F250 question

[millvalleyca]

Hi fellow F250 owners
I just had my 2008 F250 (diesel) 10,000 mile service done.
Driving from MV to LA I got this message dash
"cleaning exhaust filter".
I can't find this message anywhere in the owner's manual.
Any ideas before I call the service department on Monday?
Thanks
Dennis

[overlander63]

Cleaning Exhaust Filter? - Diesel Forum - The Diesel Stop.com

[TBSarfari28]

Dennis
I am sure you know that your 2008 F250 is equipted with an exhaust system that has a DOC(diesel oxidation catalyst) and DPF(diesel particulate filter). The message is most likely indicating that the system is in a regeneration cycle, burning off the collected PM(particlate matter) collected in the DPF. Has the vehicle lost any power? If so the filter(DPF) maybe plugged with ash and other exhaust by-products. I am sure your vehicle still has low mileage and the PDF should not be plugged yet, unless you are having engine problems or if you are using the wrong engine oil. Check your owners manuaql for the correct oil classification, most use CJ4 oil. When you had it serviced did the service facility use the correct oil?
Good Luck
Tom

[millvalleyca]

Thanks Tom and Terry
So it's a "self clean" function"!
No lost of power...drove 1,000 miles and it performed great.
I assume they used the corect oil....Ford dealer where I bought the truck....
Dennis

[flyfisher]

Ford has (or very recently had, if it is still not in effect) a customer satisfaction program (something like a non-mandatory recall) to do a reflash on the 6.4's. You should have gotten a letter in the mail about this program. Your dealer may have done this reflash when you had your 10,000 mile service done.

This reflash results in the "cleaning exhaust filter" message during the period when your DPF is regenerating. Before this reflash, the message may not have shown during regen, or it may have been shown only briefly, depending on what Job number your truck was during the model year. (My 2008 F450 is Job #3, and this message on my truck was shown very briefly during regen.)

The regen occurs automatically whenever your DPF filter needs cleaning. Ford also says that when regen is occurring, you should continue to drive your truck at a minimum speed of (as I recall) 35mph, and it may take approx 20 minutes. Prior to this most recent reflash, I think Ford said you could shut down your engine during regen, and then restart it later.

Consult your dealer, or Ford for more specifics.

John

[henw]

When mine regenerated I had no idea what was going on. Lots of smoke blew out the exhaust for a couple of minutes.

Tom

[thecatsandi]

Originally Posted by millvalleyca

Hi fellow F250 owners
I just had my 2008 F250 (diesel) 10,000 mile service done.
Driving from MV to LA I got this message dash
"cleaning exhaust filter".
I can't find this message anywhere in the owner's manual.
Any ideas before I call the service department on Monday?
Thanks
Dennis

Dennis,
I would not worry. I got a check engine light around 40,000 miles. The truck was running fine. It seems it is programmed into the computer to trigger the light to re-program the computer once the engine is broken in.

[rtaylor537]

Dennis,
Be sure to go to the Ford Enthusiasts Forum. If you submit your VIN number some industrious soul will get you a print out (emailed to you) of all the information about your truck; service records, customer satisfaction bulletins and so on.
You will also note all the threads on the 6.4.
I have a 2008 F 250 and when the DFP (Cleaning Exhaust) is working there is white smoke emitted. Gets on the front of the Airstream but blows off like white ash in a fireplace. It will regenerate as frequently as needed depending on your driving habits.

[DFord79]

To put it in simple terms Ford now wants you to know when its cleaning the exaust filters. You do not have to alter your driving hadbits when in regen mode.

IMPORTANT: Use high quality brand name (Chevron, shell, Texaco etc. NOT JOE BLOW CUTRATE DIESEL) diesel at a station or that has volume sales AND the same for oil in the crankcase.

Reflashes are common in todays car/truck world and mostly are to improve performance. My 1994 thunderbird just got a reflash and the motor has NEVER run better and the transmission shifts better than when it was new.

Transmission fluids are very very very,,, did I say very specialized. Each manufacturer has a special fluid for, in some cases, each transmission they make. BE VERY CAFEFULL what you use when draining the tranny for a refill.