Regen

[Units]

2022’s represent 60% of the trucks on my frequent regeneration tracking spreadsheet.

I’m not convinced that a software update is going to fix the issue. It’s hard to adjust engine values based on the performance characteristics of one particular fuel alone. I was able to switch fuel sources and get away from higher biodiesel content. My truck is a 2022 that is daily driven and rarely towing. Sees a mix of highway and local. The higher bio content fuel was definitely contributing to more frequent regeneration, but I was able to buy from a different source and now the truck only regenerates on the 24 hour timed cycles. (Roughly 950 miles average between them)

I get between 300 - 450 miles between active regeneration and my truck is DD, mostly interstate, some stop and go. I’ve been pretty religious about where I get my fuel from. The place I get fuel from doesn’t state the amount of biodiesel diesel blend on their pumps but have the sticker that says that it contains up to 10% federally mandated biodiesel blend. I plan on switching fuel stations on my next fill up for about a month and see if I get different results.

 

[mbarber84]

I get between 300 - 450 miles between active regeneration and my truck is DD, mostly interstate, some stop and go. I’ve been pretty religious about where I get my fuel from. The place I get fuel from doesn’t state the amount of biodiesel diesel blend on their pumps but have the sticker that says that it contains up to 10% federally mandated biodiesel blend. I plan on switching fuel stations on my next fill up for about a month and see if I get different results.

That sounds like exactly what my truck (2022 also) was doing prior to me switching fuel.

 

[AH64ID]

I get between 300 - 450 miles between active regeneration and my truck is DD, mostly interstate, some stop and go. I’ve been pretty religious about where I get my fuel from. The place I get fuel from doesn’t state the amount of biodiesel diesel blend on their pumps but have the sticker that says that it contains up to 10% federally mandated biodiesel blend. I plan on switching fuel stations on my next fill up for about a month and see if I get different results.

I would not say 300-450 miles between active regens is dodging a bullet… that’s a lot of soot based regens.

 

[jasmith348]

I would not say 300-450 miles between active regens is dodging a bullet… that’s a lot of soot based regens.

I would kill for 400 miles, my truck does an active regen every 80 miles during what I would call normal driving (unless, I go out of my way to drive it on the Interstate, then I can stretch it out, but that's 45 mins of driving to/from the Interstate). When on the Interstate, it seems to passively regen just fine. I'm hoping a difference fuel source (I tended to use 2 different places) helps. I've gotten in my truck after a regen, driven 10-15 miles in the city and the DPF gauge would be at 25%. after that little mileage, there's just no way that should be possible.

 

[mbarber84]

I would kill for 400 miles, my truck does an active regen every 80 miles during what I would call normal driving (unless, I go out of my way to drive it on the Interstate, then I can stretch it out, but that's 45 mins of driving to/from the Interstate). When on the Interstate, it seems to passively regen just fine. I'm hoping a difference fuel source (I tended to use 2 different places) helps. I've gotten in my truck after a regen, driven 10-15 miles in the city and the DPF gauge would be at 25%. after that little mileage, there's just no way that should be possible.

If your active regeneration is taking place during low speed / stop & go driving, they’re not going to be as effective. That may account for some of the rapid return in soot load post-regeneration.

 

[AH64ID]

I would kill for 400 miles, my truck does an active regen every 80 miles during what I would call normal driving (unless, I go out of my way to drive it on the Interstate, then I can stretch it out, but that's 45 mins of driving to/from the Interstate). When on the Interstate, it seems to passively regen just fine. I'm hoping a difference fuel source (I tended to use 2 different places) helps. I've gotten in my truck after a regen, driven 10-15 miles in the city and the DPF gauge would be at 25%. after that little mileage, there's just no way that should be possible.

Soot based regens take a long time to complete under normal driving. Are you letting them finish, or do they get interrupted?

From what I’ve seen on soot based regens if they get interrupted the ECM may think soot loading was cleaned enough so they don’t continue the regen on the next drive cycle. This leads to more frequent soot based regens.

Have you done any towing at interstate speeds since your issue started?

I fully believe there are some programming issues, but I also believe that a lot of the repeated soot loading regens at low mileage intervals are because of the driving style and ineffective regens, which keeps compounding the issue.

 

[Units]

I would not say 300-450 miles between active regens is dodging a bullet… that’s a lot of soot based regens.

So far at this point, I would say I have. In 7500 miles, my truck has never not been able to complete a regeneration and or throw a trouble code for excessive regeneration and or a full DPF, see dealer issue. I’ve been watching my oil level and I am right at the top of the safe level, from what I’ve seen that’s not a problem. If I drive on the interstate long enough, usually 40+ miles I can watch my DPF gauge drop (passive regen). Currently I drive about 25 miles one way to work, so I’m net zero on the DPF as it’s not quite far enough for my truck to enter a passive regen. I’ve towed my TT twice and I can watch the DPF gauge drop to zero and stay there, in usually about 10-15 minutes. So, in my opinion my truck is operating as intended.
Edit : when my truck enters an active regen, I continue to drive until it is complete. I will stay on the interstate / highway until it is completed and I intend to change fueling stations to see if that helps change my regeneration frequency.

 

[jasmith348]

Soot based regens take a long time to complete under normal driving. Are you letting them finish, or do they get interrupted?

From what I’ve seen on soot based regens if they get interrupted the ECM may think soot loading was cleaned enough so they don’t continue the regen on the next drive cycle. This leads to more frequent soot based regens.

Have you done any towing at interstate speeds since your issue started?

I let them finish (or at least the truck says they are finished). I've towed a little, but not much. Honestly, got to the point I didnt trust the truck, hence I dropped it off and left it for what will be close to 3 months and made the dealer go thru it. I do think that early on, say last April/May/June before I became aware of the issue, I likely interrupted the active regens several times. I came from an Ecodiesel that told you when it was regenning (is that a word?) and didnt realize this truck didnt, until the CEL came on the first time. I guess you could say I've been educated so to speak since around May 2023. I think that not telling people that the truck is in a regen cycle is stupid by Ram, but I digress. I never did get the warning to keep driving during a regen cycle though, so I must have luckly not interruped that many cycles, but it was dumb luck.

This truck's miles will change now. I've gotten a daily driver and plan on driving this truck maybe 1-2X week and get it on the interstate those days, plus a much greater percentage of its miles will be pulling the 5th wheel now - we have a trip planned in a couple of weeks actually. There's really nothing else I can do as far as driving style, I don't have a long commute, don't really live near an interstate, etc. It was costing 300-400 in extra diesel a month with all of the interstate driving I was trying to do to make the truck happy, not to mention the absolute time sink that was.

I would have traded in, but don't really feel like spending an extra 20k for a similar truck due to inflation on these things. Even thought about going with a gasser, but we tend to take a long trip out west every year with the RV and up at altitude with a 18k pound 5th wheel, the gasser would be struggling.

 

[mbarber84]

So far at this point, I would say I have. In 7500 miles, my truck has never not been able to complete a regeneration and or throw a trouble code for excessive regeneration and or a full DPF, see dealer issue. I’ve been watching my oil level and I am right at the top of the safe level, from what I’ve seen that’s not a problem. If I drive on the interstate long enough, usually 40+ miles I can watch my DPF gauge drop (passive regen). Currently I drive about 25 miles one way to work, so I’m net zero on the DPF as it’s not quite far enough for my truck to enter a passive regen. I’ve towed my TT twice and I can watch the DPF gauge drop to zero and stay there, in usually about 10-15 minutes. So, in my opinion my truck is operating as intended.
Edit : when my truck enters an active regen, I continue to drive until it is complete. I will stay on the interstate / highway until it is completed.

Is that 25 mile drive to work all interstate? And I assume the same return trip home every day?
Monday through Friday? What speed do you travel during that trip?

 

[Units]

Is that 25 mile drive to work all interstate? And I assume the same return trip home every day?
Monday through Friday? What speed do you travel during that trip?

About 80% is interstate. Usually set the cruise control to 75 mph. Yeah Monday through Friday, stop and goes usually on the weekends with some 50 - 60 mph back roads. Unfortunately, I work in an industrial setting so at the end of shift I’m usually sitting in traffic trying to leave work.

 

[jasmith348]

If your active regeneration is taking place during low speed / stop & go driving, they’re not going to be as effective. That may account for some of the rapid return in soot load post-regeneration.

There certainly would be some stop and go getting to some where that I can drive it at higher speeds, but I try to get it out on a stretch of road where I can at least drive 60-70 if not more. It really depends on where exactly the damn active regen decides to start. If on the way home, then I can drive it maybe 55-60 until it finishes (and drive by my house in the process). If on the way to the office, then I can usually drive it a little faster just due to quicker access to bigger roads.

 

[jenninr]

We have a 2022 3500 work truck that has about 17000 lbs behind it 90% of the time and it is staying in almost constant regen. I recently drove it 2 hours on the interstate unloaded and it started a regen at the beginning of the trip, was in regen for about 45 minutes, no regen for 15 minutes, and then went back into regen and stayed in regen for the rest of the trip. No check engine light yet. AFAIK this started after the recall for the PM sensor was done about 500 miles ago. Every regen that has completed has taken at least 45 minutes to complete so it's basically impossible to let every regen complete with them taking so long.

 

[AH64ID]

I let them finish (or at least the truck says they are finished). I've towed a little, but not much. Honestly, got to the point I didnt trust the truck, hence I dropped it off and left it for what will be close to 3 months and made the dealer go thru it. I do think that early on, say last April/May/June before I became aware of the issue, I likely interrupted the active regens several times. I came from an Ecodiesel that told you when it was regenning (is that a word?) and didnt realize this truck didnt, until the CEL came on the first time. I guess you could say I've been educated so to speak since around May 2023. I think that not telling people that the truck is in a regen cycle is stupid by Ram, but I digress. I never did get the warning to keep driving during a regen cycle though, so I must have luckly not interruped that many cycles, but it was dumb luck.

This truck's miles will change now. I've gotten a daily driver and plan on driving this truck maybe 1-2X week and get it on the interstate those days, plus a much greater percentage of its miles will be pulling the 5th wheel now - we have a trip planned in a couple of weeks actually. There's really nothing else I can do as far as driving style, I don't have a long commute, don't really live near an interstate, etc. It was costing 300-400 in extra diesel a month with all of the interstate driving I was trying to do to make the truck happy, not to mention the absolute time sink that was.

I would have traded in, but don't really feel like spending an extra 20k for a similar truck due to inflation on these things. Even thought about going with a gasser, but we tend to take a long trip out west every year with the RV and up at altitude with a 18k pound 5th wheel, the gasser would be struggling.

You don’t say what year your truck is, but I gather it’s a 2022 based on your comments.

The 19+ trucks do tell you when you’re in active regen.

Now that you have a commuter I hope things will change.

I would also go get the 18K 5th wheel out of storage and try to get at least 100 miles towing on it at highway to interstate speeds. Get the DPF good and cleaned out passively to confirm if your issues are driving cycle related or an actual failure.

 

[mbarber84]

About 80% is interstate. Usually set the cruise control to 75 mph. Yeah Monday through Friday, stop and goes usually on the weekends with some 50 - 60 mph back roads. Unfortunately, I work in an industrial setting so at the end of shift I’m usually sitting in traffic trying to leave work.

If you’re 80% highway at 75mph consistently, my experience suggests you should be seeing near 0% on the DPF gauge at all times and should be able to go much further than 300-500 miles. Your truck sounds like it’s doing exactly what my 2022 started doing randomly. It did this for several months until I found a different fuel source and stopped using the hotshots EDT.

 

[Units]

About 80% is interstate. Usually set the cruise control to 75 mph. Yeah Monday through Friday, stop and goes usually on the weekends with some 50 - 60 mph back roads. Unfortunately, I work in an industrial setting so at the end of shift I’m usually sitting in traffic trying to leave work.

I forgot to mention, I’ve been timing my regeneration and it takes around 13-15 minutes to complete a regeneration.

 

[jasmith348]

You don’t say what year your truck is, but I gather it’s a 2022 based on your comments.

The 19+ trucks do tell you when you’re in active regen.

Now that you have a commuter I hope things will change.

I would also go get the 18K 5th wheel out of storage and try to get at least 100 miles towing on it at highway to interstate speeds. Get the DPF good and cleaned out passively to confirm if your issues are driving cycle related or an actual failure.

Its a 2022 HO dually. It will tell you if you happen to have it on the DPF screenm, but the Ecodiesel would pop up even on the home screen and tell you. These don't do that (i.e., intrrupt the home screen). I'm hoping the commuter, the different fuel source, etc. help.

 

[Units]

If you’re 80% highway at 75mph consistently, my experience suggests you should be seeing near 0% on the DPF gauge at all times and should be able to go much further than 300-500 miles. Your truck sounds like it’s doing exactly what my 2022 started doing randomly. It did this for several months until I found a different fuel source and stopped using the hotshots EDT.

I’m going to change fueling stations and see if that changes anything.

 

[mbarber84]

We have a 2022 3500 work truck that has about 17000 lbs behind it 90% of the time and it is staying in almost constant regen. I recently drove it 2 hours on the interstate unloaded and it started a regen at the beginning of the trip, was in regen for about 45 minutes, no regen for 15 minutes, and then went back into regen and stayed in regen for the rest of the trip. No check engine light yet. AFAIK this started after the recall for the PM sensor was done about 500 miles ago. Every regen that has completed has taken at least 45 minutes to complete so it's basically impossible to let every regen complete with them taking so long.

This is a red flag.

A truck with 17k behind it constantly should see nothing but the 24 hour timer-based regeneration cycles. Especially if that truck is seeing highway operation for moderate lengths of time.

Start monitoring your oil level and oil condition
Check the engine air filter for right one
Inspect boost tubes / charge pipes and boots for leaks

 

[mbarber84]

I forgot to mention, I’ve been timing my regeneration and it takes around 13-15 minutes to complete a regeneration.

15-20 minutes for a active regeneration cycle is normal, under most situations.

 

[AH64ID]

About 80% is interstate. Usually set the cruise control to 75 mph. Yeah Monday through Friday, stop and goes usually on the weekends with some 50 - 60 mph back roads. Unfortunately, I work in an industrial setting so at the end of shift I’m usually sitting in traffic trying to leave work.

As I posted yesterday 75 mph is fast enough to not load the DPF with soot, but also not fast enough empty for a rapid passive regen… of course that all depends on winds, temps, and grade.

What I’ve noticed by monitoring EGT3, DPF outlet, is this

Above 22 mpg: no passive regen
18-22 mpg: net neutral, no real soot production or passive regen
Below 18 mpg: passive regen
Below 12 mpg: rapid passive regen

That’s all average mileage, not instant. At 75 I’m 18-20 mpg and it takes forever for soot loading to reduce once it’s built up to 12.5-25%.