The goal of regeneration is to remove particulate matter, or unburned fuel (also known as soot), from diesel engine exhaust. It’s a typical and required aspect of complying with EPA-mandated Tier 4 rules by lowering harmful emissions.
How often does a diesel Regen?
Diesel engines emit a lot of soot (particulate matter), which can irritate the lungs and increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Since 2009, modern diesel cars have been required to incorporate a Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) in the exhaust system to prevent soot from entering the atmosphere.
The goal is to reduce particle emissions by 80%, however the technology isn’t without flaws, and our patrols are frequently called to cars with a blocked DPF.
A DPF must be drained on a regular basis to preserve performance.
When the exhaust temperature is high enough, on motorways or fast A-roads, this is normally done passively in a process known as’regeneration.’
- The ash cannot be removed until the DPF is removed from the vehicle and submitted to a specialist for cleaning, but a well maintained DPF should last far over 100,000 miles.
Active regeneration
Because many automobiles don’t get enough use for passive regeneration to operate, automakers include ‘active’ regeneration, in which the engine control software detects that the filter is becoming clogged and injects additional gasoline into the engine to raise the exhaust temperature and initiate regeneration.
Active regeneration occurs every 300 miles or more, depending on how you drive, and takes 5 to 10 minutes to finish. However, if your journey is too short and the regeneration does not complete, this is a problem.
Don’t ignore a warning light
If a warning light indicates that the filter is blocked, you should be able to complete an active regeneration cycle and clear the warning light by driving at speeds of over 40 mph for 10 minutes or so.
If you ignore a DPF warning light and continue to drive in a sluggish, stop/start pattern, soot will build up in the filter, causing it to go into’restricted performance mode,’ which will protect your car from damage.
- They may have to replace the filter in extreme circumstances, which can cost up to £1000 plus labor.
In most circumstances, there is only a short period of time between the DPF becoming partially blocked and the requirement for manual regeneration.
The engine management light may illuminate if there’s a problem with the DPF or the differential pressure sensor, which informs your automobile about its health.
Why do diesel trucks need to Regen?
Why do diesel vehicles have regens? The type of soot buildup that necessitates a regen happens inside the diesel particulate filter, a specific component of the exhaust system (DPF). DPFs have become prevalent in diesel-powered vehicles in recent years as a technique of reducing pollutants.
What happens if you don’t Regen a truck?
The process of regenerating, or regenerating, the DPF filter is the process of burning the soot deposit inside the filter. If you can’t start a regen, you’ll get trapped in a derate, which will eventually cause the engine to shut down.
Does a regen stop on its own?
A parked regen is managed by the computer system in your truck and simply requires that certain circumstances be met. The procedure should take no more than 45 minutes to an hour. Something is wrong if your parked regen takes longer than this or doesn’t finish. Take your truck to a mechanic as soon as possible to get it looked at.
The idle returning to normal speed, a clear smell of burnt soot coming from the tailpipe, and an increase in temperature on the exhaust components throughout are all evidence that your parked regen has completed successfully.
Can you regen while driving?
There’s never a good time for downtime, especially when it comes unexpectedly. Forced regens are another issue that many fleet drivers overlook.
Consider yourself fortunate if you haven’t yet encountered this problem. When soot builds up inside the diesel particulate filter (DPF) to the extent where the vehicle is no longer functional, a forced regen occurs. When this happens, the vehicle must pull over and begin a self-cleaning process that can take up to 40 minutes — time that could have been spent driving.
Forced regens, on the other hand, do not have to be the prevalent issue that they are for many fleet drivers. Forced regens can be minimized with one easy adjustment, allowing you to keep your rigs in service longer.
Why regens occur in diesel vehicles
It’s critical to comprehend some mechanics in order to gain the upper hand over forced regens. The type of soot buildup that necessitates a regen happens inside the diesel particulate filter, a specific component of the exhaust system (DPF).
DPFs have become prevalent in diesel-powered vehicles in recent years as a technique of reducing pollutants. Medium- and heavy-duty vehicles are required to fulfill tougher emissions regulations as part of the Clean Air Act, particularly Phase 2 enacted by Congress in 2016. To meet the mandate, the industry began installing DPFs on a larger scale, which trap soot inside a vehicle before it can be released into the air, lowering emissions.
This is accomplished by driving exhaust through a porous ceramic wall, which allows vapor to pass but traps pollutants.
What happens during a regen
DPFs clean themselves periodically to avoid clogging by burning off collected soot. The DPF is striving to “regenerate” itself to its original state, which is why the process is called regeneration.
When everything is working properly, regeneration takes place automatically and unnoticeably while the vehicle is in motion. Soot is burned off the DPF as rapidly as it collects, thanks to the heat of the exhaust. Passive regeneration is the term for this.
When the exhaust isn’t hot enough to burn off soot on its own, the vehicle can pump fuel into the DPF, raising the temperature and allowing the soot to be burned away. Active regeneration, as opposed to passive regeneration, is usually unnoticeable by the driver.
When normal regeneration is insufficient to burn away soot, danger ensues. A forced regen is required in these circumstances, and the motorist must pull over and wait while the DPF completes a more thorough self-cleaning operation. Failure to undertake a forced regen when your vehicle’s indicator system alerts you to do so can result in serious engine damage.
How to reduce forced regens
The good news is that forced regens don’t have to be a constant annoyance if drivers restrict the amount of pollutants entering the DPF from the start.
DPF regeneration can be reduced by using a premium diesel fuel like Cenex Roadmaster XL. Roadmaster XL provides a cleaner, more complete burn thanks to an additive mix designed to match the demands of today’s high-performance diesel engines. Roadmaster XL can assist prevent soot-related difficulties like forced DPF regens by minimizing soot during combustion.
DPFs will likely continue to play a role in the industry for the foreseeable future, with Phase 2 emissions restrictions affecting rigs through model year 2027. Learn how Roadmaster XL helps keep your DPF clean and your operation running smoothly.
How do you know when a parked regen is done?
When the truck requests a parked DPF regen, this indicator will illuminate. This feature is designed to display when the soot level in the DPF filter reaches a specified level, allowing the truck to continue working.
When your truck requests a parked DPF regen, it signifies the passive DPF regen your truck has already completed was insufficient to burn the soot in your DPF filter.
Yes, to put it succinctly. If you continue to drive your truck without performing a parked DPF regen, it will enter derated mode.
When the truck automatically does a DPF regen, it is known as active DPF regen. When the soot level reaches a specific level, the active process to burn the soot off begins. When your engine is in “active mode,” you may find that it runs faster.
There are numerous reasons for a failed “active regen,” as it is dependent on certain criteria being satisfied in order for it to occur.
If you fail a parked DPF regen, you should be warned that continuing to drive will just result in more problems and/or derates. As a result, be aware of what’s going on so that you can get help as soon as feasible.
It will keep regenerating until the soot level reaches ‘low’ or ‘zero percent.’ On the dashboard of some trucks, you can see your soot level gauge.
DPF regen while parked: The truck requests DPF regen, which you initiate by pressing a button on the dash.
Forced DPF Regen: At the dealer level, a diagnostic scan tool will begin a forced DPF regen. The conditions do not have to be ideal, and they will cause a regeneration to occur.
The system undergoes a forced DPF regen to ensure that the aftertreatment system is in good functioning order. The truck is ready to travel if you can execute a forced DPF regen without any fault codes or difficulties emerging.
For example, a 2013 Volvo D13 has SPN 4094 FMI 1, MID 128 PSID 90 FMI 14, and SPN 4094 FMI 1. The dashboard comes to life (DEF Quality being evaluated, 5mph temporary removed, continue driving).
The only way to clear this error code is to ensure that your DPF/SCR system is free of additional issues. This fault will remain active until a service forced DPF regen is performed and the ECM/ACM runs through all of the checks to ensure that the NOx sensor levels are within the required limits, at which point the fault code will become inactive.
So, even if you have DEF quality fault codes, you can start a forced DPF regen. To clear the issues, the truck must run through all of its checks to ensure that the system is within the manufacturer’s restrictions. Volvo, Mack, Detroit Diesel, and other manufacturers employ this technology as well.
A forced DPF regen will ensure that any soot buildup in the DPF / SCR System is removed. If you remember to perform this more than once, your DPF system may last longer. Once a month, we recommend doing a service DPF regeneration. You may get greater MPG since your filters have been cleaned and your exhaust system is circulating air more efficiently.
OTR Performance includes a mechanism that allows you to initiate a forced regeneration. This can be done in 30 seconds to 4 minutes using the OTR reset tool. We also have an app called OTR Diagnostics that allows you to run advanced diagnostic commands from your mobile device or tablet, such as a forced DPF regen. You can also read and reset fault codes, monitor live data, and do a lot more with OTR diagnostics. Take a look at it here.
- If the regen begins and then stops, you may have a problem that prevents the regen from occurring. Check for errors and give it another shot.
How does a regen work?
Emissions equipment for diesel trucks has evolved significantly over the years. EGRs, or exhaust gas recirculation systems, were required on all heavy-duty diesel pickups in 2004.5. Essentially, it converts exhaust into inert gas and reintroduces it into the combustion process. The EPA then mandated the use of a DPF in pickup trucks in 2007.5. The DPF (Diesel Particulate Filter) is an exhaust filter that collects soot and unburned fuel. When soot accumulates, the exhaust warms up to burn the soot away. Diesel Exhaust Fluid has been utilized to treat NOx emissions since 2011, in addition to EGR and DPF for carbon emissions.
The DPF is an important component of treating diesel emissions, and each OEM uses and runs their DPF in a unique way. The DPF in the LML Duramax from 2011 to 2016 is detailed below.
How long does Duramax Regen last?
lights turned on, and it was as if they were ticking away like a clock. After 45 minutes, the idle returns to its regular burble. You climb out of your pickup and inhale the wonderful scent of achievement (or burnt soot if this is going as glorious as we imagine). This would be the typical experience for most other operators who use our product for preventative maintenance. Unfortunately, all too often, things do not go as planned.