DPF Regeneration driving me crazy...

[Rock Crawler]

I have a 2021 Kubota L3560SE that has 105 hours on it. At almost exactly 50 hours it went into regen, and again at 101 last weekend. I typically run at or very near full throttle, so both regen cycles would have been un-noticed by me if I had not had the display set to show the filter %. There is no change in sound, power to the wheels or performance at the PTO that I can tell. Both times it took around 11 minutes before the display reset at 0%. On my Kubota it is a very unobtrusive thing that really has zero effect on me as the user. I a really happy with how invisible it is.

 

[ptsg]

After spending nearly $900 on the repair shop to fix the stupid DPF on a SUV back in March, I am sure glad I bought my tractor back in 2017, when it wasn't required for equipment under 50HP to have emissions.

I mean, these engines today burn so clean already, at what point is actually necessary to have all of the emission stuff on it? At least up to a certain size of engines or something. Heck, my tractor still uses mechanical injection and the only time it ever smokes is just a little puff when starting the engine or when I pull a dumb move and bog the cr@p out of it. Nothing else, no smoke, no smell, nothing.

It kind of defeats the purpose of the DPF when people have to run with screaming engines, using more fuel, making a bunch of noise,just so the DPF works more or less reliable, plus some systems will even add more fuel during regens.

 

[Number15]

After spending nearly $900 on the repair shop to fix the stupid DPF on a SUV back in March, I am sure glad I bought my tractor back in 2017, when it wasn't required for equipment under 50HP to have emissions.

I mean, these engines today burn so clean already, at what point is actually necessary to have all of the emission stuff on it? At least up to a certain size of engines. Heck, my tractor still uses mechanical injection and the only time it ever smokes is just a little puff when starting the engine or when I pull a dumb move and bog the cr@p out of it. Nothing else, no smoke, no smell, nothing.

Ask yourself this. Would you put yourself in an enclosed room with your tractor that has no smoke and no smell running? I know you know the answer and I know an emission laden tractor will have the same end result. My point is just because you can't see it does not mean its not harming us.

It's going to get better tier iv has only been about 8 years in the off road world.

These are epa charts so I know some will question them

 

[jyoutz]

Your comparison doesnt work.
We are talking about diesel engines, gas engines (in your carburetor example) dont have DPF/DEF.

So let’s keep it on diesels and set aside pollution controls for a moment…

Newer common rail diesel vehicles & tractors have evolved into more reliable machines in some aspects for the operator, not the mechanic. Computer controlled common rail diesel fuel injection systems are much more expensive to fix when it breaks. The injectors cost more and the pump costs more. The CAPS pump on my Cummins powered tractor is $5,000. An old school mechanical pump was much less. The injectors are much more expensive, too. So would you rather have a computer controlled diesel that runs a bit better & more efficient but costs a fortune to fix, or a simple mechanical diesel that is cheaply & easily fixed?

Now again, staying with diesel engines, add pollution after-treatment equipment. It simply MUST be less reliable by the addition of more sensors, wires, computers and wear parts. It simply cannot be more reliable unless additional advances, separate from the DEF/DPF, were made.
Although common rail is better at cold starting, it is not enough additional reliability to make up for the additional problems caused by DEF/DPF sensor and related failure.

I actually like the newer diesels, but they are shockingly complex and hard to fix without a great deal of backround education in diesel technology or expense.

And BTW- “older iron” does NOT work in some states now. CA has banned older diesel engines. Other states are following.

Everything you say is correct. Yes, everything is more complex and expensive to repair in modern diesel trucks and tractors. My point is they typically provide long good service life without failure. I know lots of people with new Dodge Cummins trucks (mine is old), and newer tractors who haven’t experienced those types of issues. It happens; it’s not typical. Mechanics see the ones that fail, not the many more that don’t.

 

[Lineman North Florida]

One more example I am on a skid steer forum and more of those catch on fire and burn up today than ever before due to regen and while I am sure some of it is due to operators not keeping the machine cleaned and blown off prior to it going into regen it's another thing that the operator must be aware of and while some continue to go on about not having to stop working during regen, if you are doing any type of forestry work or say loading hay in the hay field where it is extremely dry it's something you need to be aware of, maybe go set in the shade and breathe in some of fresh air and feel good about saving the planet while those older pre-def units continue to work. The good lord created this planet, we as mortal men will never be able to destroy it, he might but we can't.

 

[TMGT]

I keep hearing that. So it's Ok to make them more fuel efficient, as long as you can keep spewing as much crap into the air as you want?

Over the expected lifespan of the the vehicle the total emissions is about the same due to the increased mileage, so no, it was a calculated move for preservation of my vehicle/lower fuel usage balanced against changes to the emissions output.

The problem a lot of people have is they can think past the tailpipe when it comes to total emission, there's a lot more to it, from production of components to fuel recovery/refinement/transport etc.

Sent from my SM-G715U1 using TractorByNet mobile app

 

[Hay Dude]

Everything you say is correct. Yes, everything is more complex and expensive to repair in modern diesel trucks and tractors. My point is they typically provide long good service life without failure. I know lots of people with new Dodge Cummins trucks (mine is old), and newer tractors who haven’t experienced those types of issues. It happens; it’s not typical. Mechanics see the ones that fail, not the many more that don’t.

I had a Cummins DEF failure in first 2 years of ownership

 

[jyoutz]

I had a Cummins DEF failure in first 2 years of ownership

You are unlucky. I have 6 BIL who have newer diesel ranch trucks with DEF injection. Mostly Dodges, a few Fords. None of them have had DEF failures. I put over 300k on my VW TDI before trading it; never a problem.