World's quickest Check Engine Light?

[MChrist]

My new 2012 Ram 5500 threw a CEL today, cruising down the road at 57 mph pulling a light trailer. Truck has 1100 miles and 34 hours on it.

Code is P20EE (SCR NOx calalyst efficiency below threshold). I've been the one driving it, and although the truck is heavy, I've been pretty easy on it. Perhaps that's the problem?

Truck went into regen this morning. I noticed that the DEF tank went from 82% to 76% while truck was idling for 30 minutes, and that a small trickle of water came from the tailpipe.

While on the highway at a steady 57 mph for about 10-15 minutes, I heard the "ding".



Could somebody more knowledgable than me tell me what is going on here? I've also noticed that the acceleration of this truck doesn't come close to our equally weighted GMC 5500, which is advertised as having less horsepower and about 100 lb/ft torque less than the Ram. I'm guessing I haven't been using it hard enough and am already plugging the exhaust system???



Thanks in advance.

 

[DonFitzwater]

Sorry, my 2011 Powerstroke beat your truck with a CEL as I was leaving the dealership when I purchased it... ... ... ... ... . Instant buyers remorse! Not sure what to tell you about your problem but I'm sure someone will chime in shortly.

 

[MChrist]

Sorry, my 2011 Powerstroke beat your truck with a CEL as I was leaving the dealership when I purchased it... ... ... ... ... . Instant buyers remorse! Not sure what to tell you about your problem but I'm sure someone will chime in shortly.

Leave it to a Ford...
When I crawled under the truck today, I noticed a white,fluffy substance that looks just like corrosion on battery cables, but slightly seeping from what seems to be the injector for the DEF. If it is DEF seeping out, maybe the DPF isn't getting enough DEF to properly clean out the DPF?? I would think that it would keep injecting the DEF until the computer tells it to stop, not just a given amount.

Any ideas? Loosing confidence in a brand new truck isn't fun... makes me wonder how often I will have this problem.

 

[JR]

I would only have one idea if it were my truck... . let the dealership figure it out. At 1100 miles on the clock, I wouldnt even touch it .

 

[MChrist]

Agree with that, not gonna touch a thing! I cleared the code and plan on taking it out and running her hard to see if that helps. Just curious what I did wrong, or what went wrong for when my guys hop in it.

 

[RonD]

With the code removed, the Dealer will have a hard time fixing it

 

[Wingate]

Got ya beat... two trucks came off the delevery truck, one had CEL, the other would not even start!!!. .

 

[MChrist]

Got ya beat... two trucks came off the delevery truck, one had CEL, the other would not even start!!!. .

Progress... makes me wonder sometimes!!!

I'm gonna run this bugger hard on Monday and see if CEL returns. If it does, I'll take it to a dealer. Unfortunately, our local Dodge dealer apparently doesn't work on the 4500/5500 trucks??!? So I have to take it 90 minutes away...

 

[Missouri Mule]

MChrist

The DEF doesn't clean out the DPF.



DEF converts NOX to Nitrogen and water.



Diesel fuel injected during the exhaust stroke (makes the diesel fuel very hot as in burning it) cleans out the DPF

 

[MChrist]

So that's different than a "SCR NOx Catalyst" then? That's the part that is below its "efficiency threshold" according to the code reader.
I'll do more research on this voodoo stuff... so far, I'm not digging it!

 

[MChrist]

MChrist
The DEF doesn't clean out the DPF.

DEF converts NOX to Nitrogen and water.

Diesel fuel injected during the exhaust stroke (makes the diesel fuel very hot as in burning it) cleans out the DPF

Yep, I did more research and you are correct. The magic juice gets sprayed into the mystery container AFTER the diesel fueled incinerator, clearing out the residue that the incinerator gives off.

So, I guess I'm still in the dark as to why the "efficiency threshold" would be below an acceptable level, especially so soon.