Once the “Drive to Clean Exhaust Filter”
message is displayed, operator attention
is required. Conditions such as idling
can be tolerated for up to four hours,
once this message is displayed. If this
message is ignored, your vehicle is being
operated in a manner that will continue
to fill the DPF. As a result, the DPF may
become full of particles. If this occurs,
the “Reduced Engine Power” light
will illuminate and engine power
will be limited. Your message center
will also display “Reduced Engine
Power”. The engine control module will
continue to attempt to clean the filter.
If the filter cannot be cleaned, the
“Service Engine Soon” light will
be illuminated and engine power will be
further limited. Dealer service will then
be required to restore your vehicle to
full power operation. If the DPF needs to be serviced or
replaced, the “Service Engine Soon”
light and/or “Reduced Engine
Power” light will illuminate in the
instrument cluster. Take your vehicle to
your authorized Ford dealer for service.
If the vehicle is brought to an idle during
the regeneration process, the operator
may notice an increase in engine idle
speed and engine tone. This is normal
and due to the DPF being cleaned.
After about five minutes of continuous
idle, the regeneration process will
be discontinued and there may be a
noticeable change in engine sound.
messages displayed with extended idle operation
DRIVE TO CLEAN EXHAUST FILTER
•
Directs the vehicle operator to drive the vehicle above
30 mph (48 km/h) for at least 20 minutes continuously
• Message will continue to be displayed until adequate drive
cycle is completed
• This is a NORMAL message
CLEANING EXHAUST
FILTER
• Informs the vehicle operator that he or she has entered
the cleaning mode through appropriate driving conditions
• This is a NORMAL message
EXHAUST FILTER DRIVE COMPLETE
• Informs the vehicle operator that he or she has completed
an adequate drive cycle in order to clean the DPF
• Will be a short four (4) second display in the Message Center
• This is a NORMAL message
The diesel particulate filter (DPF), an
inline filter in the exhaust system, reduces
carbon emissions by trapping exhaust
particles before they reach the tailpipe.
The DPF looks similar to a traditional
exhaust catalyst, except larger, and is part
of the exhaust system under the vehicle.
Once the DPF is full of these particles, the
engine control module will command the
exhaust system to clean the DPF through
a process called regeneration.
Regeneration requires the engine computer
to raise the exhaust temperature to
eliminate the particles. During cleaning, the
particles are converted to harmless gasses,
and the DPF will then be clean and ready
to continue trapping exhaust particles.
The regeneration process operates more
efficiently when the vehicle is safely
operated at least 30 mph (48 km/h)
with a steady pedal for approximately
20 minutes to complete the process. The frequency and duration of regeneration
will fluctuate as both are determined by
how you drive your vehicle, outside air
temperature, and altitude. For most driving,
regeneration frequency will vary from
100 - 668 miles (161 - 1075 km) between
occurrences and each occurrence will
last from 10 - 40 minutes. The duration
of regeneration is usually reduced if a
constant speed above 30 mph (48 km/h)
is maintained.
When the engine control module detects
that the DPF is nearly full of particulates
and that the vehicle is not being operated
in a manner to allow effective automatic
cleaning, the Message Center (located in
the instrument cluster) will display several
messages guiding the vehicle operator
to drive to clean the DPF. If the vehicle is
operated in a manner to allow effective
automatic cleaning, the Message Center
will display “Cleaning Exhaust Filter”, which
is the normal regeneration process.
