Soot on Dinghy

[Land_Yachters]

Somewhat new to the RV lifestyle and dinghy towing, so appreciate any input. Our Jeep GC gets pretty well covered in soot from our exhaust after 4-500 miles or so. I figured it was normal, but was talking to a Cummins mechanic and he thought it was not normal. I couldn't share any pictures at the time so my definition of soot covered may be different than someone else's so it's all relative. All highway driving, but do need to go FOT on on ramps and passing etc., and assume that will belch some exhaust. Nothing visible at any time. No smoke etc. only about 15,000 on coach.

Normal?

[Y-Guy]

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[Land_Yachters]

So update...I wasn't paying attention to the issue before a friend of a friend who was a Cummins mechanic, told me there really shouldn't be noticeable dirt/soot. I have attached pictures of the car, the tailpipe and the mud flap that looks like it too has soot on it. I had noticed this previously, but chalked it up to running the engine at a campground where the mud flap was laying on the ground, or close to it, it wasn't hanging as much as laying on the ground due to leveling. The tailpipe looks pretty clean. Even wiping it with my finger doesn't show much.
OOps having an issue with loading pictures. Will post separately.

[Grit_dog]

I guess the OP is not going to add any more to this conundrum.

Well enough, it's not really an issue anyways. And likely not soot. After 15 years towing with a coal rolling diesel pickup, I can say the amount of soot on my trailer (even on the white boat) was minimal to none on say a normal 500 mile tow. A pusher with tier IV emissions system and a turndown exhaust probably isnt' the cause of the dirty toad.

[Horsedoc]

Just wondering if it is indeed soot you are seeing? Could it be rubber from the tires of the many, many cars and trucks on the same road you travel on?
I have owned three diesel coaches and never had a 'sooty' exhaust. We did have an odor on/in the towed that we figured out to be debris from the tires and road.

[Grit_dog]

^What he said.
You said no visible smoke which there should be none, so that’s good.
Is your tail pipe clean or black? If it’s black you have emissions issues starting.
Verify if it’s road grime or soot before worrying too much.

[lryrob9301]

I think you have problems. Your coach is equipped with DPF, SCR and DEF the tail pipe should be absolutely clean inside. There should be no amount of engine soot on the front of your toad, only road dirt kicked up by the coach. Do you have a dark grey covering of soot on the right front headlight/fender area, or just a dirty grimy entire front end on your toad?

[Lwiddis]

One of the drawbacks to diesel MHs IMO.

[capacitor]

I have seen plexiglas panels on the tow bar and mounted to the front bumper. A piece of Masonite cut to size would be a cheap and possible fix. The vacuum behind the tow vehicle maybe pull the soot into the front of your GC. Cummins sure do belch a lot out when you punch it.

[capacitor]

WOT, wide open throttle.

[Land_Yachters]

Sorry for abbreviation....FOT is Full Open Throttle. I was recently reading about transmissions shifting and that term was used regularly. FOF/Foot on floor will also work!

[gbopp]

Full Open Throttle?

[rk911]

capacitor wrote:
My guess is Foot On Throttle.

i thought that too but maybe i'm misunderstanding the difference between highway speeds and FOT...unless highway speeds means cruise control.

thanks

[capacitor]

My guess is Foot On Throttle.

[rk911]

no help but just curious....FOT?