Fleet Management News & Business Info | Commercial Carrier Journal
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/85369
highway vehicles. Any condition that helps maintain proper airfl ow into the engine or optimizes the injection system will help extend mileage and hours between cleanings by minimiz- ing exhaust soot. To optimize DPF cleaning intervals, Before and after the DPF "With a lot of idling or local service, you'll see shorter intervals." –WheelTime's Bob Giguere tional maintenance interval: servicing the diesel particulate filter. Cleaning the filter element removes accumulated engine oil ash, particularly for heavy- to-severe-duty trucks in high-idle on-/ off-road applica- tions. While ash in the DPF typically remains loose, a small amount of carbon may adhere tightly to the DPF's ceramic A walls, forming gooey or even hard deposits, especially if the engine is not operating properly. While thorough cleaning may result in better fuel economy and more miles, inadequate cleaning can compro- mise the fi lter's life and warranty. But simply learning when to clean is not enough; know the cleaning procedure and the vendors for an effective plan. When to clean Ash doesn't burn, so it has to be removed from the DPF mechanically 66 COMMERCIAL CARRIER JOURNAL | APRIL 2012 ny truck built in 2007 and later requires an addi- when it impedes exhaust fl ow, a condi- tion indicated by a backpressure light on the dash. But most experts believe drivers shouldn't wait for a warning light. First, determine the duty cycle. "Under ideal conditions in over-the- road service, you can go 300,000 miles, but with a lot of idling or local service, you'll see shorter intervals," says Bob Giguere, product support manager at Inland Power Group of the Wheel- Time truck service network. Giguere recommends following manufactur- ers' recommended intervals for DPFs operated under favorable conditions. What's favorable? The amount of oil consumed and engine hours are both primary factors, says Giguere. A major reason for clogging is ash from burned oil, and idling engines use more oil because the piston rings work less effectively. Idling also means poor combustion of fuel and more soot, poten- tially fouling the DPF. On-/off-road and heavy-haul operations put the engine in high load conditions more often than pay attention to: testing, with intake air hose main- tenance to minimize charge air leakage; and including adding injector cleaners and having injectors replaced or reworked as necessary. Operate the engine at an appropri- ate rpm, normally at or above peak torque, when running continuously in heavily loaded full-throttle situations. "A driver needs to pay attention to an increase in the frequency of active fi lter, rendering the exhaust exiting the fi lter clean. ramic honeycomb material inside the enters the DPF, and soot is trapped on the coated ce- exhaust Dirty ➧