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Are Diesel Particulate Filters Problematic?
Good Morning – curious to know to what extent, if any, coaches equipped with diesel particulate filters are problematic.
Any experience or knowledge regarding them and how they effect performance, cost of ownership, down-time, etc. would be most appreciated! THANK YOU very much!
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7 Replies
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I know that was the first go around of exhaust clean up.
Never saw anything on production run before all manufactures began switching to DEF…which became the standard.
There was some mandate to meet standards…don’t remember details.
Good question…
AL
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Two choices in that era, 03-07 EGR 08–11 DPF
both have their downsides. More heat load on cooling system.
loss of fuel mileage , maintenance , mysterious problems.
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Jeff and Lindsay
91 Marathon XL -
My experience with DPF is limited to circa 1990 Mercedes. Yes, they affected power and were problematic in that era.
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With all the new emissions requirements, diesel engines have become a science project (EGR, DPF, SRC, DEF,…). Lots of complaints on trucker forums. The industry will eventually figure it out, but I don’t think we are quite there yet. All the emission controlled diesels really hate idling.
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Jeff & Sandy,
I’ve had 3 Rvs with Cummins Diesels (ISB,ISL,ISX) all used Def and of course the bigger the motor the more def/gas it consumed. Never had any problems with power or the system. (Lugging Def when it’s not at the pump is annoying)
We presently have an 09 Liberty with Detroit Series 60 and DPF. It burns the soot off using higher exhaust temps , generated with more fuel and pressure. It will normally Regen on the highway when you are at speed (~1500 rpm) for 40 minutes or so without any intervention. If it isn’t able to, you will get an alarm “Check Engine at Next Stop” and the Regen light will blink. If you don’t address it will go solid, if you still don’t address it will derate your motor and then finally shut you down to protect the motor. But it’s a fairly long time before it gets there, and you get more than adequate warning.(Def systems have a similar process until you refill). I did my first parked Regen the other day after I had idled for much longer than normal. (We drive over 25k per year in the coach) It’s a very simple process. Hit the brakes and the blue button on a warm motor and let it go. It will run the motor up to 1600 rpms for 20 -40 mins then drop it back to idle when it’s done. It felt like it ran better afterwards but that could have been related to all the junk food I ate while it regenerated.
If I recall correctly a Prevost wants the DPF filter to be replaced or cleaned at 400,000 miles. It’s the ash from the incineration that accumulates. I’m pretty sure I’ll never see that 400k milestone in this coach. I did see complaints of the system in the forums and I can see how truckers would not like it if they drove in conditions that would require parked regens regularly (low rpm inner city).I suspect a few pushed the limits on the warnings. I’m also sure it was a lot better without it.
i wouldn’t let it be a deciding factor unless your looking at a high mileage coach. 300K + miles.
-Jeff
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THANK YOU ALL!
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