Diesel question

[luvlabs]

Some states mandate biodiesel (I think Illinois is one of them) and most of the stations that tend to the large over-the-road diesels might only sell biodiesel. What makes biodiesel different is that it is a better solvent than dino diesel. This will impact you as you first change over as biodiesel will scrub your tank and fuel lines clean - and usually result in fuel filter changes more frequently than normal.

Do you have to switch to biodiesel? Nothing forcing you to do so except availability of dino diesel in your area.

[dix39]

Thanks for the clarification Roger. It would seem that things are pretty much the way they were when we made our last diesel powered cross country trip two Summers ago. Getting dino diesel wasn't a problem then. We now have a gasoline powered MH, but I keep thinking I would like to go back to diesel. More regulation with the associated problems could change that notion.

Thanks again.

Steve

[luvlabs]

Steve,

The diesel pollution abatement system has been in use around the globe for 15-20 years. It isn't mystery, it works well, and our diesels run better with it. Do you even think about the pollution control system in your car and your gas motorhome anymore? No, just stick the key in the ignition and go.

[dix39]

I have to say I was probably a polluter as my first diesel was from the '60s and the second '89. If I did get another it would probably be a Cummins from the mid '90s because I am familiar with these engines and can work on them. I just wondered what restrictions had been placed on them.

Thanks for all the info.

Steve

[oldgrizz]

I spent many years as a fleet manager for a large trucking company. We had both the high egr systems and later on the DEF system
The EGR system was a major headache with countless EGR cooler failures.
This was on Cummins , International and Volvo engines.
With the DEF systems the common failure was and is the DEF pump.
Also the Filter needs to be removed and sent out to be burnt off occasionally but probably an average motorhome owner would never take many many years to put on enough mileage.
One other common problem with high hp engines using EGR systems in a motorhome is getting the engine to run hot enough it does not take 600 hp to push a motorhome. Those engines are designed for trucks pulling 90000 lbs.
A truck dealer I know we'll told me he had lots of motorhomes in his shop with plugged exhaust filters because the engine had not run hot enough and they had regeneration failures
He felt bad for the owners because the cost to replace the filters runs into the thousands of dollars and warranty does not cover all the failures
One owner had cancelled many Regenerations so he got stuck with the bill.

[16Renegade]

I have a 2016 Sprinter purchased with 7700 miles. It was 90 days over the 1st service and I had my local RV service guy change the oil and filters. Now I can't get the "overdue service indicator" to reset. Watched Youtubes and they don't help. It is a 2016 with steering wheel buttons. Any idea's? Thanks

[saddlesore]

Originally Posted by saddlesore

I concur,
This summer will be replacing all the fuel lines for the engine,gen set & Aqua-Hot due to fuel lines deterioration.

Edit to clarify..
Our coach was built before the advent of the egr/def/Bio-fuel era .
The fuel lines were mfg'd for the standard (non Bio) diesel.
The new low sulfur & bio fuels require a different rubber/plastic blend in the fuel lines and "O" ring seals of fuel pumps.

Our fuel lines & fuel pump(s) have deteriorated, so have replaced the pump(s) and the fuel lines are next... no big deal if you coach is like ours and have a clear "tunnel" that the fuel lines/electrical cables and air lines can be easily accessed.

[tyndas]

Diesel owners
Husband and I are looking at a 2009 Four Winds Siesta Dodge Sprinter 24 SB Mercedes engine. It does not have DEF tank. There are 28,184 miles. We are concerned about deteriorating fuel lines. What should we be looking for? Are there noticeable signs? What questions should we be asking? Anyone have any idea about fair market value?

[Steve Ownby]

Originally Posted by tyndas

Diesel owners
Husband and I are looking at a 2009 Four Winds Siesta Dodge Sprinter 24 SB Mercedes engine. It does not have DEF tank. There are 28,184 miles. We are concerned about deteriorating fuel lines. What should we be looking for? Are there noticeable signs? What questions should we be asking? Anyone have any idea about fair market value?

I really don't think you need to be worrying about the fuel lines. An '09 is reasonably modern and ULSD was the law of the land before it was born. It has a diesel particulate filter but DEF wasn't on diesels before 2010.

My diesel was build in late '02 and it has over 100k on the odometer. No problems with ULSD or bio diesel. Very little reason for concern with a vehicle of this vintage.

[Mooneypaul]

16 Renegade. Take your rig to a Mercedes dealer that services Sprinters. They will reset. While you are there have them update the engine ECU. There have been a lot of updates.

[xrated]

Originally Posted by S Bradley

Yes to all your questions.
This going to be the norm from now on, if we want to use a diesel we are going to be stuck with the pollution systems. The best we can hope for is that they figure out how to do it better.
Just a little info. DPF helps with the EGR issues. DEF on the Sprinters began 2010 or 2011 I can't remember. Prior to DEF/DPF the EGR was a major source of issues, the DPF takes some of the load off the EGR.

If you are thinking of going to an older vehicle with diesel, the Government has hosed that too Biodiesel. Biodiesel creates different issues. Fuel lines deteriorating, scouring the fuel tank, clogging fuel filters, and oil contamination.
The newer diesels have corrected the fuel line issues which helps with the clogging fuel filter, but the other issues are still remain especially at high percentages.

If I am reading what you wrote, correctly, you are implying that the DEF is somehow helping with EGR issues. I'll be the first to admit, I don't know much about Diesel engines, but on the Ford Trucks with the diesel engines, the DEF is injected into the exhaust area way after the engine/EGR area....as in the muffler/SCR system (Selective Catalytic Reduction. This is to help reduce the NOx emissions that come from a Diesel engine.

[BrianGlenn]

Originally Posted by xrated

If I am reading what you wrote, correctly, you are implying that the DEF is somehow helping with EGR issues. I'll be the first to admit, I don't know much about Diesel engines, but on the Ford Trucks with the diesel engines, the DEF is injected into the exhaust area way after the engine/EGR area....as in the muffler/SCR system (Selective Catalytic Reduction. This is to help reduce the NOx emissions that come from a Diesel engine.

EGR and DEF are both methods to reduce NOX in the tailpipe. EGR was first and the amount of exhaust gas recycled to the engine intake to reduce emissions increased from 2002-4ish to 2010ish. This was to meet increasing NOX emissions limits (lower). With the addition of DEF, the amount of EGR can be reduced to allow more NOX to be catalytically reduced with DEF and SCR, rather than EGR.

I could not find where DPF reduces the load on EGR in the video; I do not agree DPF reduces load on EGR; two different functions. DPF removes/reduces diesel particulate matter, EGR reduces NOX.

Brian

[Steve Ownby]

Originally Posted by xrated

If I am reading what you wrote, correctly, you are implying that the DEF is somehow helping with EGR issues. I'll be the first to admit, I don't know much about Diesel engines, but on the Ford Trucks with the diesel engines, the DEF is injected into the exhaust area way after the engine/EGR area....as in the muffler/SCR system (Selective Catalytic Reduction. This is to help reduce the NOx emissions that come from a Diesel engine.

The subject of DPF (started with '07 engines) and DEF (started with '10 engines) gets muddled sometimes. They are different systems that address different issues. They were introduced at different times and these systems (including EGR) are additive. Later systems have not replaced earlier systems. The use of DEF has reduced the load on the EGR however. Both systems are designed to reduce oxides of Nitrogen. The EGR does it internally in the engine and the DEF does it outside the engine in the exhaust. When DEF was introduced, the EGR system was "detuned" so it doesn't play as big a role in NOX reduction as it once did. This is why, with the introduction of the '10 production Diesel engines, the HP rating of most engines went up.

[S Bradley]

________________
Steve Ownby
Is correct, a horse power increase, DPF ox is reduced in tail pipe.
I have noticed over time that the reported EGR problems since the introduction of DPF appears to be a lower incidence, could be other factors involved or just coincidental. DPF introduced other issues, DEF and related systems there are no free rides.