Conclusion
With the state of emissions regulations that we’re currently in, diesel vehicles are only becoming more complex and touchy to maintain. Manufacturers have had to add on to existing emissions control systems that barely worked well enough as it was to make trucks cleaner. EGR systems have increased soot levels inside the 6.0L Power Stroke, for example. Adding after-treatment systems to the EGR on the 6.4L Power Strokes has only made those matters worse, since when the EGR system malfunctions, it clogs the DPF more quickly.
“If the EGR isn’t functioning properly, it will easily plug up the DPF,” says Carter. “You’re bound to have serious issues if it happens. This is a great example of why you must not ignore that light on the dash.”
Engines are up to 30 percent less fuel efficient as a result of using DPFs. Not only does the after-treatment system reduce fuel economy by putting backpressure on the engine, but it also reduces efficiency by requiring injectors to spray extra fuel to actuate regeneration.
Overall, while there is no true way to fix these problems, you can still practice better driving and maintenance habits to deflect symptoms of regeneration problems, such as changing the oil every 5,000 miles or less, using high-quality oil, using additives in the fuel, driving at highway speeds at least once per day of driving, and only applying whatever throttle is necessary under all driving circumstances. As all repairs go, remember to always address your dash warnings if you want to make maintenance easier for yourself!