[getrdun]

I’ve done a forum and google search and found some information but still not sure what I have seen is normal for others or if I have a warranty issue for my diesel. This has done it several times so I know it’s not an isolated case but now I have Forscan lite running to help show me some key indicators.

Initial Conditions:
1) Towing a uhaul trailer empty from Phoenix to Orange County. Outside temps are 100-110. Trailer setup to allow blind spot detection. Initial DPF is 45%. Last Regen was 80 miles ago. Forscan lite shows 48%. DEF level full with 3500 miles showing.

Pulling the trailer 65-70 mph. After about 1 hr, I noticed the Ford filter display is now at 25%. Regen is off per Forscan and the DEF level is showing 3/4 and 2500 miles. Forscan is showing 50%. Shortly thereafter, the truck DPF filter shows 0% and remained that way for the entire trip. When I did hit 300 miles since last Regen during the trip, it did go into Active Regen for roughly 10 min like it should and then back to off. My average MPG was for the entire trip was 15 mpg.

Halfway along the trip i turned Auto Regen off but the truck DPF kept showing 0%.

Once back in Orange Co, I dropped off the trailer and drove 5-6 miles and the Ford filter now shows 10%. DEF level at 5/8 full and 2000 miles.

When I drove out to Phoenix with the uhaul full 4 days earlier, Regen was normal functioning. Got 20 MPG and outside temps were similar. I drove avg 60 mph. I did have the blind spot trailer function off. That is the only key thing different on the return trip other than travel speed. Does the fact that I setup a trailer for blind spot tell the Ford computer to stay in passive Regen all the time?

Do I have an issue to raise to Ford? Have others observed the same?

Thanks.

 

[Dunrollin]

I’ve done a forum and google search and found some information but still not sure what I have seen is normal for others or if I have a warranty issue for my diesel. This has done it several times so I know it’s not an isolated case but now I have Forscan lite running to help show me some key indicators.

Initial Conditions:
1) Towing a uhaul trailer empty from Phoenix to Orange County. Outside temps are 100-110. Trailer setup to allow blind spot detection. Initial DPF is 45%. Last Regen was 80 miles ago. Forscan lite shows 48%. DEF level full with 3500 miles showing.

Pulling the trailer 65-70 mph. After about 1 hr, I noticed the Ford filter display is now at 25%. Regen is off per Forscan and the DEF level is showing 3/4 and 2500 miles. Forscan is showing 50%. Shortly thereafter, its shows 0% and remained that way for the entire trip. When I did hit 300 miles since last Regen during the trip, it did go into Active Regen for roughly 10 min and then back to off. My average MPG was 15 mpg.

Halfway along the trip i turned Auto Regen off but it kept showing 0%.

Once back in Orange Co, I dropped off the trailer and drove 5-6 miles and the Ford filter now shows 10%. DEF level at 5/8 full and 2000 miles.

When I drove out to Phoenix with the uhaul full 4 days earlier, Regen was normal functioning. Got 20 MPG and outside temps were similar. I drove avg 60 mph. I did have the blind spot trailer function off. That is the only key thing different on the return trip other than travel speed. Does the fact that I setup a trailer for blind spot tell the Ford computer to stay in passive Regen all the time?

Do I have an issue to raise to Ford? Have others observed the same?

Thanks.

Just a few random observations and hopefully others with more knowledge will fill in the blanks. First, passive regen just happens, the truck settings have nothing to do with it. I believe it will automatically occur when the dpf temperature exceeds a certain point and that will usually occur when towing. When I tow on the interstate it will take the truck a while before it hits zero percent but then it stays there as long as I am towing at speed. Pretty much the same as you experienced.

@jmperlik is more knowledgeable about the sensors on the %dpf but I believe there is more than one way the truck measures it, thus the dash %dpf can be well off from the forscan %dpf.

During towing def will be consumed at a high rate compared to just cruising around. This is as you experienced.

There is a normal 300 mile regen that will occur. On mine if I am not towing it can drop to zero and shortly after hit 20%. I have no idea why but it does.

 

[Laytunes]

I’ve done a forum and google search and found some information but still not sure what I have seen is normal for others or if I have a warranty issue for my diesel. This has done it several times so I know it’s not an isolated case but now I have Forscan lite running to help show me some key indicators.

Initial Conditions:
1) Towing a uhaul trailer empty from Phoenix to Orange County. Outside temps are 100-110. Trailer setup to allow blind spot detection. Initial DPF is 45%. Last Regen was 80 miles ago. Forscan lite shows 48%. DEF level full with 3500 miles showing.

Pulling the trailer 65-70 mph. After about 1 hr, I noticed the Ford filter display is now at 25%. Regen is off per Forscan and the DEF level is showing 3/4 and 2500 miles. Forscan is showing 50%. Shortly thereafter, the truck DPF filter shows 0% and remained that way for the entire trip. When I did hit 300 miles since last Regen during the trip, it did go into Active Regen for roughly 10 min like it should and then back to off. My average MPG was for the entire trip was 15 mpg.

Halfway along the trip i turned Auto Regen off but the truck DPF kept showing 0%.

Once back in Orange Co, I dropped off the trailer and drove 5-6 miles and the Ford filter now shows 10%. DEF level at 5/8 full and 2000 miles.

When I drove out to Phoenix with the uhaul full 4 days earlier, Regen was normal functioning. Got 20 MPG and outside temps were similar. I drove avg 60 mph. I did have the blind spot trailer function off. That is the only key thing different on the return trip other than travel speed. Does the fact that I setup a trailer for blind spot tell the Ford computer to stay in passive Regen all the time?

Do I have an issue to raise to Ford? Have others observed the same?

Thanks.

I don't really see any issues in what you described, @Dunrollin seems to have hit everything. The only thing I could add is that if your EGT's are sustained above 300C (572F) in the DPF, the filter will regen passively, which means that the soot oxidizes on it's own on the filter medium, and no active regen is required (additional fuel). If you're towing, you'd be well above this for likely the whole time, and so it makes sense that you would remain at 0% after the first regen cleaned it out. The computer will automatically trigger one regardless every 300 mi to ensure everything is routinely burned out as you saw. The computer does monitor soot levels in several ways, distance travelled, back pressure, differential pressures, and compares it to a known pre-set value to monitor ash build up, so i have noticed that the % on the dash does not always mimic what forscan shows, but the regens always seem to trigger along with the dash %. So I believe that the dash value is the combined result of all sensors, aside from the inputs related to distance. One of the forscan DPF% PIDs is a % related to distance, maybe that is what you were looking at when you saw 50%.

 

[getrdun]

Thanks for the input guys. Seems it’s normal and not anything to worry about except to be aware of it. Passive will occur when under a heavily load as pulling a trailer. Plus it probably made a difference going from 100°+ to 70° vs the other way around on the amount of time in passive Regen. Hotter outside temps mean hotter exhaust temps which means a greater percentage of the time under passive Regen conditions.