Normal DPF expectations? (1st time diesel owner)

[daemonic3]

Hello all,

This is my first time with a diesel engine and I'm trying to ramp my knowledge on what to expect so I can spot abnormal issues or behavior. I've seen several threads about frequent regens, why there are regens, and dealers gaslighting owners and trying to deny there are issues. Here's my understanding of normal expecations (please correct me where I'm wrong!):
* The DPF filter % in the cluster is a % from 0 to 250. As it gets near 100% it starts getting into the regen range where it needs to burn off the extra hydrocarbons
* There are automatic regens, or you can do them manually
* Idling is very bad for particulate accumulation, while "powerful" driving, such as highway or towing for long durations, will not accumulate particulates. In fact, I think it clears out the DPF?
* If you do a lot of idling or short trips in city only, your DPF fills up faster

I have 1500 miles now on my truck. I scroll through all the stats on occasion to learn normal levels. I have never seen anything other than 0% on the DPF. Is that because I'm still too low of miles, or because I have done several long trips on highways or towing? I don't know if I'm just burning everything off or if its normal due to the truck being so new. I would have to say that I'm about 85% highway or towing as far as total miles, and maybe 70-75% of my engine time has been highway/towing.

Oh! One more thing. I've heard to try to avoid biodiesel if you are only doing city driving. I've used a truck stop twice where they only had biodiesel (B20) but my other fillups have all been diesel #2 (B6 or better).

Thanks in advance for any insight.

 

[H3LZSN1P3R]

Your DPF filter gauge should stay at 0 or close to it on a proper running truck when driven correctly. My 19 came off 0 3 times in 53k km

 

[firemansdiesel]

Just drive the truck and enjoy. Reading “I have a DPF problem”threads on a forum(s) will mindfook you. It all depends how you’re using the truck will determine the soot load in the DPF. It will perform a 24hr engine hour active regen regardless for about 20 miles.

Also I have been using renewable diesel since new (20,000mi now) and zero issus. It has a crazy high cetane and no difference with power, mpg, regens, etc… Cheveron and Union 76 station have it as standard diesel fuel at the pumps. I beleive Shell is starting also here in California.

 

[johanh13]

Hello all,

This is my first time with a diesel engine and I'm trying to ramp my knowledge on what to expect so I can spot abnormal issues or behavior. I've seen several threads about frequent regens, why there are regens, and dealers gaslighting owners and trying to deny there are issues. Here's my understanding of normal expecations (please correct me where I'm wrong!):
* The DPF filter % in the cluster is a % from 0 to 250. As it gets near 100% it starts getting into the regen range where it needs to burn off the extra hydrocarbons
* There are automatic regens, or you can do them manually
* Idling is very bad for particulate accumulation, while "powerful" driving, such as highway or towing for long durations, will not accumulate particulates. In fact, I think it clears out the DPF?
* If you do a lot of idling or short trips in city only, your DPF fills up faster

I have 1500 miles now on my truck. I scroll through all the stats on occasion to learn normal levels. I have never seen anything other than 0% on the DPF. Is that because I'm still too low of miles, or because I have done several long trips on highways or towing? I don't know if I'm just burning everything off or if its normal due to the truck being so new. I would have to say that I'm about 85% highway or towing as far as total miles, and maybe 70-75% of my engine time has been highway/towing.

Oh! One more thing. I've heard to try to avoid biodiesel if you are only doing city driving. I've used a truck stop twice where they only had biodiesel (B20) but my other fillups have all been diesel #2 (B6 or better).

Thanks in advance for any insight.

"powerful driving" is not a very precise term, but I will try to elaborate. If you are driving in town, light to light, and you floor it at every light, diesel engines will produce tons of particulates! Constant aggressive throttle changes produce particulates.

When the diesel engine is under a constant heavy load for longer periods of time, it will 'passively' regen...

Just my $0.05 worth

 

[Units]

"powerful driving" is not a very precise term, but I will try to elaborate. If you are driving in town, light to light, and you floor it at every light, diesel engines will produce tons of particulates! Constant aggressive throttle changes produce particulates.

When the diesel engine is under a constant heavy load for longer periods of time, it will 'passively' regen...

Just my $0.05 worth

I will add that after say about a 20 mile run on the interstate, when I exit I will use the skinny pedal aggressively to get back up to speed. The little the DPF gauge goes up when I first hit the interstate, goes back down after the “spirited” throttle use.

 

[Brutal_HO]

Your DPF filter gauge should stay at 0 or close to it on a proper running truck when driven correctly. My 19 came off 0 3 times in 53k km

Misleading.

I think I drive my "proper running" 2020 "correctly" and city driving will cause the DPF to soot up. There's no arguing that no load city driving with cause the gauge to come off 0.

 

[H3LZSN1P3R]

Misleading.

I think I drive my "proper running" 2020 "correctly" and city driving will cause the DPF to soot up. There's no arguing that no load city driving with cause the gauge to come off 0.

I had no sooting up with city driving, that being said i do believe the HO has more issues with sooting up than the SO or C&C engines just from what i have read over the years. Does your gauge ever go over 1/2?

 

[johanh13]

I had no sooting up with city driving, that being said i do believe the HO has more issues with sooting up than the SO or C&C engines just from what i have read over the years. Does your gauge ever go over 1/2?

I've had two 2019 Ram 2500's with the Cummins, both would go up to about 40% before doing an active regen, also it takes about 50 miles for it to complete...

 

[daemonic3]

Thanks all, I'm learning a lot. Yes, I opted for the SO cummins for my needs. And yes, I definitely baby it on accelerating from a stop. Both of these are likely contributing to me never noticing >0% as I cycle through. I usually camp the gauge on Turbo PSI or exhaust brake HP because they are far more interesting.

 

[H3LZSN1P3R]

I've had two 2019 Ram 2500's with the Cummins, both would go up to about 40% before doing an active regen, also it takes about 50 miles for it to complete...

Did you baby the truck? I drive mine like a truck no babying it at all

 

[Dark Knight G45]

As you put on the miles, I believe you will see the gauge start to go up.

Heavy throttle use in city driving can increase it quickly.

Overall though I’m just learning to ignore the gauge and let the truck do what it needs to do.

 

[johanh13]

Did you baby the truck? I drive mine like a truck no babying it at all

I drive about like everyone around; usually so it shifts between 2,000-2,200rpm. it shifts into 6th at about 45mph @ 1,000 rpm... when in heavy stop/go traffic, I put it in tow/haul so it shifts a bit more sporty

 

[Brutal_HO]

I had no sooting up with city driving, that being said i do believe the HO has more issues with sooting up than the SO or C&C engines just from what i have read over the years. Does your gauge ever go over 1/2?

Valid point on the HO.

Never over 50%, probably 40% is the highest I've seen.

That said, I've also been driving it in TH around town for 4 years and I think for the sake of increased temps, I should probably leave it out of TH. I've got a heavy foot and my mileage sucks, I'm surprised it doesn't soot up more than it does.

FWIW, I have also used almost exclusively the cheapest Walmart DEF and only typically fuel at either King Soopers or Murphy's in town and mostly truck/travel stops that are Shell or Loves.

We have a few remote areas we go to but the 50 gallon tank keeps me from having to use low turnover stations for the most part. If I'm forced to, I'll just splash in what I think I need to get to the next truck stop. Don't use additives much since the CP3 got installed, but I will occasionally throw in some XPD just to use it up.

 

[Jnrcarson]

FWIW I just hit 10k miles on my 22 and have never once seen the DPF gauge come off zero. I don’t actively monitor it but will occasionally check it. Not my daily driver and mostly a tow vehicle. With driving around once at our destination.

 

[Mhsmith451]

I bought my new 22 last June of 23. Drive it around town, various places of varying distance, occasionally pull a camper (7K Lb) and a rzr (3500lb). Last September 2023, 4667mi. I got a note for the Y43 sensor recall and the CEL (P2459) came on the next day. The dealer performed the recall, closed the code out. Drive through the winter. regular daily driver around town stuff...too cold to camp...March 2024, 11312m.i - CEL again. was regenning within 30-100 miles - so frequently. Take it back into dealer. they replace failed DPF pressure sensor. Inspect a bunch of other stuff. clear code, change air filter "because it was dirty". April 2024, 11815mi. - CEL again. (P2459), not regenning often, staying around zero. Fuel mileage still good. Back to dealer. Replace DPF as it has "failed internally". Jump to a week ago…CEL on again, P2459….Have appointment with a different dealer in a week - soonest they could get me in....ugh. I'd hate to go down the lemon law path as I really like the truck....

 

[mountainears]

FWIW I just hit 10k miles on my 22 and have never once seen the DPF gauge come off zero. I don’t actively monitor it but will occasionally check it. Not my daily driver and mostly a tow vehicle. With driving around once at our destination.

I have 22k miles on my 22 and I’m in the same boat as you. Don’t ever recall seeing a regen message either.

 

[MEGA HO]

My 19 HO hardly ever comes off zero but I don't live in a city, most of my driving is highway

 

[Deltron]

My '22 has been living at dealers for over a month. Still waiting on a DPF now.

If the DPF doesn't fix it I'm done. Numerous recalls, batteries still go dead for no apparent reason, the '22 models are troublesome and nobody at Stellantis cares in the slightest. I have nothing but praise for my dealer who is frustrated at the few trucks doing this he's having to deal with.

I sold my '18 which was a terrible mistake and the new truck has cost me a couple of vacation trips. Life is too short to deal with buying stuff from a manufacturer that doesn't care in the slightest about their customers.

It's utterly impossible Stellantis doesn't know what the problem is on the '22 trucks doing this.

I've thought about ordering a new one since it seems the issue has been addressed but I'm not sure I can ever trust them again. Bad situation, great dealer that's frustrated too, a manufacturer that personally I think is screwing the dealers and customers because whatever the fix is will cost too much.

 

[johanh13]

That's too bad! I wish they would offer better warranty support. Also, why do the 2500/3500's not get the updates that the 1500's have ? They need to invest a bit more and in turn they would profit more...

 

[flan]

My '22 has been living at dealers for over a month. Still waiting on a DPF now.

If the DPF doesn't fix it I'm done. Numerous recalls, batteries still go dead for no apparent reason, the '22 models are troublesome and nobody at Stellantis cares in the slightest. I have nothing but praise for my dealer who is frustrated at the few trucks doing this he's having to deal with.

I sold my '18 which was a terrible mistake and the new truck has cost me a couple of vacation trips. Life is too short to deal with buying stuff from a manufacturer that doesn't care in the slightest about their customers.

It's utterly impossible Stellantis doesn't know what the problem is on the '22 trucks doing this.

I've thought about ordering a new one since it seems the issue has been addressed but I'm not sure I can ever trust them again. Bad situation, great dealer that's frustrated too, a manufacturer that personally I think is screwing the dealers and customers because whatever the fix is will cost too much.

I have a feeling they know what’s doing it. It’s costing them a boat load of money in the warranty dept. since it’s emission related odds are once the fix is known it has to go for Gov’t/epa/carb etc approval and I imagine that’s not a very quick process.