6.7 POWERSTROKE DPF DELETE PROBLEMS
Let’s start at the beginning
Most of the time, people are removing their DPF’s due to the cost of maintenance and repairs with the DPF systems.
DPF systems should not require intervention under perfect conditions. Granted, we don’t live in a perfect world, but few actually take the time to review these potential causes before going to the extreme lengths of removing the DPF.
If you’re looking for more information regarding basic failures of the DPF, start here:
Common DPF Faults (P224B Code | P2002 DPF Filter)
So if you can solve or prevent the dramas from happening, is it really worth removing the DPF?
FUEL Mileage
Yep, this one is a common one and something we hear quite a bit. If the vehicle is passively regenerating (as in you drive on a highway where the exhaust temp itself is enough to burn out the exhaust) then the impact on fuel consumption is really very small…
In fact, for every 3-4kpa back pressure from the exhaust, you’ll typically see a 1% decrease in power. It’s for this reason that many manufacturers limit the increase to around 1o kpa. Usually, active regeneration will start around 6 kpa.
The cost of the ACTIVE regeneration (the amount of fuel dumped into the exhaust to burn it off) has not been calculated in the above. Must be said however, that a vehicle that spends sufficient time at highway speeds will see Passive Regeneration take effect negating the real need for the active regeneration anyway. This type of regeneration is the best as it’s effectively free.
Power Limitation:
Hardly any. Certainly not enough to be noticed by the driver. The below video was taken on a car that was in good condition before they started. So it goes without saying that if you have issues or a blocked DPF then the results will be
different. This is a video from my homeland (Australia) where the local 4wd channel back to back tested the situation.
Service Costs
The car will be much cheaper to operate with the DPF removed?!?!
This is completely false. Whilst there might be some very marginal changes to fuel economy and so forth, if the car is properly maintained, there will be a very small / no change in actual service costs of the car.
Breakdown Repair Costs:
We will totally concede some points here. The addition of downstream Diesel Emissions Systems such as Catalysts and DPF filters will totally add significant repair or replacement costs under SOME breakdown situations – such as failed Turbocharger, EGR cooler or any other failure where we’ll be sending contaminants down the exhaust system.
BUT – there is still some hope here in that this is the type of repairs that we specialise in. Oil soaked your DPF filter? No need to spend thousands on replacements when we can remanufacture that filter for $499.
Here are some of the more common arguments.
Here’s the 6.7 PowerStroke DPF Delete Problems:
1. LEGAL ISSUES
So lets deal with the MASSIVE elephant in the room first – the legal implications of removing the DPF is pretty massive.
Heres the actual law for a consumer:
Section:
“203(a)(3) of the CAA makes it unlawful for: “(A) any person to remove or render inoperative any device or element of design installed on or in a motor vehicle or motor vehicle engine in compliance with regulations under [Title II of the CAA] prior to its sale and delivery to the ultimate purchaser, or for any person knowingly to remove or render inoperative any such device or element of design after such sale and distribution to the ultimate purchaser;”
Ok, so what’s it actually mean to you?
$2500 fine if found, and the vehicle will need to be returned to the correct state.
Therefore, after you paid all the money to have the modifications / DPF removal done, you’ll now need to pay to have it all put back on. That’s a lot of money wasted on top of the $2500 you’ve already paid in the fine.
Breakdown Repair Costs:
We will totally concede some points here. The addition of downstream Diesel Emissions Systems such as Catalysts and DPF filters will totally add significant repair or replacement costs under SOME breakdown situations – such as failed Turbocharger, EGR cooler or any other failure where we’ll be sending contaminants down the exhaust system.
BUT – there is still some hope here in that this is the type of repairs that we specialise in. Oil soaked your DPF filter? No need to spend thousands on replacements when we can remanufacture that filter for $499.
Here are some of the more common arguments.
Conclusion
Providing you have a capable mechanic able to quickly and accurately diagnose DPF problems, then there really is very little reason that actually warrants the removal of the DPF. And, if you consider these minor potential wins in light of the massive fines that may actually come with it, then we believe its a simple decision.
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