Exercising a diesel engine

[DC8Captain]

I'm considering buying a 3/4 ton diesel truck. I need the turbo diesel because my suburban just isn't cutting the grade and has to sometimes shift into 1st gear climbing hills in the Rockies above 10,000'. While I really need to do this I am concerned about my driving habits and how it relates to diesel engines. Except when we go camping most of my trips around town are pretty short. So how often do I need to run it out on the freeway to keep from having problems from the short trips or is this issue over blown? The one I'm looking at is a Chevy 2500 Silverado with a 6.6 turbo diesel.

[Dan-Phyllis]

The truck will need to perform a regen to clean the diesel particulate filter about once per tank of fuel. It will need to be driven above 30mph for about 30 minutes. I can go about 400 to 450 miles on a tank.

[DC8Captain]

Originally Posted by Dan-Phyllis

The truck will need to perform a regen to clean the diesel particulate filter about once per tank of fuel. It will need to be driven above 30mph for about 30 minutes. I can go about 400 to 450 miles on a tank.

What do you mean by a "regen" or is that the "30mph for about 30 minutes" you mention?

[REWahoo]

Originally Posted by fdhealy4

What do you mean by a "regen" or is that the "30mph for about 30 minutes" you mention?

Burning the accumulated soot from the diesel particulate filter: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diesel...r#Regeneration

This system is found on all 2011 or newer GM diesels.

[ricemanwm]

As others have described, modern diesels have a diesel particulate filter that will go through regeneration cycles every couple of tanks of fuel. Very short trips in town could interrupt this process but no worries, the truck will tell you if this has happened and instruct you to continue driving over 30 mph until the regeneration is complete. I drive a lot in a small town with occasional freeway trips when not towing and I have not had this message displayed but the owners manual describes the process.

Also with any vehicle engine, exclusively driving for very short trips over a period of time where the oil never reaches normal operating temperature will not allow any condensation in the engine to be eliminated. Most engines will reach normal operating temperature fairly quickly and this in only a problem with repeated very short (1-2 mile) trips.

Just my opinion and habit is to make sure at least each tank of fuel I take the truck out on the highway where all normal operating temperatures are reached if I’ve been making a lot of short trips in town. Modern diesels are good about taking care of things and informing you if something is wrong.

[WeRJuliian]

Even modern diesels accumulate unburnt particulates ("soot") in the exhaust line... especially if they are used mostly around town.

The "regeneration" cycle alters the engine tuning to boost the exhaust temperature, which burns off the accumulated particulates.

Actual requirements will vary between vehicles, so see you handbook for details on how far, how fast and how often :-)

[RogerR]

Every manufacturer is a little different. Look up the specific owners manual and look for what they recommend. My 2006 diesel did not use def nor need a regen cycle. But even if it did need 30 for 30 over each tank I would have done it in the normal course of operation.

[Midnightmoon]

If you aren't concerned about buying a new truck, consider a pre-January 1 2007 built diesel. No emission systems to worry about and much more friendly for day to day driving than some of the newer DPF equipped offerings. Just be aware, the pre-emissions diesels are somewhat of a hot commodity and command quite the $$$$$ in the used market if they are in good shape.

[oldmanAZ]

Originally Posted by Midnightmoon

snip... Just be aware, the pre-emissions diesels are somewhat of a hot commodity and command quite the $$$$$ in the used market if they are in good shape.

Our '06 is in GREAT shape! At 350,000mi it's running great, but I worry a bit about it. If it's holding its value, guess I won't be too hasty about replacing it.

Thanks for the info.

[Midnightmoon]

Originally Posted by oldmanAZ

Our '06 is in GREAT shape! At 350,000mi it's running great, but I worry a bit about it. If it's holding its value, guess I won't be too hasty about replacing it.

Thanks for the info.

We just got rid of a '04 Ram 2500 Cummins with 365K on it. It was a plow truck and rotted beyond what we felt was repairable. It went within 2 days of posting it for sale for our asking price (which I thought was too high for the condition of the truck). I probably could have got more if we would have started the price higher.

Anyway, my '07 is still the pre-emission 5.9L Cummins and I will be holding on to it as long as I can. It's still in really good shape.

[in the wind]

Originally Posted by Midnightmoon

Just be aware, the pre-emissions diesels are somewhat of a hot commodity and command quite the $$$$$ in the used market if they are in good shape.

Sold my 2002 Dodge Ram Cummins 2500 for $18000 this last spring. 180K miles.
No emission equipment at all, it had a road draft tube, for those old enough to know what that is.
I had people darn near fighting to buy it.
It was a clean always garaged truck.

[Midnightmoon]

Originally Posted by in the wind

Sold my 2002 Dodge Ram Cummins 2500 for $18000 this last spring. 180K miles.
No emission equipment at all, it had a road draft tube, for those old enough to know what that is.
I had people darn near fighting to buy it.
It was a clean always garaged truck.

I had a 2001 Regular Cab Ram 2500 Cummins. Loved that truck. Unfortunately, I had to trade it for a 4-door as the family grew.

[ALJO]

fdhealy4: if most of your driving is around town I wouldn't invest in a diesel. Diesel are work trucks. You have a 8.1 liter which should be sufficient for pulling. Any truck will go down to a lower gear in the mountains, that's just the way it is. If you constant pulling a trailer then you need a workhorse.