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Maybe this is obvious to some people but I’m looking for some experience...
I bought my first ever truck, a 2013 F350 6.7L last month and I’m trying my hardest to learn about it. None of my friends or family own trucks (I live in a place where they aren’t popular/practical). I noticed the exhaust smell is pretty strong when it’s idling in my driveway for a minute while I’m loading it up, or a stop light with windows open and a breeze. It’s...sweet? Sort of?
I guess is it normal to smell the exhaust at all, especially more than a regular car? Is that a problem?
welcome to 6.7l ownership! you will smell the exhaust, but it wont smell like standard diesel exhaust(unless its deleted). As long as the tailpipe isnt black(unless you are deleted), you are fine. If you shutdown during a regen, you'll smell a burning smell, thats just the DPF at 1200 degrees, also nothing to worry about.
I've owned A 2005 6.0L, A 2011 6.7L, and now the 2016 6.7L, and one thing I will tell you is that diesel engines tend to make more difference noises, act differently depending on weather(temp), etc. Unlike a gas engine, which seems to run exactly the same all the time, and that can be alarming to some folks. Sometimes the engine is a bit louder, etc. Nothing to worry about assuming there are no CEL, or messages indicating a problem.
welcome to 6.7l ownership! you will smell the exhaust, but it wont smell like standard diesel exhaust(unless its deleted). As long as the tailpipe isnt black(unless you are deleted), you are fine. If you shutdown during a regen, you'll smell a burning smell, thats just the DPF at 1200 degrees, also nothing to worry about.
I've owned A 2005 6.0L, A 2011 6.7L, and now the 2016 6.7L, and one thing I will tell you is that diesel engines tend to make more difference noises, act differently depending on weather(temp), etc. Unlike a gas engine, which seems to run exactly the same all the time, and that can be alarming to some folks. Sometimes the engine is a bit louder, etc. Nothing to worry about assuming there are no CEL, or messages indicating a problem.
thanks! This is all really helpful. I’m not deleted and I don’t think the tailpipe is black? I’ve attached a picture, is that just a normal amount of corrosion for an 8 year old New England (likely plow) truck?
thanks! This is all really helpful. I’m not deleted and I don’t think the tailpipe is black? I’ve attached a picture, is that just a normal amount of corrosion for an 8 year old New England (likely plow) truck?
There looks to be minimal rust on the truck. Not even the hitch is rusted.
thanks! This is all really helpful. I’m not deleted and I don’t think the tailpipe is black? I’ve attached a picture, is that just a normal amount of corrosion for an 8 year old New England (likely plow) truck?
looks normal! Make sure you drive it more than just to the grocery store and back. diesels dont do good with short trips. Enjoy!
looks normal! Make sure you drive it more than just to the grocery store and back. diesels dont do good with short trips. Enjoy!
ok great! Was a little worried that discoloration was soot (not really sure what it looks like) but good to know it’s normal. And yeah I heard I should be taking it on long trips so I try to do a long highway trip or two a week. Hard right now with working from home...
Welcome to our club of 6.7s. You live where it's cold. When you first start the truck, it has a stronger exhaust smell that does resemble a traditional diesel exhaust but not as strong. As to once it warms up, I don't recall really smelling anything. When it goes through a regen, if you come to a traffic light or a stop, it has a more stronger smell because the soot is burning off. I often wonder what it smells like for the drivers behind me when I'm on a regen run on the expressway.
Welcome to our club of 6.7s. You live where it's cold. When you first start the truck, it has a stronger exhaust smell that does resemble a traditional diesel exhaust but not as strong. As to once it warms up, I don't recall really smelling anything. When it goes through a regen, if you come to a traffic light or a stop, it has a more stronger smell because the soot is burning off. I often wonder what it smells like for the drivers behind me when I'm on a regen run on the expressway.
I guess now that you mention it I don’t really notice when I pull into my driveway, I really only notice when I’m leaving.
I also haven’t had a regen yet so I’m a little worried, but I’m not exactly sure how many miles it’s been since the last one. My CEL came on 2 days after I picked the truck up from the dealer so they replaced the EGR cooler, and it may have regen’d then, but it’s been at least 400 miles and nothing. FORScan said it’s 60% full with 2g\L, any idea when I can expect the next one?
I guess now that you mention it I don’t really notice when I pull into my driveway, I really only notice when I’m leaving.
I also haven’t had a regen yet so I’m a little worried, but I’m not exactly sure how many miles it’s been since the last one. My CEL came on 2 days after I picked the truck up from the dealer so they replaced the EGR cooler, and it may have regen’d then, but it’s been at least 400 miles and nothing. FORScan said it’s 60% full with 2g\L, any idea when I can expect the next one?
When I first start my truck in the morning as I'm tying my boots up for work, I always smell it when I walk outside. This morning it was in the 20s. When I smell it, I say to myself, "I love the smell of diesel exhaust in the morning... Smells like victory."
I'm not sure on the 2g/L PID, but since you have 400 miles currently since the last one, you could expect it at anytime now. I've had regens in the low 400s like 425 to 440 miles before when I drive in stop and go more than I usually do.
When I first start my truck in the morning as I'm tying my boots up for work, I always smell it when I walk outside. This morning it was in the 20s. When I smell it, I say to myself, "I love the smell of diesel exhaust in the morning... Smells like victory."
I'm not sure on the 2g/L PID, but since you have 400 miles currently since the last one, you could expect it at anytime now. I've had regens in the low 400s like 425 to 440 miles before when I drive in stop and go more than I usually do.
lol is is a...unique smell I’ll give it that. Never been around another diesel so not sure what to compare it to.
Are there any cases of trucks not doing regens at all? Worried something is wrong with mine, though I guess it could be any day now.
lol is is a...unique smell I’ll give it that. Never been around another diesel so not sure what to compare it to.
Are there any cases of trucks not doing regens at all? Worried something is wrong with mine, though I guess it could be any day now.
Yup... those are called deleted trucks. Monitor EGT1 and EGT4 on FORscan. When EGT1 gets up 900 some degrees and EGT4 rises up past 1000 deg F, you're in a regen. Those tailpipes are way too clean for that to be a deleted truck.
The exhaust on my non-deleted truck smells too... kinda like a sweet boiling **** smell. I'm not fond of it it, but it usually only happens when the truck is first started and sitting in the driveway for a few minutes. Once I get her out on the road, it's gone.
Yup... those are called deleted trucks. Monitor EGT1 and EGT4 on FORscan. When EGT1 gets up 900 some degrees and EGT4 rises up past 1000 deg F, you're in a regen. Those tailpipes are way too clean for that to be a deleted truck.
Look under the truck:
If that is there, you're not deleted.
Okay yeah I looked under and I definitely have that...though with a healthy layer of surface rust. Assuming if there is something wrong with the regens I'll get a CEL or something - assuming trucks with DPFs can't just go forever without doing one?
Although now that I think about it, is it possible to not know if you're in a regen? Does a message always appear or will it just do it in the background on the highway or something? I have a Lariat with a 4" screen, not sure if that makes a difference.
A message always appears on my dash saying something, although it only lasts for maybe 10 seconds. Another option is to get an app like Torque Pro and connect it to a ODB2 adapter like the ODBLink MX+ which is the combination I use. Here you can add widgets for lots of different sensors on the truck to see much more than the dash gauges will tell you, including whether you're in a regen or not.
A message always appears on my dash saying something, although it only lasts for maybe 10 seconds. Another option is to get an app like Torque Pro and connect it to a ODB2 adapter like the ODBLink MX+ which is the combination I use. Here you can add widgets for lots of different sensors on the truck to see much more than the dash gauges will tell you, including whether you're in a regen or not.
Okay so its possible I missed it. I assumed it would be something I'd have to clear on the screen. I only have an iPhone so I'm using FORSCAN Lite or OBD Fusion which I think does the same thing. I guess I'll just have to find the specific value that tracks regens.
