Truck Can No Longer Regen – How to Regen a Truck?

If you own a diesel truck, you’ve probably noticed that it needs to regenerate quite frequently. If you don’t understand why this is happening, it can be frustrating. A clogged DPF filter, which gets clogged due to too much soot, is the most frequent cause of your truck needing to regenerate. The ECU will turn on regeneration when the filter clogs in order to clear it. Regeneration can also be started automatically, or it can be cleaned manually with specialized additives or cleaners.

The Importance Of Regeneration

Regeneration is crucial because it lowers the truck’s emissions. Without regeneration, the soot would eventually accumulate and clog the DPF filter. The engine would operate inefficiently and emit more emissions as a result.

How Does Regeneration Work?

The two types of regeneration are passive and active. When the truck is driven for a specific amount of time at highway speeds, passive regeneration occurs automatically. The engine’s heat causes the trapped soot to disintegrate and burn off.

The driver must manually start active regeneration. A button on the truck’s dashboard or a computer command can be used to accomplish the task.

In comparison to passive regeneration, active regeneration is more aggressive and may result in a hotter running truck. It should therefore only be applied when the DPF filter is seriously clogged.

Regen Types

Active, Passive, and Parked Regens

When you’re driving, you usually have a purpose in mind. Pulling over is a hassle, even if it’s just for twenty minutes or so. The good news is that two of the three types of regen that are necessary can be performed automatically while driving. The two types of regenerators are active and passive. 

Passive Regen

Your car must maintain a set speed and internal temperature in order to perform passive regeneration.

The oxidation of soot buildup into CO2 by your DPF starts when a high enough speed and temperature are attained. The CO2 is expelled, and any leftover material is then turned into ash before being gathered by the DPF. 

This ongoing process starts as soon as the vehicle reaches the ideal temperature. You probably aren’t even aware that passive regen is taking place in your car all the time. That is inherent to the process. 

Active Regen 

Passive regen will be unable to keep up with soot buildup’s demands as use continues. Active regen enters the picture in this situation. The computer in your truck starts active regen when it detects that your DPF needs cleaning and the temperature is high enough.

A small amount of fuel must be automated into a fine spray and introduced into the DPF for active regen. This spray generates intense heat, which oxidizes any remaining soot in the filter instead of completely burning it. 

Depending on your driving habits, this process might happen daily or even more frequently. Maintaining driving speed is all that is necessary for the driver during this process.

When you get back up to speed, you’ll probably have to start the process over if active regen causes you to lose any speed. 

What Should The Rate Of Regeneration Be?

How frequently you use your truck and the type of driving you to do will affect how often you regenerate. Your truck will regenerate more frequently if you drive a lot of stop-and-go or brief distances than if you mostly drive on highways.

Your truck should regenerate once every 500 miles or so in general, but it could happen more or less frequently.

How To Reduce DPF Regens

When oil is burned, the byproducts create sticky friction called stiction. In applications requiring close tolerance, high pressure generates heat, and excessive heat causes the oil to burn, oxidize, and form sludge and deposit layers. This stiction buildup is constantly dangerous to fuel injectors, pistons, rings, and numerous other engine parts. All of which are detrimental to any hygienic and effective mechanical system. Additives are absolutely necessary to clean the parts when oxidization, layers of sludge, carbon, and deposits from all over the engine. The right oil additives will lubricate everything your engine’s oil touches while also cleaning the gum, varnish, and friction. But the right additives also work without using harsh solvents that might damage engine parts. For the DPF specifically, the right additives effectively clean the engine components and lower the number of particulates clogging the DPF, reducing the need for repeated regen cycles.

With a stronger ring seal, the right additives also aid in restoring dynamic compression. The tighter seals increase combustion efficiency, which leads to better fuel economy, increased engine power, and improved engine performance. It also increases the efficiency needed in the combustion cycle to stop blow-by and extra particulates from entering the exhaust system. The right mix of additives can give a truck better performance as well as serve as a very effective preventative measure against unforeseen future repairs and replacements.

What Is The Truck Regeneration Time?

Truck regeneration times range from twenty to sixty minutes, depending on the engine type, the type of regen, and the amount of buildup.

You should plan on waiting for this amount of time if you’ve been putting off regen for a while because soot buildup has only increased. It will probably happen much faster if you engage in passive regen as part of your daily routine. 

Regens should never be put off because doing so will make your eventual required process take longer overall. However, interrupting a regen if necessary won’t harm your car in the short term. If you decide to put off the procedure, remember that. 

Conclusion

The process of regen is largely automated and carried out while driving. All we need to do is let it happen and drive appropriately enough to support the process.

It may be uncomfortable, but when parked regen is necessary, let it happen. It’s necessary because your truck is requesting it.

You and your truck will be able to travel without incident if you practice safe driving and responsible car maintenance.