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particulate filter problems

13K views 23 replies 15 participants last post by  the1driver  
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
my F 250 super duty truck has 115,000 km and has been at the dealer 4 times with particulate filter problems, now they said i would need a new particulate filter and catalytic converter since its all in one unit. My 2011 F350 super duty had the same numerous problems since DEF was introduced, Any quick fix or does anyone else have the same issues ?

Apparently all 3 major truck manufacturers have the same problems and the problems stem from when they introduced the DEF additive to burn off the soot caught in the particulate filter. The dealers don't tell you when you purchase these expensive trucks that they should be driven for long hauls under load in order to bring temperature to desired levels for the soot to be burnt off in the particulate filter. These units were not designed for short runs because the soot will be crystallized in the particulate filter with the DEF fuel, thus plugging and fracturing the filter. This tight pollution controls were set by government's and not well thought out by governments nor dealers before coming out with a good reliable system and we the consumer pay's and pay's through the nose for trucks that should be reliable for the money we put out. I feel that WE initiate a class action suit against the Government and the dealers for full compensation for repairs at no cost to the consumer until a more reliable system is designed and installed to all customers that experiencing these problems.
 
#2 ·
welcome.

Any quick fix? Yes trade it in, delete it, or pay the dealer.

Is anyone else having these issues?


@manitoulin lets try not to spam the forum with your class action lawsuit... when you start it share a link to the filing.
 
#3 ·
Hello manitoulin and welcome to the forum from N.E. Indiana!! It seems that your truck is being driven a decent amount with that many km's on a 20+ truck! Not sure why you would have a DPF problem! My 2016 only has 75k miles on it but, haven't had any issues with the DPF. Unless you do a lot of short runs per day! Good luck with your issue!
 
#6 ·
Yeah the not using the correct names of the DEF and misunderstanding on what it is doing isn't boding well for us thinking you have any idea what you are talking about OP. As far as class action lawsuits go, I'm not sure what hate worse, the government or a bunch of people getting together for a class action lawsuit to MAYBE end up with $50 dollars after years and years of litigation (which is also a waste of funds).
 
#8 ·
No the DEF is the diesel exhaust fuel in a separate tank that is used to fire up and clean the DPF diesel particulate filter, it is known that the DEF after a long period of time rather than burning the soot in the DPF it actually chrystalizes the soot thus plugging the DPF and eventually cracking the filter and the whole unit with the catalytic converter has to be replaced as they are one sealed unit at a cost $8,500.00 Can.
 
#11 · (Edited)
DEF is fertilizer -- water it down and put it on your grass
will make it pretty and green

We side dress 28% on the corn to help it grow
 
owns 2006 Ford F250 Lariat FX4
#12 ·
Short runs where the system is not allowed to get to full temperature
and engine oil consumption
are the two main causes I see in the shop for failures
 
owns 2006 Ford F250 Lariat FX4
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#17 ·
They don't design them to fail "prematurely", just to fail as soon as the warranty is up and the cost isn't on them. Many of us share your frustration with the emissions bull crap but you definitely need to do a bit more learning on the terminology and how the system actually works. Like Hydro said I've used the leftover DEF I had before parts fell off as a fertilizer in my garden, yard, and even dumped it in my water tank I was using to water my Christmas trees.
 
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#18 ·
my F 250 super duty truck has 115,000 km and has been at the dealer 4 times with particulate filter problems, now they said i would need a new particulate filter and catalytic converter since its all in one unit. My 2011 F350 super duty had the same numerous problems since DEF was introduced, Any quick fix or does anyone else have the same issues ? Apparently all 3 major truck manufacturers have the same problems and the problems stem from when they introduced the DEF additive to burn off the soot caught in the particulate filter. The dealers don't tell you when you purchase these expensive trucks that they should be driven for long hauls under load in order to bring temperature to desired levels for the soot to be burnt off in the particulate filter. These units were not designed for short runs because the soot will be crystallized in the particulate filter with the DEF fuel, thus plugging and fracturing the filter. This tight pollution controls were set by government's and not well thought out by governments nor dealers before coming out with a good reliable system and we the consumer pay's and pay's through the nose for trucks that should be reliable for the money we put out. I feel that WE initiate a class action suit against the Government and the dealers for full compensation for repairs at no cost to the consumer until a more reliable system is designed and installed to all customers that experiencing these problems.
I have a 2016 F350 with 50,000 miles and have had zero problems. But, I have been told by several diesel mechanics is that they are meant to be driven hard. That is what they are designed for. Do not drive them on short distances (like you might a gas truck), they do need to get hot to burn off any particulates, etc. Good luck!
 
#19 · (Edited)
What is everyone’s definition of “short run”? When I run 30 highway miles empty, my oil temp runs @198F. Hardly use much def. When I tow @10K lbs, I run @207-214F. I will use @ 1 gal. DEF/400 miles. Are EGTs at highway empty miles enough to prevent soot accumulation in DPF? My lack of DEF usage at no load highway miles suggests either 1) yes, or 2) no, 30-60 miles empty is not far enough, hard enough, or hot enough to prevent clogging DPF. Thoughts?
 
#20 ·
Here's what too many people driving a diesel don't seem to understand...ALL driving makes soot accumulate the DPF. When it gets "full", it does a regen. If you are doing short trips all the time, using it as a daily driver and not long trips, you are NEVER going to complete a proper regen. Here's what I do on my '16 F350. I keep my screen on my DPF % screen so I always know how full it is. If you don't have that screen, you need to get FORScan and turn it on (if your truck has it). Mine didn't when I bought it so I had no idea how full it was until it popped up and said it was doing a regen. When mine gets close to being full and I know I'm not going on a trip long enough to do a regen, I hook up FORScan and do a manual regen...just like they do at the dealership and charge you a bunch of money. When using FORSCan to do a manual regen, it checks to see if you are at operating temps and if all is well, it raises the rpms to 2k and starts the regen process. For those that don't know, the regen process is nothing more than dumping extra fuel into the system so raw fuel goes into the DPF causing it to super heat and burn off all the soot. DEF has absolutely nothing to do with that process. Treat your DPF right and there's a good chance you'll never have a issue. Maybe not NEVER, but you'll go a heck of lot longer without having a problem!
 
#23 ·
Would not hurt anything

be sure to do this outside tho , and where the exhaust will not start a fire
 
owns 2006 Ford F250 Lariat FX4
#24 ·
Yes, SBRCST is correct. A regen is best done once a year to blow out all the junk in the DEF system.

If you are doing lots of city driving, do this twice a year. It is best to do this on a paved lot where no grass can catch fire.

I use FORScan software to run this regen, and if you need to know more about FORScan, I would do some googling.
Best of luck