DPF question

[Timworley]

Hey all! I have a question about the DPF, I received the code P2459. I put cleaner in and ran it interstate about 220 miles and this was the DPF reading at the end. I deleted the code afterwards, my concern is that I’m taking my 5th wheel to Colorado Springs from TN next week should I be concerned about anything?

Thanks in advance

 

[AH64ID]

I would use some archoil 6400 for the towing trip.

What has your recent duty cycle been leading up to the code? 25% idle time is a little high and harder on the DPF.

 

[Will_T]

25% idle time is a little high and harder on the DPF.

My truck sits right at 25% idle time also. I pretty much try to never let the truck idle and still it will not come down below 25%. I am sure as I can be that this is not correct as most of my miles and time are long highway road trips towing the TT. Plus, I almost always idle up by using the cruise control method when I really am in an idle situation. I even do this when stopped at a construction road flagger waiting for our turn to go, or getting out of the cab when adjusting backing in to a campsite. Pretty much anytime I know the engine will be idling for longer than a minute or so, and I don't want to shut it down, I idle it up with the cruise button and then the - button. Then I push the + button a few more times to get the rpms even higher, usually around 1,200 rpms. I assume that 1,200 should not be counted as idle time but on my truck it must be! So far, "knock on wood", I have not had any issues with the DPF or Regen.

I started using the Archoil as a preventative several tanks ago because of the many good reports of results posted here. OF course I can't be sure if I am really helping anything or just spending more on each fill-up.

 

[AH64ID]

My truck sits right at 25% idle time also. I pretty much try to never let the truck idle and still it will not come down below 25%. I am sure as I can be that this is not correct as most of my miles and time are long highway road trips towing the TT. Plus, I almost always idle up by using the cruise control method when I really am in an idle situation. I even do this when stopped at a construction road flagger waiting for our turn to go, or getting out of the cab when adjusting backing in to a campsite. Pretty much anytime I know the engine will be idling for longer than a minute or so, and I don't want to shut it down, I idle it up with the cruise button and then the - button. Then I push the + button a few more times to get the rpms even higher, usually around 1,200 rpms. I assume that 1,200 should not be counted as idle time but on my truck it must be! So far, "knock on wood", I have not had any issues with the DPF or Regen.

I started using the Archoil as a preventative several tanks ago because of the many good reports of results posted here. OF course I can't be sure if I am really helping anything or just spending more on each fill-up.

Fast idle is still idle, and counts as such. Stopped at a red light is idle time, and even some really slow speed driving is idle time (I thinks it’s the same speed at which the keyboard on carplay is active).

CGI trucks so calculate idle faster than early 4th gen, but it’s not in accurate just a slightly broader level of what’s idle.

My 2018 was easy to keep around 8.1% idle time, but the 2022 took a lot of work to get down to 11.2% after the dealership had it around 50% at time of delivery.

 

[Timworley]

I would use some archoil 6400 for the towing trip.

What has your recent duty cycle been leading up to the code? 25% idle time is a little high and harder on the DPF.

I drove mostly city, is that what you mean by duty cycle?

 

[AH64ID]

I drove mostly city, is that what you mean by duty cycle?

Yes. That driving is hard on the DPF and active regen. So likely nothing some towing and archoil won’t cure.

 

[Timworley]

Yes. That driving is hard on the DPF and active regen. So likely nothing some towing and archoil won’t cure.

I really appreciate your help, new to the diesel trucking world.

 

[Will_T]

Fast idle is still idle, and counts as such. Stopped at a red light is idle time, and even some really slow speed driving is idle time (I thinks it’s the same speed at which the keyboard on carplay is active).

Well, there you go. Thanks for the explanation. I will no longer bother idling it up then if that serves no purpose. I wonder why they even put that feature into the controls if not to avoid idle time? I guess if the idle time on the EVIC counts true idle, fast rpm "idle", and slow driving, then 25% is not unexpected. I don't do much in town driving at all so it is not red lights and stop signs at least. I can't even imagine with the truck counting all that as idle time, how some trucks could possibly have an 11% idle time on the EVIC. Maybe if all the truck is used for is freeway driving to and from work every day. OR, maybe some trucks just calculate all the variables and come up with a different estimate than other trucks do.

 

[MegaRed]

I will no longer bother idling it up then if that serves no purpose.

Well....there are good reasons for high idle other than trying to minimize idle time.

 

[AH64ID]

Well, there you go. Thanks for the explanation. I will no longer bother idling it up then if that serves no purpose. I wonder why they even put that feature into the controls if not to avoid idle time? I guess if the idle time on the EVIC counts true idle, fast rpm "idle", and slow driving, then 25% is not unexpected. I don't do much in town driving at all so it is not red lights and stop signs at least. I can't even imagine with the truck counting all that as idle time, how some trucks could possibly have an 11% idle time on the EVIC. Maybe if all the truck is used for is freeway driving to and from work every day. OR, maybe some trucks just calculate all the variables and come up with a different estimate than other trucks do.

I never said it didn’t serve a purpose, I said it still counts as idle time. Fast idle is much better than low idle for extended periods or when things are hot/cold. The feature is there for many reasons, not one of which is to “hide” idle time.

25% is still high. Cummins considers anything over 10 minutes per hour (16.7%) excessive. Fast idle time is better, but still not great to have too much of unless the motor is loaded during that time (PTO, etc).

My truck was definitely not all freeway, lots of backroads, slow driving, camping, hunting, etc. I just consciously only idled it when necessary.

 

[Will_T]

My truck was definitely not all freeway, lots of backroads, slow driving, camping, hunting, etc. I just consciously only idled it when necessary.

Ok. Thanks. I definitely have very little of the driving you describe and still it stays at 25% which is 15 minutes per hour. And I always lock out 6th when towing as sometimes in 6th on flat road rpms are surprisingly low even with the TT. I am probably wrong and have not heard anyone claim it, but that is why I suspected the "counting" of idle time differs in some trucks for some reason. I have been paying attention and even with high idle I can't see how I am even close to 25%. Anyway. nothing that can be done there. I am just glad 90% of my driving is towing and hopefully using the Archoil will be a preventative. So far so good.

 

[Dodgeman]

Does anyone know definitively what counts as “idle”? Is it engine running, not in gear? Is it engine running, not moving, or speed below a certain value? Is it RPM below a certain level? There has to be some set of actions that cause the track to add idle time.

Our 3500 is used for a lot of long RV trips. I’m right at 17% at 114 hours. I never Idle unless a few minutes to warm the engine before highway driving. I never use remote start. I’ve never driven in a cold climate where it takes very long to warm up enough for driving. When I’m hooking up the RV, I shut the truck off between steps. I can’t imagine where I’ve stacked up those 114 hours.

 

[AH64ID]

Ok. Thanks. I definitely have very little of the driving you describe and still it stays at 25% which is 15 minutes per hour. And I always lock out 6th when towing as sometimes in 6th on flat road rpms are surprisingly low even with the TT. I am probably wrong and have not heard anyone claim it, but that is why I suspected the "counting" of idle time differs in some trucks for some reason. I have been paying attention and even with high idle I can't see how I am even close to 25%. Anyway. nothing that can be done there. I am just glad 90% of my driving is towing and hopefully using the Archoil will be a preventative. So far so good.

Unless you’re in rolling hills and the transmission is hunting just put it in TH and let it do its thing.

Does anyone know definitively what counts as “idle”? Is it engine running, not in gear? Is it engine running, not moving, or speed below a certain value? Is it RPM below a certain level? There has to be some set of actions that cause the track to add idle time.

Our 3500 is used for a lot of long RV trips. I’m right at 17% at 114 hours. I never Idle unless a few minutes to warm the engine before highway driving. I never use remote start. I’ve never driven in a cold climate where it takes very long to warm up enough for driving. When I’m hooking up the RV, I shut the truck off between steps. I can’t imagine where I’ve stacked up those 114 hours.

Best I’ve come up with is that it’s anytime below a certain speed, and I’ve come to the conclusion that’s 3ish mph. The same speed you can use the keyboard or program the dash. Coasting down a long hill in gear is not idle.

Even in a cold climate 30 seconds is plenty to let the engine idle to drive. Idling a diesel to warm up before driving, even in a warm climate, is one of the worst things you can do for the engine.

 

[Arth]

I know 2022s are the worst year for DPF funnys but it does seem to be figured out.

Purchased the truck used and I noticed if I did anything but highway driving the DPF would fill quickly. Did some digging and found there was an aftermarket air filter, replaced that with the correct OEM. Ran a bottle of Archoil 6400 on the last long highway run and, for now, the DPF is back under control. Managed to drive a week without it filling up at all. My driving is slower highway (45-55). I'll use 6500 at each fill.

Are there any concerns to how many times we use 6400? I know what the bottle says but curious if anyone ever had any negative effects.

I will say I was surprised to see my idle to run engine hours is hovering at about 15% idle time.

 

[jebruns]

I really appreciate your help, new to the diesel trucking world.

If your truck is a '22 or '23, see this TSB. I'd have the DPF replaced for free personally.

 

[Deleted member 47449]

Does anyone know definitively what counts as “idle”? Is it engine running, not in gear? Is it engine running, not moving, or speed below a certain value? Is it RPM below a certain level? There has to be some set of actions that cause the track to add idle time.

Our 3500 is used for a lot of long RV trips. I’m right at 17% at 114 hours. I never Idle unless a few minutes to warm the engine before highway driving. I never use remote start. I’ve never driven in a cold climate where it takes very long to warm up enough for driving. When I’m hooking up the RV, I shut the truck off between steps. I can’t imagine where I’ve stacked up those 114 hours.

I was curious too.

We live quite rural without any traffic lights for 30 miles in all directions. No stop signs on the routes either. I don't do anything different in idle hours between our Ram 2024 3500 4x4 6.7L Cummins and our Ram 2016 2500 4x4 6.4L PW gas. We live up a long mountain steep grade of up to 10%, so I use the EB on the Cummins coming down. Haven't seen a regen. DPF display shows 0.

The majority of the use (98%) is rural highway with no stops at highway speeds of up to 80 MPHish (possibly a tad higher) in nearby Utah and Wyoming. Lots of towing up to 10K pounds with both trucks.

I warm up both trucks for more than a minute and in below freezing weather for several minutes to longer in subzero. Use a block heater on the Cummins in 5F and below temperatures.

The idle hours percentage is 14% on the 2024 and 6% on the 2016. Purchased the 2016 back in 2017 as a used truck with 10K Phoenix city miles on it. Can't figure why the big difference in idle hours.