Stationary Desoot with AlfaOBD

[JR]

Virtually every OEM has a projected service life on their DPF. This is nothing new.

Just the same as they have a B10 durability rating on their engines, owner/operator neglect not withstanding (I would hope that goes without saying).

 

[Ozymandias]

I read they have a CP4 conversion for your Third Gen.

 

[Larry Sciblo]

Yes, it's pretty straight forward.

Just for future/historical reference on this subject....

In my case My truck had popped up the DPF full message on the EVIC (has done it once or twice before over the life of the truck) but this time it would not initiate a regen for some reason? Started dinging at me every few minutes that it was full but could not regen?
What I ended up having to do was go into alfa and do a DPF reset to clear it. That cleared all the stored % values as if I had installed a brand new DPF. Then I was able to start the stationary desoot.

I use Torque pro to monitor the DPF % full and see when the normal regens occurred. It is usually pretty linear from the time of a regen to the next as it "fills up" if you will. After resetting the DPF and doing the stationary de-soot, monitoring the DPF percentage as I did before seemed more erratic and not linear? Maybe it was trying to build it's data base again that I had cleared but not sure?
I ended up pulling off the DPF and honestly it didn't look horrible inside but really hard to say if it was clogged in the middle or something?

Just to Learn More: I understand the need for the "region process". What I need help with is why the tracking and monitoring? I do not have any experience here so I asking just to learn. I have a 16 as well, with 77K and concerned I maybe missing a maintenance step with this process? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[JR]

There is no prescribed maintenance interval for stationary desooting, it is what i consider preventative maintenance in order to try and keep the dpf as clear as possible. Wether it helps or not in the long run is debatable but I figure it can't hurt.

As far as monitoring temps and dpf % likely not necessary but I like having a baseline on what it SHOULD be doing and when it should be doing it, and if I'm lucky possibly catch a problem as it arises.

 

[sag2]

Speaking of regens.

I listened in on an ASE webinar last week on Rams fuel and emissions system. Alot of good info, but one thing really caught my ear. The gentleman claims these trucks are performing an active regen every 300 miles.

That one caught me also. I don't know him as he is based on the east coast, but generally the training instructors stay to the script the engineers feed them, and do not have much real world personal experience. They do get to interact with 10 level two and three technicians a day, four days a week, so they receive pretty good feedback.

 

[sag2]

Speaking of regens.

I listened in on an ASE webinar last week on Rams fuel and emissions system. Alot of good info, but one thing really caught my ear. The gentleman claims these trucks are performing an active regen every 300 miles.

That one caught me also. I don't know him as he is based on the east coast, but generally the training instructors stay to the script the engineers feed them, and do not have much real world personal experience. They do get to interact with 10 level two and three technicians a day, four days a week, so they receive pretty good feedback.

 

[Newsa]

Lower your spare tire or at least make sure it's not touching the heat guard. I've done it but I have to watch the time because it gives my AlfaOBD a message that it aborted when it is still desooting.

 

[MtnRider]

Just to Learn More: I understand the need for the "region process". What I need help with is why the tracking and monitoring? I do not have any experience here so I asking just to learn. I have a 16 as well, with 77K and concerned I maybe missing a maintenance step with this process? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

I monitored mine just for the heck of it? I like to tinker and love gadgets so it's just another thing to play with honestly. Also helped to know when it was in the middle of a regen. I could keep driving a few more miles to let it finish so it didn't have to start over again next time I start the truck up. The truck will continue a regen on it's own if you shut it off mid regen so it takes care of itself, no need to really worry about it. At the end of the day it was just for fun.

And just to add, it also gave be a baseline of what was "normal" for the truck so if I saw anything outside of that I might want to look into it?


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[sag2]

Sorry that is nonsens spoken from that guy, it totally depends how much soot is in the DPF prior to regen.
And as we know the regen happens independent from the filling state of the DPF.
It depends also on the fuel quality, air filter quality and type of engine oil.

So 500 is no more then ballpark, can be 5000 as good as any other number.


*people with non-stock air filters will reach that threshold way faster.
As everything that passes the air filter will be collected in DPF.

Regen happens based on two criteria, when the ECM calculates the DPF is full, and based on the regen timer. The DPF pressure sensors are also used to confirm what the ECM believes as full enough to require a regen. The timer is just that, a timer that when it is met forces a regen.
Also as the DPF ages it fills with ash, and regens occur more frequently because the ash load leaves less room for soot. Once the regens become too frequent, it has used up its useful life and must be replaced. I used to have the worksheets, but the Chassis Cab could hold more soot before a regen than the pickups. I want to say it was about 50 grams of soot for PU, and 70 grams for CC.

 

[JR]

I received a response RE regen every 300 miles. Their tune sure has changed!

From our presenter:



The distance and run time between normal operation of a DPF and active regens will vary depending on many factors.

1. How new is the DPF? The newer the DPF the more area of containment for soot without accumulated ash taking that space. The older the DPF the more frequent regens with less miles or hours between.

2. Fuel usage. The more fuel used the more soot accumulated, less miles between regen.

3. Driving characteristics. Stop and go traffic can accumulate soot quicker than highway miles.

4. Atmospheric conditions. Altitude and temp may also play a small factor with soot accumulation over hours or miles.


The miles or hours between regen will be different between drivers, load, conditions and age of the DPF.

"From our presenter" implies it was stated during the webinar. I did miss part of it, does anyone else recall this?

P.S. Name of presenter left out for privacy.

 

[TFucili]

That is much more sensible.

 

[AH64ID]

That is much more sensible.

And very generic.

 

[TFucili]

And very generic.

True!

 

[Wayne M.]

You guys are making me want a new truck just so I can play with you all
But seriously, if any of you guys use your Alfa app to do a regen, would it be possible to see some screen shots? Can you monitor DPF delta P while in regeneration?

 

[Signal73]

My 19 regens every 24 hours of engine operation. I now have 195 hours/7800ish miles on it, it’s been very predictable.

 

[Rob S]

My 19 regens every 24 hours of engine operation. I now have 195 hours/7800ish miles on it, it’s been very predictable.

how can i tell when it regens, never noticed mine doing it. just looked at its gage and its showing 0 build up. Ive got 12,000 miles on mine.

 

[Signal73]

I leave mine on the DPF screen. When it goes into regen the DPF screen goes away and it will read “Automatic exhaust system regeneration in progress”. Once the regen is complete, the message goes away and the DPF gage/screen returns. My regen usually lasts 18 miles.

If you do not want to leave the dpf gage on the cluster at all times keep an eye on your engine hours, when it reaches a 24hr interval switch it over and look for the message to pop up sometime during the 24th hour mark.

 

[Rob S]

Great! Thank you Signal. Ill start watching for it.

 

[TFucili]

how can i tell when it regens, never noticed mine doing it. just looked at its gage and its showing 0 build up. Ive got 12,000 miles on mine.

I can usually tell by the sound of the engine, and then verify by going to the DPF screen. The engine gets a bit more rattle, and makes more intake noise, sort of "intake honk", for lack of a better description.

 

[MtnRider]

You guys are making me want a new truck just so I can play with you all
But seriously, if any of you guys use your Alfa app to do a regen, would it be possible to see some screen shots? Can you monitor DPF delta P while in regeneration?

I'm not sure if you can monitor or not? I started the de-soot but was afraid to change screens or anything in fear that it might abort the procedure so I just let it do it's thing. The procedure screen in alfa is pretty generic, it just says started or something along those lines and you hear the engine rev up a little. There are no gauges or anything fancy.


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