I'm actually happy everyone has to deal with diesel regen issue's. Welcome to my world. Now everyone can see how ridiculous this whole thing has become. Confusing warning lights,unavaliable parts,software issues, dealer only repairs,software updates,recalls. You think it's any easier for a truck driver to pull over on the interstate and have to do a regen? What's good for the goose is good for the gander. One more thing, DON'T buy a CAT. We run both CAT and CUMMINS here and CAT just plain sucks.

Are these regen cycles only for DPF equipped engines?
Did urea injection get rid of this nuisance?

We have two DPF equipped PowerStrokes at work and they do their exhaust cleaning cycles
while out on the road and have never left us stuck on the side of the road.

Are these regen cycles only for DPF equipped engines?
Did urea injection get rid of this nuisance?

We have two DPF equipped PowerStrokes at work and they do their exhaust cleaning cycles
while out on the road and have never left us stuck on the side of the road.

Didn't CAT quit the ORT Engine Sales?

Since we're linking stuff:

http://www.forbes.com/2010/06/08/califo ... strom.html

How did George Burns live to be 100? He smoked cigars since he was about 16. And how about that global warming science.

Emergency vehicles should have had an exemption. That would have solved the problem.

The original article and this thread are both inaccurate and inflammatory. Blaming the government and academic research institutions for this issue is simply political grandstanding. There is a very solid body of research showing that diesel particulates are known carcinogens [1], and the EPA only mandates maximum exhaust particulate levels. The EPA has nothing to do with the specific DPF systems that manufacturers have developed, except to verify that they meet the particulate exhaust levels.

Developed nations around the world have instituted maximum exhaust particulate levels similar to the EPA's (some are more strict). If you have ever spent much time somewhere that does not have particulate control measures in place, you will certainly appreciate them back at home. Many South American and Asian cities are great examples of why we have the standards here. In addition to the visible filth of the air (a white shirt will turn a shade of brown within one day outside), these place have MUCH higher than levels of respiratory illness [2][3], allergies, asthma, emphysema, and lung cancer than we have here.

As I mentioned, it is left up to the manufacturers as to how they choose to meet the particulate standards. There are many different types of DPF's and different regeneration mechanisms. Not all of them require a "timeout" during the regen process. In addition, there are even single-use (disposable) DPF's for use in applications where regeneration is simply not possible (hazardous atmosphere like mines). The blame placed on the government in the original article is a load of hogwash. The blame should be put squarely on the truck manufacturers and apparatus implementers for choosing a poor DPF design for a mission-critical application. There should also be a dose of blame on the purchasers (F.D's) of this equipment for not doing their due diligence in researching the DPF issue prior to buying the trucks. For them to complain now that its the government's fault is incredibly disingenuous. I think the article is nothing more than some people whining about their buyer's remorse.

[1] http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/ntp/roc/eleven ... 69dies.pdf
[2] http://www.bvsde.paho.org/bvsea/fulltext/ilabaca.pdf
[3] http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/17/4/733.full

X2 we do not need any pro Gooberment theories around here. Lets blame the Manufacturer for DPF problems, it is all their fault, has nothing to do with tree huggers or the communist regimes controlling America for the last 100 years