LS SAYS A REGEN EVERY 2 HOURS IS NORMAL

[Cycledude]

Dealer recommends and uses 15w40 in this area.

From the manual:

View attachment 738824

I would definitely try switching to Rotella T6 which is 5-40 just to see if anything changes, 5-40 definitely fits very nicely in your temperature range. But because of supply issues it might be hard to buy in your area. Walmart has free shipping to your local Walmart but unfortunately it currently shows out of stock.

Robot or human?

 

[kkl]

You might try a product called Regen-Less, available at Tractor Supply. This would be in addition to, not instead of some of the other suggestions here.

I've found that it helps in my '08 F250 that regenerates ridiculously frequently when towing my 5th wheel.

 

[oldpilot]

Whoa! What is regeneration anyhow?

I owned an International (Bison) 284 for for nearly forty years and am on my third year with Mahindra Baba, and I have never heard of such a thing.

 

[MHarryE]

Is all your use the same type operation? I just traded off my Kubota L6060. Normally regens were in the 30 to 70 hour range; however, when I began using it on a small square baler, time between regens dropped into the 1 to 2 hour range. I called my dealer's Kubota specialist who told me to clean the air cleaner. Instead I replaced both outer and inner elements with no change. Watching others around here bale with older tractors and also viewing them on YouTube, I noted the puff of black smoke with every plunger stroke. I assume that is the reason for rapid plugging - rapid soot bursts. Using my Kubota M7-171 on the baler didn't result in frequent regens but that is using 170 hp on a baler that works fine with 30 pto HP. Could you be using your tractor be used in some way that it produces rapid pulses? I think the baler used on my L6060 was rated at 75 strokes per minute so if the DPF equipped engine internally produces one puff of soot every second or so like engines without a DPF filter, it's quite a load.

 

[DavisHollow]

@ljjhouser yes, positive, low sulfur diesel

@PCABE5 I do have one, I haven't hooked it up to look though. I believe the ODBII port is inside one of the dash panels which would have to be removed during use. It is a good idea though. My goal of this thread is to get good ideas, and see if the dealership will look into the issue further even though LS says my regen frequency is perfectly normal which we all know that is complete BS.

You’re getting regens every 9 hours, not 2. 2 would be Abby Normal. 9 is frequent, but it’s doing it because it needs to. You’ve already replaced the parts that might cause false regens. It’s doing a regen every 9 hours because it needs to. Move past that and focus on why it’s running dirty or the regens aren’t completing properly. I think you’re running cold, swap out the radiator thermostat. During a regen I would speculate the temp isn’t getting high enough.

Manually start a regen, or when one starts, check the radiator temp. It should go well above the center mark for 5-10 minutes.

I bought a new 3135 and it did a regen about every 50-80 hours. I traded it in for an MT5 and it did one regen at 50. I only have 65-70 on it now. In both cases you should see the temp rise noticeably.

Why not just let the ECU take care of the tractor however it want? It still runs, right? Just go about your day.

 

[Mart5130]

LS SAYS A REGEN EVERY 2 HOURS IS NORMAL

Here's my regen history, the best I have record of it. I'm sure I missed a few early on before I recognized there was a real problem and started keeping track. I have been having excessive regens almost since the tractor was purchased.

Dealership has been great at getting the tractor in for service and trying a few things, but unfortunately the problem has not been resolved. They called me yesterday after hearing back from LS and informed me that LS’ stance is that regeneration every 2 hours is normal. If regeneration is occurring more frequently than 2 hours apart, there could be an issue.

I find that unacceptable. I use the tractor at home, it is not a business machine, but based on an 8 hour work day, what should be a normal regen cycle of around 50 hours, would give me 6+ days between regens, and LS is telling me that 4 times per day is normal!

First some qualifying information.

• Tractor is run consistently between 1800 and 2400 RPM
• Always used on road diesel filled from high turnover stations in 5 gallon cans, I fill 2 or 3 cans, 10-15 gallons at a time, so there has been a lot of fuel turnover, not the same, or old fuel being used. Tried with and without fuel additive (Power Kleen or Howes) no change. At one point LS blamed fuel quality, but refused to test the fuel in the tank to prove it.
• DPF switch left in regeneration mode, I have never inhibited regeneration.

Occasionally before a regen, the DPF regeneration indicator will blink on/off at 1 sec intervals indicating a >120% soot load, then soon after it will go through a normal regen cycle without me needing to initiate it via the DPF switch. I have not kept a detailed record of when the indicator flashes before a regen, but I have noticed it several times (and I’m sure I missed it blinking a few times too.) Normally it seems to go right into regen mode (solid light) indicating 100% soot load, not >120%, but not always.

I’ve also had a few regens complete and then within 5 minutes the tractor goes into limp mode which a restart clears. That has happened maybe 3 times or so. I don’t recall what was displayed on the instrument panel other than the red ! (Vehicle control error warning indicator.)

Another thing I have noticed more recently, this may be indicative or not; I have noticed a much more pronounced diesel odor in the exhaust than in the past. While nothing like my previous non tier IV motor which was sooty, the MT240 used to burn extremely clean with no noticeable exhaust odor, now there is a diesel exhaust smell, not horrible, but definitely noticeable. Maybe now because it has 300 hours that is to be expected. There is no visible soot or black smoke, just a diesel odor that was not there previously. I may also hear injector or valve chatter that is louder then before as well.

Additionally there were a couple regens run at the dealership during troubleshooting and maintenance which I don't have listed below.

Regen time on hour meter, all regens completed successfully after ~15 minutes:

4 (ran by dealer due to error code, day after I brought it home)
101
106
112
115 (Dealership replaced DPF Sensor, removed and cleaned DPF)
118
119
148
165
175
187
191
197
213
224
234
250
254 (Dealership replaced ECU and DPF sensor. Invoice notes “REGEN OCCURRING TO OFTEN WITH NO SOOT LOAD”)
259 (In Dealership for service, ran diagnostic, nothing significant noted)
262
269
276
300

I'm looking for advice on how to move forward. First I need to be able to get the dealer to move forward since LS who is paying for the warranty work says this is NORMAL OPERATION.

Next I see 2 different paths.

1. DPF System has a fault
2. DPF system working normally, tractor producing too much soot

Comments?

No way 2 hr regens is normal. My Kioti regens about 35-45 hours.

 

[dwm1026]

LS SAYS A REGEN EVERY 2 HOURS IS NORMAL

Here's my regen history, the best I have record of it. I'm sure I missed a few early on before I recognized there was a real problem and started keeping track. I have been having excessive regens almost since the tractor was purchased.

Dealership has been great at getting the tractor in for service and trying a few things, but unfortunately the problem has not been resolved. They called me yesterday after hearing back from LS and informed me that LS’ stance is that regeneration every 2 hours is normal. If regeneration is occurring more frequently than 2 hours apart, there could be an issue.

I find that unacceptable. I use the tractor at home, it is not a business machine, but based on an 8 hour work day, what should be a normal regen cycle of around 50 hours, would give me 6+ days between regens, and LS is telling me that 4 times per day is normal!

First some qualifying information.

• Tractor is run consistently between 1800 and 2400 RPM
• Always used on road diesel filled from high turnover stations in 5 gallon cans, I fill 2 or 3 cans, 10-15 gallons at a time, so there has been a lot of fuel turnover, not the same, or old fuel being used. Tried with and without fuel additive (Power Kleen or Howes) no change. At one point LS blamed fuel quality, but refused to test the fuel in the tank to prove it.
• DPF switch left in regeneration mode, I have never inhibited regeneration.

Occasionally before a regen, the DPF regeneration indicator will blink on/off at 1 sec intervals indicating a >120% soot load, then soon after it will go through a normal regen cycle without me needing to initiate it via the DPF switch. I have not kept a detailed record of when the indicator flashes before a regen, but I have noticed it several times (and I’m sure I missed it blinking a few times too.) Normally it seems to go right into regen mode (solid light) indicating 100% soot load, not >120%, but not always.

I’ve also had a few regens complete and then within 5 minutes the tractor goes into limp mode which a restart clears. That has happened maybe 3 times or so. I don’t recall what was displayed on the instrument panel other than the red ! (Vehicle control error warning indicator.)

Another thing I have noticed more recently, this may be indicative or not; I have noticed a much more pronounced diesel odor in the exhaust than in the past. While nothing like my previous non tier IV motor which was sooty, the MT240 used to burn extremely clean with no noticeable exhaust odor, now there is a diesel exhaust smell, not horrible, but definitely noticeable. Maybe now because it has 300 hours that is to be expected. There is no visible soot or black smoke, just a diesel odor that was not there previously. I may also hear injector or valve chatter that is louder then before as well.

Additionally there were a couple regens run at the dealership during troubleshooting and maintenance which I don't have listed below.

Regen time on hour meter, all regens completed successfully after ~15 minutes:

4 (ran by dealer due to error code, day after I brought it home)
101
106
112
115 (Dealership replaced DPF Sensor, removed and cleaned DPF)
118
119
148
165
175
187
191
197
213
224
234
250
254 (Dealership replaced ECU and DPF sensor. Invoice notes “REGEN OCCURRING TO OFTEN WITH NO SOOT LOAD”)
259 (In Dealership for service, ran diagnostic, nothing significant noted)
262
269
276
300

I'm looking for advice on how to move forward. First I need to be able to get the dealer to move forward since LS who is paying for the warranty work says this is NORMAL OPERATION.

Next I see 2 different paths.

1. DPF System has a fault
2. DPF system working normally, tractor producing too much soot

Comments?

Looks like LS stated there was a problem with regen with no soot showing, on the service ticket. I’d remind them of that.

 

[Fxfymn413]

Lots of ideas here, but you are shooting in the dark. If it were me I'd worry less about the regen and a lot more about the response from LS. This is not your problem to fix; it is theirs.

Do you have a "Lemon Law" in your state? If so start the process. Contact one of the news stations in Mobile that has a consumer help line. Right now it is close to "sweeps month" and they love consumer versus the big guy who is trying to screw you stories.

Everyone has a boss; get the area service rep's contact info from the dealer and contact him/her. I assume you will not be satisfied with the response so ask for the next person in line, etc. until you reach someone who will take responsibility for the problem. Tell whoever you speak to that you are already telling folks on-line how poorly LS is treating you and how your tractor is not a good choice for potential customers because of LS's response.

Do you have a personal attorney? If so ask him to write a letter to LS threatening legal action for your time and the lost value of the tractor because of their failure to repair it.

Basically you need to be as big a PIA to LS as the tractor has been to you.

Good luck

 

[rScotty]

LS SAYS A REGEN EVERY 2 HOURS IS NORMAL

SNIP

I'm looking for advice on how to move forward. First I need to be able to get the dealer to move forward since LS who is paying for the warranty work says this is NORMAL OPERATION.

Next I see 2 different paths.

1. DPF System has a fault
2. DPF system working normally, tractor producing too much soot

Comments?

I just noticed your post and know I'm coming in late. I did read through the previous posts but didn't find an answer - only speculation.

I like your two questions. The only solution that I can see that answers both questions is to simply measure the soot. That shouldn't be too hard. Any shop mechanic can probably do so. And LS must have done so many times developing their regen system. They must have developed a procedure for their mechanics to use.

If you can't get help from your dealer and LS directly then I'd go to the regulatory agency. Ask the EPA how to proceed.
rScotty

 

[DavisHollow]

Someone else suggested this, but to reiterate, there is a manual regen switch. Maybe it’s bad and requesting regens when you hit a bump. Unplug the switch for a while.