Cleaning vs. Poking holes in DPF filter

[HawkinsHollow]

DPF light is coming on again, it is time to do something about it. I thought I would turn to YouTube U to learn more about this topic. Lots of videos of guys washing out their DPF filter rather than poking holes in it. I wonder if this works ok. Has anyone cleaned rather than gut the DPF? I feel like I should give this a shot before I gut it. Once it is gutted it's done for, no turning back. It took about 150 hours for the reman'd filter to get clogged up after the last time this happened. I can live with that. Opinions?

 

[ericm979]

It doesn't show as a separate part on my 3725 parts diagram but there are V band clamps on the cannister. So you should be able to take it apart and get at the DPF to clean it, or leave it out if cleaning doesn't work.

 

[Eagle1]

4 to 1 water and muratic (pool) acid. Let it soak for 20-30 minutes with some agitating. Rinses really really well, and let it air dry.
Will not hurt the ceramic or stainless (if diluted as above) but will clear most of the ash deposits.
Again 4 parts water to 1 part muratic acid.
But is it gums up that fast are you sure your injectors in the DOC are working and the system actually regens?

 

[Eagle1]

Some info...

 

[Zork]

There are advantages with new technology.
But I am glad much of my stuff doesn't have it.

 

[HawkinsHollow]

4 to 1 water and muratic (pool) acid. Let it soak for 20-30 minutes with some agitating. Rinses really really well, and let it air dry.
Will not hurt the ceramic or stainless (if diluted as above) but will clear most of the ash deposits.
Again 4 parts water to 1 part muratic acid.
But is it gums up that fast are you sure your injectors in the DOC are working and the system actually regens?

Thanks for that recipe, might be worth a shot.

This is a 2018 Branson. No DOC and no active regen. From my understanding it is supposed to just burn off under heavy use. This is the second time in 350 hours that it has gotten to this point.

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

Thanks for that recipe, might be worth a shot.

This is a 2018 Branson. No DOC and no active regen. From my understanding it is supposed to just burn off under heavy use. This is the second time in 350 hours that it has gotten to this point.

Your filter, the "DPF" has "DOC" inside it. DOC= Diesel Oxidation Catalyst is what is inside the honeycomb screen inside your exhaust filter canister (the "DPF").

Anyway, mine's been sitting on a shelf for the last 5 years, and hasn't given me any problems since I set it there.

 

[Eagle1]

Your filter, the "DPF" has "DOC" inside it. DOC= Diesel Oxidation Catalyst is what is inside the honeycomb screen inside your exhaust filter canister (the "DPF").

Anyway, mine's been sitting on a shelf for the last 5 years, and hasn't given me any problems since I set it there.

Could well be true...
My LS has an active DOC, injector and igniter to raise temps during regen. SO many different systems out there and they all their issues and use more fuel than just running an old diesel motor. IMHO

 

[HawkinsHollow]

I think I am going to just gut this thing and be done with it.

 

[ruffdog]

This is a 2018 Branson. No DOC and no active regen. From my understanding it is supposed to just burn off under heavy use. This is the second time in 350 hours that it has gotten to this point.

Are you using fuel additives? What kind? Are you adding a lubricant like ATF or 2-cycle oil to your fuel? Biodiesel or other?

 

[HawkinsHollow]

Are you using fuel additives? What kind? Are you adding a lubricant like ATF or 2-cycle oil to your fuel? Biodiesel or other?

No sir! Straight up diesel fuel.

 

[ericm979]

I haven't had any problem with my 3725. But it doesn't get very cold here, I run it hard when I'm using the chipper, and I don't let it idle much. I try to keep the tach in the green zone but sometimes I mow in epto or use fewer revs for loader work. When I bought the 3725 the dealer told me that one of the improvements of the 25 series over the 20 series at the time was more catalyst in the DOC part.

I recently started using R99 renewable diesel in the Branson and it starts noticeably easier and runs smoother. R99's also supposed to produce less soot but I have no way to measure that. Here it costs about the same as regular diesel. I think R99 is mostly a west coast thing but it may be available in Tn.

I recently got a pre-emissions Deere at a property I bought, and it reminds me how much I hate the exhaust fumes from diesels with no emissions gear. I think untreated diesel exhaust bothers me more than it bothers some other people. If my 3725 was having DPF problems I'd work on addressing them to make it work.

 

[Eagle1]

Had to look up R99 never heard of it and seems to be only sold in CA, OR, and WA. Seems that almost all it is used in CA.
On the other note I found that the LS with DPF smells much worse to me (IMHO) than old Kubota diesel. Just a personal (no facts) observation.

 

[Cougsfan]

I gutted mine years ago. The only difference I have noticed is a little black smoke for a few seconds after starting it cold.

 

[HawkinsHollow]

It's done. 8 half inch holes drilled through the middle of it. Yes a little black smoke at startup, a more natural diesel exhaust smell, and maybe a little bit more power pulling the hills in high gear. Hopefully, 8 half inch holes is enough because it is kind of a PITA to take this thing off the tractor. Hopefully I am done messing with it.