"Regens"?

[jamesu]

I traded in my F-150 for the'11 Chevy Duramax listed below last week. My first diesel. Have been reading these forums for a while trying to educate myself before buying the diesel. I am half way through my library-book-sized owner's manual. Question: I run across the word in the title...what are you guys referring to...WHAT IS "REGENS"?

My neighbor has a '12 Duramax and swears by it. Pulls a huge fiver. I shouldn't have any problem with my little, old 27'. Planning my first trip with my new truck down the Oregon coast next week.

What about compreSsion braking coming down mountain passes? Am I going to sound like a logging truck and get pulled over by the WSP?

Pointers from experienced diesel drivers appreciated. Been towing a long time with gas, never diesel. Looking forward to the torque my F-150 didn't have.

[nevadanick]

You can tell when its in regen by elevated idle, exhaust gets very hot an can smell a bit if stopped during a regen and if not updated the compass will be stuck on whatever direction you were heading when it started.

[mdamerell]

jamesu wrote:
I traded in my F-150 for the'11 Chevy Duramax listed below last week. My first diesel. Have been reading these forums for a while trying to educate myself before buying the diesel. I am half way through my library-book-sized owner's manual. Question: I run across the word in the title...what are you guys referring to...WHAT IS "REGENS"?

My neighbor has a '12 Duramax and swears by it. Pulls a huge fiver. I shouldn't have any problem with my little, old 27'. Planning my first trip with my new truck down the Oregon coast next week.

What about compreSsion braking coming down mountain passes? Am I going to sound like a logging truck and get pulled over by the WSP?

Pointers from experienced diesel drivers appreciated. Been towing a long time with gas, never diesel. Looking forward to the torque my F-150 didn't have.

Regen is a process to clear soot accumulation from the DPF (Diesel particulate filter) The exhaust gas temperature is raised to burn off the soot. Normal driving at highway speeds will burn off soot in the DPF. Idling or stop and go traffic tends to load up the DPF with soot. Regen

DEF all happens behind the DEF part of the system There are several ways engine braking is archived. DEF System

Jake Brake adjust valve timing to unload the cycling pressure and are the loudest. Especially on a truck with no muffler. Exhaust brakes use a butterfly valve to restrict exhaust flow using engine back pressure or variable vane turbo to cause engine back pressure like the butterfly valve. Since all this happens upstream of the muffler and other exhaust system components it is much quitter and will not violate a noise ordinance. The ordinance often states un-muffled engine brakes.

[deltabravo]

No, the exhaust brake won't make noise. I think it's actually a turbo brake on the GM trucks.

I can tell when my 2009 goes in to regen - the avg MPG display starts to go down.
It regens once every tank of fuel - never at the same point - it all just depends on the type of driving I'm doing.

A lot of Duramax owners don't know this, particularly those that don't change their own oil, since they aren't under the truck to see it, but there's a spin-on transmission oil filter that needs changed periodically. I change mine about every 10k miles. I fill it with fluid before installing it. There's a little round magnet - make sure you reinstall that magnet and don't toss it out with the old filter.

[lynndiwagon]

Chevy made it so that you probably won't even know when Regen takes place. You will be advised well in advance by the DIC when you are close to running low on DEF fluid. Regen Process takes place in the background. The exhaust brake is not like the ones on big trucks. Turn it on, along with the "tow-haul" mode and you will be pleased with the results.

[MNRon]

Sorry again, what agesilaus said about DPF and REGEN - NOT associated with DEF as I erroneously stated but otherwise my comments still apply on not worrying about it.

[MNRon]

Sorry, forgot about your ? on the exhaust brake - use it, you'll love it!

[agesilaus]

Basically your truck will have a Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF), soot builds up in this filter. When your truck detects too much soot in the DPF it will inject diesel into the inlet of the DPF and that ignites and burns off the soot. Depending on driving conditions that will happen every 100-400 miles. Stop and go driving makes it happen more frequently.

Regen

[MNRon]

I got a new diesel two years ago after pulling and driving gas for many years. Like you I was nervous about all the diesel knowledge I didn't have and would need to acquire. After two years I can tell you that calm has replaced anxiety and I just drive, similar to when I had a gasser.

There are a couple of things that are different, but not a big deal:

First - make sure you put diesel in the tank instead of gas (this IS a big deal 🙂 - I double-checked every time I filled for the first year and was worried I'd make a mistake...)

Second - Need to add DEF fluid, older diesels didn't need, but if you're asking about REGENS you do too. REGEN is when the exaust system uses DEF to burn stuff out reducing emissions etc. I kept watching for when the engine would go into this cycle because people talk about it on the diesel websites, but honestly it just happens in the background and I drive without thinking about it (and couldn't tell you when it is or isn't REGENing)

Third - Maintenance items, changing fuel filter, more oil at oil change, etc. Not big deals but a little different than gasser.

Lastly, and most importantly - Great power and longer distance between fill-ups!! You'll love your diesel!!!