Ford F-150 (2018 year). Manual - part 48

Typical Diesel Exhaust Fluid Usage
When Using the Power Take Off (PTO)

Continuous PTO use—Minimal PTO use

0–7,800 mi (0–12,550 km)

Contaminated Diesel Exhaust
Fluid or Inoperative Selective
Catalytic Reduction System

Selective catalytic reduction systems are
sensitive to contamination of the diesel
exhaust fluid. Maintaining the purity of the
fluid is important to avoid system
malfunctions. If you remove or drain the
diesel exhaust fluid tank, do not use the
same fluid to refill the tank. The system
has a sensor to monitor fluid quality.

E163176

A warning lamp illuminates and
a message appears in the
information display if the system

becomes contaminated or inoperative.

Continued driving without replacing diesel
exhaust fluid or having the selective
catalytic reduction system repaired results
in the following actions as required by the
California Air Resources Board (CARB) and
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA):
•

Within a preset distance to empty,
speed is limited upon vehicle restart.
Prior to this occurring a message
appears in the information display.

•

Further vehicle operation without
replacing contaminated diesel exhaust
fluid causes the engine to enter an
idle-only condition. This only occurs
upon vehicle refueling, vehicle idling in
park for 1 hour, or engine shutdown for
10 minutes or more and is indicated by
a message in the information display
indicating required actions to resume
normal operation.

Note: For vehicle speed limiting or idle-only
condition, normal vehicle operation resumes
when you repair the contaminated system.
To service a contaminated or inoperative
system, see an authorized dealer.

DIESEL PARTICULATE FILTER

The filter forms part of the emissions
reduction system on your vehicle. It filters
harmful diesel particulates (soot) from the
exhaust gas.

Regeneration

WARNING

Do not park or idle your vehicle over
dry leaves, dry grass or other
combustible materials. The

regeneration process creates very high
exhaust gas temperatures and the exhaust
will radiate a considerable amount of heat
during and after regeneration and after you
have switched the engine off. This is a
potential fire hazard.

Note: Avoid running out of fuel.

Note: During regeneration at low speed or
engine idle, you may smell a hot metallic
odor and could notice a clicking metallic
sound. This is due to the high temperatures
reached during regeneration and is normal.

Note: Changes in the engine or exhaust
sound may be heard during the regeneration
process.

The diesel particulate filter on your vehicle
requires periodic regeneration to maintain
its correct function. Your vehicle will carry
out this process automatically.

If your journeys meet one of the following
conditions:
•

You drive only short distances.

•

You frequently switch the ignition on
and off.

•

Your journeys contain a high level of
acceleration and deceleration.

You must carry out occasional trips with
the following conditions to assist the
regeneration process:
•

Drive your vehicle in more favorable
conditions, which you will find at higher
vehicle speeds in normal driving, on a
main road or freeway for a minimum
of 20 minutes. This drive may include
short stops that will not affect the
regeneration process.

•

Avoid prolonged idling and always
observe speed limits and road
conditions.

•

Do not switch the ignition off.

•

Select a suitable gear to ideally
maintain engine speed between 1500
and 3000 RPM.

Oxidation Catalytic Converter and
Diesel Particulate Filter System

 (If

Equipped)

WARNING

The normal operating temperature
of the exhaust system is very high.
Never work around or attempt to

repair any part of the exhaust system until
it has cooled. Use special care when
working around the diesel oxidation
catalytic converter or the diesel particulate
filter. The diesel oxidation catalytic
converter and the diesel particulate filter
heat up to very high temperatures after
only a short period of engine operation and
remain hot after you switch the engine off.

Your vehicle has a diesel particulate filter.
The diesel particulate filter is an inline filter
in the exhaust system that reduces carbon
emissions by trapping exhaust particles
before they reach the tailpipe. The diesel
particulate filter looks similar to a
traditional exhaust catalyst and is part of
the exhaust system under your vehicle. The
filter couples to a diesel oxidation catalyst
that reduces the amount of harmful
exhaust emitted from the tailpipe. As soot
gathers in the system, it begins to restrict
the filter. The system must periodically
clean the soot that gathers inside the filter.
This is carried out in two ways, passive
regeneration and active regeneration. Both
methods occur automatically and require
no actions from the driver. During either
one of these regeneration methods, you
may notice a change in exhaust tone. At
certain times, the information display
shows various messages related to the
diesel particulate filter.  See Information
Messages (page 122).

Diesel Particulate Filter Maintenance

You must properly maintain your vehicle's
diesel particulate filter in order for it to
function properly.

Do not disregard maintenance messages
that appear in the information display.
Failure to follow the instructions of an
information message may degrade vehicle
performance and could lead to engine
damage that may not be covered by the
vehicle Warranty.

Failure to perform active or operator
commanded regeneration when instructed
could result in a clogged diesel particulate
filter. If the diesel particulate filter fills
beyond the regeneration threshold, your
vehicle disables the ability for active and
operator commanded regeneration. This
could result in irreversible damage to the
diesel particulate filter requiring
replacement that may not be covered by
the vehicle Warranty.

Passive Regeneration

In passive regeneration, the exhaust
system temperature and constituents
automatically clean the filter by oxidizing
the soot. Cleaning automatically occurs
during normal vehicle operating conditions
due to driving patterns.

Active Regeneration

Once the diesel particulate filter is full of
exhaust particles, the engine control
module commands the exhaust system to
clean the filter through active regeneration.
Active regeneration requires the engine
computer to raise the exhaust temperature
to eliminate the particles. During cleaning,
the particles convert to harmless gasses.
Once cleaned the diesel particulate filter
continues trapping exhaust particles.

The regeneration process operates more
efficiently when you drive your vehicle at
a constant speed above 30 mph
(48 km/h) and at a steady engine speed
for approximately 20 minutes. The
frequency and duration of regeneration
fluctuates by how you drive your vehicle,
outside air temperature and altitude. For
most driving, regeneration frequency varies
from 100–500 mi (160–805 km) between
occurrences and each occurrence lasts
9–35 minutes. You can usually reduce the
duration of regeneration if you maintain a
constant speed above 30 mph (48 km/h).

When the engine control module detects
that the diesel particulate filter is nearly
full of particulates and you are not
operating your vehicle in a manner to allow
effective automatic regeneration,
messages appear in the information
display as a reminder for you to drive your
vehicle in order to clean the diesel
particulate filter. If you drive your vehicle
in a manner to allow effective automatic
regeneration, the information display

shows a cleaning exhaust filter message,
which is the normal regeneration process.
You can also choose operator commanded
regeneration to clean the exhaust system
at this point.  See Information Messages
(page 122).

If you are not able to drive in a manner that
allows effective automatic active
regeneration or you choose to perform
regeneration of the diesel particulate filter
while at idle, then operator commanded
regeneration would need to be performed.

Operator Commanded Regeneration
(If Equipped)

If your vehicle is operated with significant
stationary operation, low speed drive
cycles less than 25 mph (40 km/h), short
drive cycles, a drive time is less than 10 -
15 minutes or the vehicle does not fully
warm up, passive and active regeneration
may not sufficiently clean the diesel
particulate filter system. Operator
commanded regeneration allows you to
manually start regeneration of the diesel
particulate filter at idle to clean the filter.
If you are not sure whether your vehicle has
this feature, contact an authorized dealer.

When to Carry Out Operator Commanded
Regeneration

You can use the operator commanded
regeneration feature when a message
appears in the information display and you
are not able to drive in a manner that
allows effective automatic active
regeneration or if you choose to manually
start the regeneration of the diesel
particulate filter manually while the vehicle
is idle.  See Information Messages (page
122).

Operator Commanded Regeneration
Precautions and Safe Exhaust Position

WARNINGS

Do not park or idle your vehicle over
dry leaves, dry grass or other
combustible materials. The

regeneration process creates very high
exhaust gas temperatures and the exhaust
will radiate a considerable amount of heat
during and after regeneration and after you
have switched the engine off. This is a
potential fire hazard.

Stay clear of the exhaust tailpipe
during regeneration. Hot exhaust
gases can burn you badly.

Make sure that the louvers located at the
tip of the exhaust are clear of any
obstructions as they are used to introduce
fresh air into the tailpipe to cool the
exhaust gases as they leave the exhaust
system.

Before you start operator commanded
regeneration, do the following:
•

Shift into park (P) and apply the
parking brake, on stable, level ground.

•

Park your vehicle outside of any
structure.

•

Park your vehicle 10–15 ft (3–5 m)
away from any obstructions and away
from materials that can easily combust
or melt, for example paper, leaves,
petroleum products, fuels, plastics and
other dry organic material.

•

Make sure there is a minimum of 1/8
tank of fuel.

•

Make sure all fluids are at proper levels.

How to Start Operator Commanded
Regeneration

WARNING

Stay clear of the exhaust tailpipe
during regeneration. Hot exhaust
gases can burn you badly.

Note: You cannot use the operator
commanded regeneration until the diesel
particulate filter load percentage has
reached 100%. The diesel particulate filter
load percentage fluctuates up and down
when driving your vehicle due to active and
passive regenerations.

Note: During the use of operator
commanded regeneration, you may observe
a light amount of white smoke. This is
normal.

You may not be able to use
operator commanded
regeneration if the service engine

soon warning lamp appears in the
information display

Information Display Procedure

Start with your vehicle engine and when it
has reached the normal operating
temperature, press the information display
control button on the steering wheel.  See
Information Display Control (page 85).
If a message advising that the exhaust
filter is full appears in the information
display, press the OK button as instructed.
Answer yes to this prompt and then follow
the next prompts regarding the exhaust
position required to initiate operator
commanded regeneration. Be sure to
understand each prompt. If you are not
sure what is being asked by each prompt,
contact an authorized dealer. The display
confirms the operation has started and
when it has finished.