Automatic Regen too often

[ginopan70]

I had to delay the drop-off of my truck until the other day but I just picked my truck up this morning and although I asked them about inspecting the whole intake, exhaust, and fuel system for leaks, it sounds like all they did was inspect the DEF system and air filter. The truck wasn't in auto regen when I picked it up (the gauge read about 35%) but I jumped right on the freeway at 85 when I picked it up and it was in auto regen within 3 miles. I called Ramcares and they told me to take the truck back to the dealer and that they would work with the dealer on fixing the issue. The prinotut I got from the dealer when I picked it up reads...


"I check and found dtc P0421-00-CATALYST 1 EFFECIENCY BELOW THRESHOLD BANK 1. I checked and found the there is a PCM sofware update available this update will be performed on line C with the recall (Y43). I checked and printed out the vehicle duty cycle report and found that the vehicle is still being operated in light load conditions this is not allowing the after-treatment system to complete the regenerations cycles and can cause damage over time. I left a printout of the duty cycle report in the vehicle. the customer needs to be made aware that if they continue to operate the vehicle in this manner after-treatment damage may occur. I removed and inspected the engine aitr filter and found that the air filter is the updated style without the glue strips. the air filter is slightly dirty but is not restricted at this time. I inspected the def system and found no leaks or damage at this time. the def system is full and no other dtc's are reported at this time."


This is frustrating, they talk about light load conditions but in the roughly 1,500 miles since I last had it in the dealer for this I've driven almost exclusively on the freeway usually around 85 MPH and had roughly 300 miles on the freeway with an aprox. 9,000 lb trailer behind it. I can't get a straight answer out of them as to how long I should have to drive at highway speeds with or without a trailer to come out of auto regen.



Below is a breakdown of the miles and driving since the dealer last saw it of when the truck was in and out of auto regen, the most miles out of auto regen were 31. Every time it WAS NOT in auto regen was in a situation where I turned the truck on and the DPF filter happened to be at zero, there was never a time while driving that the auto regen screen just went back to the filter gauge instead of the regen message.

EDIT: I realize that this chart below is misleading a bit, the "Since Last regen" column needs to change... the only time the truck with NOT in regen are 22, 31, and 18. the other miles are all regen time between the lower numbers.

Auto Regen	Miles	Since Last regen
On	9526	NA
Off	9889	363
On	9911	22
Off	10353	442
On	10384	31
Off	10660	276
On	10678	18

You can see below what it looks like when I'm driving highway speeds watching the gauge climb, it goes from roughly 35% at 10,375 miles to ~45% at 10,381, back into regen at 10,384.
View attachment 62321View attachment 62322View attachment 62323

I don't know that I'm necessarily looking for anything here as I already have some great info from this community and now have a ticket in with Ramcares but any feedback is welcome. As of now this is almost just another place for me to document what is going on.

 

[ginopan70]

Guys I’m truck driver I’ve 3500 and driving a month approximately 10k miles and 429k miles now dpf is going full but upper side people talks no driving habit etc it’s %100 if you drive your truck daily 10-20 miles that dpf doc nox all will be ash and clogged. 400 miles it’s good for regen but getting full so do your truck twice a week passive regen and a least ones active regen. 10k miles truck is going regen means this guy isn’t drive enough or short drive park off engine and turn on engine again so intake and horn first getting clogged map sensor no properly reading low boost pressure etc.etc. So drive your truck this truck when you drive will be happy. Also 2459 mostly related intake getting ash accumulation and blocking air to engine from there to all the way including intercooler to cat anywhere it could be but mostly intake area %80 I’m sure
Good luck
P.S: Still I’m learning like you guys still I’ve problems with this truck.

 

[Brutal_HO]

Guys I’m truck driver I’ve 3500 and driving a month approximately 10k miles and 429k miles now dpf is going full but upper side people talks no driving habit etc it’s %100 if you drive your truck daily 10-20 miles that dpf doc nox all will be ash and clogged. 400 miles it’s good for regen but getting full so do your truck twice a week passive regen and a least ones active regen. 10k miles truck is going regen means this guy isn’t drive enough or short drive park off engine and turn on engine again so intake and horn first getting clogged map sensor no properly reading low boost pressure etc.etc. So drive your truck this truck when you drive will be happy. Also 2459 mostly related intake getting ash accumulation and blocking air to engine from there to all the way including intercooler to cat anywhere it could be but mostly intake area %80 I’m sure
Good luck
P.S: Still I’m learning like you guys still I’ve problems with this truck.

Are you OK?

This reads like you're having a stroke.

 

[Trash Panda]

Are you OK?

This reads like you're having a stroke.

To be fair, the way that the emissions systems seem to malfunction with a mind of their own is enough to give a guy a mild stroke.

 

[OLEJOE]

To be fair, the way that the emissions systems seem to malfunction with a mind of their own is enough to give a guy a mild stroke.

I agree with your statement that it has a mind of its own. 90% of the time, my truck works text book perfect. Can go months at a time with nothing registering on the EVIC DPF gauge. Then, like this week, DPF gauge jumped to 25% during the exact same driving regiment that it has done most of its life. Then next drive cycle it starts passively regening with the DPF gauge going back to zero. I also monitor it with a ScanGauge lll and monitor progress. During this crazy cycle, with 12 hours run time, the DPF percentage climbed from 50% to 73% during the drive. Next drive starting at 73% then dropping back to 53% that coincides with the 12+ hours drive time. Same route, same fuel, same speed and same weather. DIIK

 

[Trash Panda]

I agree with your statement that it has a mind of its own. 90% of the time, my truck works text book perfect. Can go months at a time with nothing registering on the EVIC DPF gauge. Then, like this week, DPF gauge jumped to 25% during the exact same driving regiment that it has done most of its life. Then next drive cycle it starts passively regening with the DPF gauge going back to zero. I also monitor it with a ScanGauge lll and monitor progress. During this crazy cycle, with 12 hours run time, the DPF percentage climbed from 50% to 73% during the drive. Next drive starting at 73% then dropping back to 53% that coincides with the 12+ hours drive time. Same route, same fuel, same speed and same weather. DIIK

I recently went from 24 hour regen cycles, straight to 4-8 hour cycles, with exactly zero change to the driving style or fuel source of the truck.

Really makes a guy want to lose parts in a boating accident.

 

[Will_T]

I agree with your statement that it has a mind of its own. 90% of the time, my truck works text book perfect. Can go months at a time with nothing registering on the EVIC DPF gauge. Then, like this week, DPF gauge jumped to 25% during the exact same driving regiment that it has done most of its life. Then next drive cycle it starts passively regening with the DPF gauge going back to zero. I also monitor it with a ScanGauge lll and monitor progress. During this crazy cycle, with 12 hours run time, the DPF percentage climbed from 50% to 73% during the drive. Next drive starting at 73% then dropping back to 53% that coincides with the 12+ hours drive time. Same route, same fuel, same speed and same weather. DIIK

I have a sense from the couple times mine did anything other than normal 24 hr. regens, that fuel, or bad fuel, can be a big factor.

 

[OLEJOE]

I have a sense from the couple times mine did anything other than normal 24 hr. regens, that fuel, or bad fuel, can be a big factor.

It definitely can. I bought some fuel at a Walmart store in a different locale while on a trip pulling our travel trailer. The price was so good I filled both of my tanks, truck tank and 60 gallon auxiliary tank, and thought I never would get that crap burned up. I double dosed it with Archoil and transferred some of it to my tractor that doesn’t have emissions on it. Plus I kept putting fresh fuel in the truck to dilute it down. It didn’t seem to make a difference as long as I was towing the trailer and working it hard though.

 

[56ram2500]

I have noticed since the pipeline went down between WA & OR that after is had been fixed now both my wife's Rav 4 and my truck have been seeing lower mpg numbers, both are using Archoil fuel additives, oh we buy our fuel from the same stations as before the pipeline went off line due to major leak so wonder if its poor quality fuel being made as I'm out of excuses as too why.

 

[ErikTheRed]

Are you OK?

This reads like you're having a stroke.

LOL!!

My guess it, English probably ain't his first language.

 

[22PearlRamMegaHD]

Well, 34k since DPF replacement and the last few weeks I have seen regens go from 24 hours to 4-6. This is all Highway driving. Not any in town stuff except to fill up. All with 500+ lbs of equipment in the bed plus the fiberglass shell.

Either they have started mixing B5+ without labeling or the DPF has like a 30k mile life. I have the correct air filter, fresh oil, etc.

At 61k miles, could it be a CCV triggering this?

Except 1 time, all other egens have been time based - typically 1-2 weeks and 1100 miles. Up until the last 3 weeks and now it's 200 miles or so and immediately shows loaded upon the next drive following a regen

 

[mbarber84]

Well, 34k since DPF replacement and the last few weeks I have seen regens go from 24 hours to 4-6. This is all Highway driving. Not any in town stuff except to fill up. All with 500+ lbs of equipment in the bed plus the fiberglass shell.

Either they have started mixing B5+ without labeling or the DPF has like a 30k mile life. I have the correct air filter, fresh oil, etc.

At 61k miles, could it be a CCV triggering this?

Except 1 time, all other egens have been time based - typically 1-2 weeks and 1100 miles. Up until the last 3 weeks and now it's 200 miles or so and immediately shows loaded upon the next drive following a regen

I’m going to guess and go with:

Upstream issue.

Something under the hood causing the engine to produce more soot (or other contaminants like ash from engine oil or coolant ).

Have they performed a soot load verification test?

 

[ginopan70]

Well, 34k since DPF replacement and the last few weeks I have seen regens go from 24 hours to 4-6. This is all Highway driving. Not any in town stuff except to fill up. All with 500+ lbs of equipment in the bed plus the fiberglass shell.

Either they have started mixing B5+ without labeling or the DPF has like a 30k mile life. I have the correct air filter, fresh oil, etc.

At 61k miles, could it be a CCV triggering this?

Except 1 time, all other egens have been time based - typically 1-2 weeks and 1100 miles. Up until the last 3 weeks and now it's 200 miles or so and immediately shows loaded upon the next drive following a regen

CCV hose possible clogging but check exhaust pressure sensor and hoses if not possible grid heater clogged all the way horn I did my truck it worked. When you remove intake after replace all gaskets and put properly. If you put any seal or gasket less than 0.5mm(1/2)mm possible air leak but you will not feel even truck but after come out that’s my experience or take service it will cost for you but they know this how to install good luck if you have any questions I will try help you.
Oil use rotella summer 10w40 winter 5x40 never 15w40 like that use synthetic because 15w40 making a lot soot so dpf and scr getting clogged more faster

 

[22PearlRamMegaHD]

I’m going to guess and go with:

Upstream issue.

Something under the hood causing the engine to produce more soot (or other contaminants like ash from engine oil or coolant ).

Have they performed a soot load verification test?

Called the dealership and was told no code, no warranty checks...and further im out of the 5 year 60k mile Oklahoma emissions warranty. So I was told it would be $170/hr for diagnostics from Seth Wadley Ram. I have a 3.5 year old nearly $100k truck i am stuck with either dieting or diagnosing myself. I cant justify that cost for them to hand me a $1000 diagnostic and initial repair bill and to not solve an issue. When it was warrantied they spent nearly 10k before it was all said and done, and even then I think it was a bandaid.

Now when it was replaced last they did smoke tests - no leaks at either the turbo or exhaust. Checked injectors - no leaks. Verified injector pressures as well after bench testing the injectors. Changed to the chinese MAF sensor. Verified the correct air filter...and a lot more I'm forgetting

 

[ginopan70]

I believe soon you will get scr issues because if it’s showing even one time there is problem occurring there and you update software but still there you’ve to check from all sensors egr, egr bypass to scr everything working properly or not including electrical and get good scanner watch scr system engine will be hot 185-206F it’s possible someone will drive and you watch scr system you will see there something jumping up or down watch all things very carefully for example egr command and actuator jumping less than 1 seconds it must be both for example %65 or difference 65-64,75-74 like that after must catch up because everything goes to scr. Watch soot load, dpf in dpf out again everything goes scr so from here you will find out how much is going scr and how much goes out if out going more than in there is problem in scr so you have to follow back which is root problems you can fix your self that good luck

 

[ginopan70]

I believe too upstream issues but again check from air intake to air filter turbo air charge cooler to egr all upstream if you corrected upstream than go down stream doc dpf and scr. Good luck