more drastically as the raw fuel starts being injected during active regen. EGT4 takes several miles to get up to full regen temp. EGT2 rises almost immediately as the raw fuel burns in the catalyst. It is also the first temp to drop when the regen stops.

 

You took the words right out of my mouth!

 

Yours doesn't tell you like mine does ?!?
IIRC something like "Cleaning Exhaust filter" or something like that

course I ignore it and just happened to catch it the other day


sorry, it's just an appliance to me that happens to be able to tow a BIG 5er !

 

I use my ScanGauge to check the miles since last regen once in a while, especially in this cold weather. With the short drives I do in the winter, mostly less then 25 miles, it never gets a chance to go into regeneration. I had to take it for a longer drive a couple week ago when the miles since last regen went over 500. As soon as the engine got up to operating temperature it went in and stayed there for a good half hour!

Other then that, I don't pay much attention to the regeneration cycles. It's going to do what it's going to do when it needs to do it.

 

Learn something every day!! Thanks.

 

I agree with 720Deere. I also monitor EGT2 with an Android App called Torque Pro; I set an alarm when EGT2 reaches 1150 degrees my gauge flashes to let me know I’m in Regen. I look at the mileage and the “Distance Since Last Complete Regeneration” matches when I restart the engine. I haven’t had time to find the right PID to have a light to come on when in Regen. I also have a graph screen with all 4 EGT’s and see that EGT2 is more responsive.