Manual regen on 2017 Ford F350

[womps]

I ordered a 2017 F350 King Ranch with the Powerstroke a couple of weeks ago. While building my order with the dealer I noticed if you ordered an XL or XLT model you could order a manual regen switch. On the Lariat and higher models this option is not available. Does anyone know why Ford would do this? My dealer had no idea.

[johndeerefarmer]

4x4ord wrote:
After reading people's concerns on here I think the best solution would be to not let the driver know that the truck is doing a regen. If I see the "cleaning exhaust filter" come on 10 minutes or 2 minutes before getting home, I carry on just as though the warning light didn't exist, park my truck in the garage when I get home and forget it. Why all the fuss?

The issue is making a bunch of short trips and clogging up the DPF then head on towing your rig and it gets to the point that the truck shuts down (cuts power) because its too clogged. You are stuck on the side of the road now waiting for a tow

For the OP, the work trucks (XL and XLT) have the manual regen feature because they are usually used for shorter trips which are bad because you never drive enough to unclog them. The easiest way to do a manual regen is to buy an Edge Insight CTS monitor.
https://www.amazon.com/Edge-Products-83830-Insight-Monitor/dp/B003Y323NC

I had one on my '15 SD and not only did I use it for monitoring engine temp, coolant temp, boost etc I could also do a manual regen when necessary. You basically raise the hood, and the engine revs up like a jet engine. It takes about 20 minutes and about .5 gallons of diesel.
Before you buy the Edge Insight CTS make sure that the '17 SD is supported. Edge is slow as molasses on putting out updates.

[Redwoodcamper]

Because commons sense isn't common. And people don't educate themselves.

[Grit_dog]

^ That was my point. Idk if the avg Joe consumer could handle doing a re gen. Gotta remember we have people here, that admittedly can't do more than maybe check the oil buying big dooleys and 5vers and hittin the open road. I applaud the sense of adventure and this is not a dig on anyone in particular, but there is a certain amount or skill or experience that is needed to safely accomplish some tasks in life and everyone's skill set is different.
I think it would be a great feature, but maybe not for everyone.

[mich800]

4x4ord wrote:
After reading people's concerns on here I think the best solution would be to not let the driver know that the truck is doing a regen. If I see the "cleaning exhaust filter" come on 10 minutes or 2 minutes before getting home, I carry on just as though the warning light didn't exist, park my truck in the garage when I get home and forget it. Why all the fuss?

That is one of the reasons Ford changed that message around 2010. Too confusing for the consumer having that message come on thinking something was wrong.

[4x4ord]

After reading people's concerns on here I think the best solution would be to not let the driver know that the truck is doing a regen. If I see the "cleaning exhaust filter" come on 10 minutes or 2 minutes before getting home, I carry on just as though the warning light didn't exist, park my truck in the garage when I get home and forget it. Why all the fuss?

[Grit_dog]

FishOnOne wrote:

Redwoodcamper wrote:
Or you could buy a ram and not worry about it. Just my opinion after pulling the heads/cabs/ egr coolers on 10+ Ford's.

Obviously you're leaving out the ~67k mile required EGR system cleaning/maintenance process that cummins requires on their non DEF engines. And yes the DEF equipped cummins do soot up as well, but not as bad as the pre DEF trucks.

In addition some cummins produce so much carbon they have a special oil that you have to run in them to clean the soot/carbon behind the rings to prevent ring jacking.

^Funny stuff, yeah it ain't a Ford!
But what you will be pleasantly surprised with is IF you have to do a forced re gen on a new Cummins, it will idle up a bit, cook off the bad stuff and idle back down with zero fanfare. Re gen the Pstroke and it sounds like you're either trying to blow it up or launch a jet liner!

[Jarlaxle]

Or just get a gas engine and not worry about it.

[FishOnOne]

Redwoodcamper wrote:
Or you could buy a ram and not worry about it. Just my opinion after pulling the heads/cabs/ egr coolers on 10+ Ford's.

Obviously you're leaving out the ~67k mile required EGR system cleaning/maintenance process that cummins requires on their non DEF engines. And yes the DEF equipped cummins do soot up as well, but not as bad as the pre DEF trucks.

In addition some cummins produce so much carbon they have a special oil that you have to run in them to clean the soot/carbon behind the rings to prevent ring jacking.

[FishOnOne]

OP,
No clue why some models would have this option and others don't. Having said that my 6.7 Power Stroke has 115k miles and I just drive it. Partial regen or full regen it doesn't care and this process hasn't caused any issues to date. Miles between regens has been the same since the truck was new and fuel economy has been essentially the same with a slight improvement at ~60k miles for some reason.

[alaska511]

Man, I would have killed for a manual switch! I don't need one at all, now 🙂 but I think it should be standard on all new trucks.

[Redwoodcamper]

They all do have the system to some extent. Short trips clog the dpfs faster. Longer drives with some heat built up don't clog them as fast. As mentioned, idleing is the worst. When it regens you can help it by going for a spirited drive. The ones with the most problems drive it really easy and don't tow. I have less experience than some because all my newer diesels are "off road only.(deleted)" That's how my last three Cummins had almost a million miles combined with very few problems. The next Cummins is rumored to have less smog than ever.

[womps]

Redwoodcamper wrote:
Doesn't matter after you rip all the dpf garbage out. If you tow longer distances with it and avoid short trips you shouldn't need a Regen switch. If you drive it easy and rarely work it hard then the switch would come in handy.
Or you could buy a ram and not worry about it. Just my opinion after pulling the heads/cabs/ egr coolers on 10+ Ford's.

Driving long trips doesn't help. I have a 2016 Powerstroke now and you can drive 200 miles and 2 minutes before you arrive at your destination it will go into regen mode. I put 12,000 miles on it in 4 months so there wasn't any short trips but there were times when just before you were going to shut it off guess what? Regen! Manual switch would be nice on all models to avoid this. Does the Ram not have the same system? I thought the Big Three all had it.

[Grit_dog]

Huh, that's cool!
Agree option to regen these trucks when needed should be standard issue. Problem is the liability and actually surprised to hear this is an option. Mfgs usually shy away from allowing user control over mechanical systems or repairs that the general public is not vehemently familiar with, that could cause injury or property damage.

Beware your 6.7 P stroke will scare the meek and probably you too when you put it into forced regen the first time! And stay away from the tailpipe!
3000rpms of 1000deg exhaust coming at you!

[Redwoodcamper]

Doesn't matter after you rip all the dpf garbage out. If you tow longer distances with it and avoid short trips you shouldn't need a Regen switch. If you drive it easy and rarely work it hard then the switch would come in handy.
Or you could buy a ram and not worry about it. Just my opinion after pulling the heads/cabs/ egr coolers on 10+ Ford's.