[JohnK2009]

Last night going home after a fill up, the truck went into regen. I had 20 minutes before I would get home and thought it would complete about the time I arrived. It didn't so I decided to just keep driving thinking it would be done soon. Well after 40 minutes it finally completed.

Last weekend I put new ford fuel filters in and I switched from the Diesel Kleen cetane booster to the motorcraft brand. Any ideas what may have caused such a long regen? I don't like driving xtra miles especially these days.

 

[senix]

I assume speed and load were normal for your regen..just like always?

 

[JohnK2009]

Yes for the most part doing 60-65 mph no load, the last part 10-15 mins was driving around in my neighborhood at slower speeds.

 

[senix]

Next time...at the lower speeds try to use tow/haul to elevate the rpms so you get it done faster.

 

[JohnK2009]

Okay I'll try that. I didn't know that regens would respond differently in relation to RPMs where/how does the raw fuel actually get to the filter?

 

[MPD56]

JohnK2009: Just curious, did you just get the newest flash?
A couple of weeks ago I had my last Regen was when I was driving home from the dealer after getting the latest flash. It was like yours, but I drove 30 minutes on the highway and the last 10 minutes around town averaging 45 mph and put my shifter in third gear. Normally my Regens last 15 minutes and I drive up the highway 10 minutes and that is why I got caught finishing it in town. I usually have a Regen before the 200 mile mark, but have since went over the 300 mile mark without a Regen, so I have been waiting to see what happens with my next Regen. I always use Ford’s additive.

 

[senix]

fuel gets to the DPF by way of the exhaust stroke. So higher rpms would push it to the dpf better.

 

[MPD56]

senix: You always give good advice! I’ll have to try Tow/Haul mode when I get caught in town. I know that you have a engine monitor and maybe you know, but I was told when I asked about my last Regen, that during Regen if the truck speed drops below 40 mph (60 kph) when it is in Regen, the PCM stops putting fuel into the exhaust, it doesn’t stop the cycle, but only suspends it till the DPF sensors are satisfied that the DPF was cleaned, of course the Regen cycle will stop if you take it out of gear, etc…; I was told that my last Regen lasted longer because it was the first one after a flash and the next Regens will be shorter.

 

[senix]

senix: You always give good advice! I’ll have to try Tow/Haul mode when I get caught in town. I know that you have a engine monitor and maybe you know, but I was told when I asked about my last Regen, that during Regen if the truck speed drops below 40 mph (60 kph) when it is in Regen, the PCM stops putting fuel into the exhaust, it doesn’t stop the cycle, but only suspends it till the DPF sensors are satisfied that the DPF was cleaned, of course the Regen cycle will stop if you take it out of gear, etc…; I was told that my last Regen lasted longer because it was the first one after a flash and the next Regens will be shorter.

Speeds of less than 30 mph will cause it to stop putting fuel to the dpf. It will stil stay in the mode as you descibe.

But even more of a concern is the residual fuel that maybe in there at those lower rpms.

The way the cylinders and pistons/rings are designed is to allow for expansion when the motor is worked. That also means there is not the best seal if you regen and you are not on the highway or about IHMO 1200 rpms or so.

So keeping the rpms up, using tow/haul in low speed conditions will help it to not make oil and get the fuel to the dpf as well.

 

[JohnK2009]

No I didn't get the flash yet. My regens usally come in at about 400 - 450 mile range or about every fill up. Thanks for all the advice, I'll keep you posted on the next one and how it performs.

 

[jkeating]

5-6 regens a day on trip

I recently drove 2650 miles in 6 days. Averaged 5 to 6 regens a day with less that 100 miles per regen. I estimate I was driving in regen mode about 15-20% of the time. I was towing about 14,000lbs 5th wheel, in tow haul mode, 4.10 diffs, 08 F350CC 4x4, DRW, I average about 70mph. MPG about 7.5 to 8. Most of trip was at low altitude, except the last 600 miles went to 6,400 feet. Ford service said this was with in spects. Was it? I had the reflash done after arriving home.

 

[senix]

I recently drove 2650 miles in 6 days. Averaged 5 to 6 regens a day with less that 100 miles per regen. I estimate I was driving in regen mode about 15-20% of the time. I was towing about 14,000lbs 5th wheel, in tow haul mode, 4.10 diffs, 08 F350CC 4x4, DRW, I average about 70mph. MPG about 7.5 to 8. Most of trip was at low altitude, except the last 600 miles went to 6,400 feet. Ford service said this was with in spects. Was it? I had the reflash done after arriving home.

Yup...my 5er is 14K as well. 3.73 gears at 65 mph. I average 7-9 mpgs and regens every 130 miles or so when towing. Does not seem to matter altitude or not.

 

[deliberate]

Yup...my 5er is 14K as well. 3.73 gears at 65 mph. I average 7-9 mpgs and regens every 130 miles or so when towing. Does not seem to matter altitude or not.

Are you using a cetane boost? As I continue to rant here, I think some of our fuel economy differences and more frequent regen cycling here might be explained by fuel quality and cetane levels, and certainly by any use of that witch's brew called "winter blend". As someone else pointed out in another thread I think, during the transition period after "winter blend", there's no telling what slow selling stations (or those with big tanks) are actually dispensing.

It would be interesting to A/B a long drive with/without cetane boost to see if it truly would make a difference in mpg.

I add cetane boost at every fuel-up and can attest that I've never seen a pink elephant in the road since doing so.

- Don

 

[senix]

I don't use a thing...I just stay away from bio-fuel.

 

[sdm300]

Are you using a cetane boost? As I continue to rant here, I think some of our fuel economy differences and more frequent regen cycling here might be explained by fuel quality and cetane levels, and certainly by any use of that witch's brew called "winter blend".

- Don

I assume that those of us in the more temperate areas of California (which is almost all of it) would never see "winter blend" at the pumps? Any pointers on how to find out what's being pumped when and where?

 

[POWERSKULL]

Up here in Alaska I can definitely tell what fuel I am using by the MPGs and the frequency of my regens. I go from 17-18 mixed summer to 12-14 mixed Winter and my regens happen 500 miles summer to 300 miles winter like clockwork. I also change my diesel Kleen from summer to winter blend which may be a contributing factor… all data unloaded

 

[JohnK2009]

Well since I had the 40 minute regen it has regened twice. Now each time it takes about 12-13 minutes and happens about every 200 miles. When it does it I have been on the hi-way both times about 65 mph. Before I switched to Ford centane and was on Diesel Kleen it was happening about every 400 miles and 20 minutes to complete. I'm going to run through the Ford Cetane two more fill ups and then switch back to Diesel Kleen to see what happens.

 

[Brad777]

senix: You always give good advice! I’ll have to try Tow/Haul mode when I get caught in town. I know that you have a engine monitor and maybe you know, but I was told when I asked about my last Regen, that during Regen if the truck speed drops below 40 mph (60 kph) when it is in Regen, the PCM stops putting fuel into the exhaust, it doesn’t stop the cycle, but only suspends it till the DPF sensors are satisfied that the DPF was cleaned, of course the Regen cycle will stop if you take it out of gear, etc…; I was told that my last Regen lasted longer because it was the first one after a flash and the next Regens will be shorter.

X2. Great advice...thanks. :thumbsup: