It’s 2010, and you have finally bought yourself that shiny new 3/4 ton Diesel-powered monster that you have wanted since you can remember. You couldn’t be happier. Skip ahead ten years, and your faithful friend is starting to show its age. The Dodge exhaust is rattling, The Chevy’s transmission is having trouble shifting, and the Ford bed rusts onto the road (In Pennsylvania, at least). However, one thing that all of these trucks will have in common at some point in their lifespan is their emissions system issues.
General maintenance is always the best course of action for any vehicle. Since 2010 the EPA has tightened its grip on the diesel industry by requiring DEF (Diesel Exhaust Fluid) to be installed on most diesel-based cars and trucks. It has since become essential to think about the long game when thinking about emissions systems.
Here at Pittsburgh Power, we have partnered with DPF alternatives to alleviate some of our customers’ emissions-based worries. DPF alternatives is a franchise that offers a unique filter cleaning service that has the potential to save any diesel engine owner thousands of dollars.
This last week, our staff has had the opportunity to step out of their wheelhouse and work on something we thought was impossible to service until recently—a Ford F-250 with SCR (selective catalyst reduction).
In this case, complete removal of the exhaust system was required, as the filters were welded together. The initial issue that brought this truck into the shop was emissions codes, and when cut open and inspected, it is not hard to see why. With the DPF (Diesel Particulate Filter) being this heavily blocked by ash, this customer’s codes were triggered by high exhaust temps, high NOx (Nitrogen Oxide) readings, and almost nonexistent flow.