Nov 12

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CARB Exemptions for some Diesel Pickups & Motorhomes

By DES Tech News Emissions Industry Related

CARB exemptions for some RVs & pick-ups article image

CARB Exemptions for some Diesel Pickups & Motorhomes

Truck owners in the state of California are concerned about the California Air Resources Board (CARB) regulation on medium- and heavy-duty diesel vehicles. In the last decade, the state has introduced regulations for diesel vehicles to reduce pollution. However, the law is complex and can be hard to understand. Reading through CARB’s complex, multi-page document to see if it applies to you is certainly cumbersome. At DES, our focus is to help our customers implement retrofits/upgrades to meet CARB emissions regulations.

We sometimes get customers with CARB emissions regulation questions – which we answer if we can. However, if we don’t know the answer, we know someone who does.

A while back a customer reached out to ask whether the CARB Truck and Bus Regulation applies to them. A DES employee shared this story about that customer interaction regarding CARB exemptions:

“Bill called me in a panic because last year he purchased a spotless 2006 F-450 pickup truck to tow his RV.”

“This morning, he read an article about the California Air Resources Board (CARB) regulation on medium and heavy-duty diesel trucks”.

When the customer read about the CARB regulations, he started to panic. According to the article, he was looking at thousands of dollars of repairs, just to keep driving his new-to-him pickup truck.

Many Californian truck owners are having the same reaction. According to the CARB’s overview sheet, larger pickups and even RVs would need a new engine or a retrofitted aftertreatment system to become compliant.

Let’s dive into the regulation to see if this is true for all diesel vehicles in California.

CARB Regulations for Older Vehicles with Diesel Engines

The CARB “Truck and Bus Regulation Compliance Requirement Overview” document states that diesel vehicles over 14,000 pounds can no longer be legally registered after January 1^st, 2023 or earlier without a 2010 or newer engine or an equivalent aftertreatment system.

The purpose of the new regulation is to reduce emissions of diesel particulate matter, NOx, and other pollutants from the use of diesel-powered vehicles. Therefore, the regulation states that diesel vehicles must reduce their emissions, either with a modern engine or an emissions system that will filter out these harmful substances. The deadline is dependent on the vehicle’s engine model year and weight class.

According to the CARB website, the published schedule shows that any 2004-2006 diesel truck can no longer be used in California after January 1^st, 2021, due to not being in compliance with emissions regulations. Trucks like this would either need a new engine or a DPF retrofit if they wanted to remain in use.

“When Bill called us inquiring about the price of a retrofit, as you can imagine, he was not in a good mood.”

The CARB Truck and Bus Diesel Emissions Regulation on medium and heavy-duty diesel engines discusses various retrofit options and replacement schedules, which are listed in the overview sheet below.

CARB Truck and Bus Regulation Compliance Requirement Overview. Last updated: November 30, 2018.

To see the original document published on the CARB website – click here

When it comes to commercial fleets of heavy-duty diesel vehicles, manufacturers and fleet managers have been aware that regulatory deadlines are coming. DES has been servicing commercial vehicles for 15 years, keeping their emissions systems working smoothly. Customers like Bill found the right place for information on retrofits and emissions control systems.

With the right assistance and experienced help, these costs can be avoided.

Exemptions for Private Vehicles Not Clearly Stated

“Everything Bill discovered seemed true for the engines and trucks by both weight class and year,” we discovered, “but there are also a few CARB truck exemptions to the regulation, which are not as easy to find.”

The exemptions are designed to help those with personal vehicles which are not used for commercial or government use.

Nowhere in the overview document published by CARB does it touch on these exemptions for private use vehicles. Thankfully, here at DES we have read the fine print and found these exemptions for some California customers.

Not all truck and RV owners need to comply with the January 1st, 2021 deadline.

After combing through the regulatory code, we found two exemptions for truck and RV users:

California Code of Regulations, Title 13, Division 3, Chapter 1, Article 4.5, section 2025(c)(10) and (12).

Section 2025(c) are the list of “EXEMPTIONS” to the regulation and lines (10) and (12) read as follows:

(10) Motor homes for non-commercial Private use;

(12) ”Trucks with a GVWR of 19,500 lbs or less with a pick-up bed used exclusively for personal, non-commercial, or non-governmental use; and”

This states that both diesel-powered motor homes and diesel-powered pick-up trucks are exempt from the regulation when used for personal use. The CARB regulation is geared mainly toward commercial and government diesel vehicles.

Thankfully, those with personal pickup trucks and RVs will be spared the expense of a retrofit or new engine, for now.

New Regulations Are Expected

2027 is the next significant date where new regulations are anticipated for commercial vehicles. Only time will tell what the regulations will be for privately owned vehicles. We recommend staying up to date with CARB regulations by keeping up with DES industry news articles.

While we can help you find information about regulations, employees at Diesel Emissions Service are NOT consultants and it is always best to check with CARB directly before making your final decision on emissions regulations actions.

They can be reached at (866) 6DIESEL or arb.ca.gov.

Diesel Emissions Service (DES) was established in 2006 to help California businesses meet the strict CARB and EPA emissions regulations placed on diesel trucks. Since then, we have expanded to become an industry leader in diesel emissions on the west coast and throughout the U.S. and Canada. We manufacture and sell DPFs and accessories, as well as clean, service, and retrofit DPF filters. We also have one of the largest replacement OEM inventories in North America. We strive to be knowledgeable and helpful to diesel truck owners in California and beyond.

We hope you found this article about CARB truck exemptions helpful. At DES believe in putting out educational and informative content to not only our customers, but for the general industry to grow and benefit from.

To share this article use one of the social media icons above.

DES is a recognized leader in the diesel emissions industry. We provide a wide range of services for municipalities, fleet operators, and all manner of transportation and construction businesses all across the west coast.

Diesel Emissions Service (DES) is a division of North State Truck Equipment Inc, a family-owned business, who has been providing bus and truck repair solutions since 1978. In 2006, we started focusing on diesel aftertreatment retrofits (DPFs, DOCs, SCRs), troubleshooting, repair, and services to help customers in applying the correct technology for compliance with the growing clean-air regulations. Since that time we have installed more than 15,000 retrofits across the country.

We have four locations in California as well as facilities in Portland, Oregon and Surrey (Vancouver), British Columbia. DES offers a full line of DPFs and DPF accessories through the Redline Emissions Products® brand – including DPFs, DOCs, clamps, gaskets, weld bungs, CACs, sensors, etc at our online superstore. We also carry brands like Durafit, Skyline, Filtertherm® and more.

We’re social, to stay informed follow DES on any or all of these platforms.

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August 29, 2024 in DES News

FAQ – Clean Truck Check – HD I/M Program

In 2024, California is continuing the roll-out of a stricter emissions testing program called Clean Truck Check. To keep non-compliant trucks off the road, emissions testing for diesel vehicles will…

Oct 19

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How to Contain Diesel Emissions Costs?

By DES Tech News Emissions Industry Related

Fleets that operate, maintain, and repair commercial trucks have many expenses. One expense that consistently ranks at the top is diesel emissions systems. Learn how to contain diesel emissions costs.

How to Contain Diesel Emissions costs hero image

When diesel emissions systems were first introduced in 2007 and updated in 2010, vehicle owners relied on the manufacturers’ recommendations. Their costs skyrocketed and this led to a lot of frustration on the part of vehicle owners, especially in the commercial fleet business.

Changing Maintenance Practices to Lower Costs

As time has passed commercial fleets gained more real-world experience with these systems. Fleets are now able to use their own data, as well as data from repair centers like ours, to align maintenance intervals with the everyday working environments their trucks operate in.

Instead of using manufacturers’ recommendations that are really for ideal scenarios and don’t reflect the realities of what their fleets are dealing with on a day-to-day basis, fleets are able to make their own decisions based on solid data.

Jack Roberts wrote an article for HDT about this in 2019, and he quoted some of the fleets’ comments about how they have contained emissions costs. These comments illustrate the importance of adjusting maintenance practices to control costs and basing maintenance and repair decisions on real-world data.

“…We really don’t have a lot of problems with exhaust systems today, generally speaking. But we used to. And the reason we don’t have them today is that we are fundamentally changing our thinking and our procedures to address the problem.”

changing thinking and procedures diesel emissions servicing

“…Batesville, too, is unhitching itself from the OEM recommendations on exhaust maintenance. After investing big money in a DPF cleaning machine, he says, his technicians discovered that if they waited until 300,000 or 400,000 miles to pull the filter and clean it, as recommended by the OEMs, carbon was packed so tightly into the unit that the entire exercise was pointless. Today, he says, his technicians routinely pull DPFs every 100,000 miles for cleanings, which has helped with both maintenance costs and fleet fuel economy averages.”

Addressing Upstream Issues

The other key shift in thinking is to look at the big picture of why emissions issues are happening in the first place. Checking upstream for fluid and exhaust leaks and other issues is vital to avoiding the same emissions failures from just returning which causes more downtime and drives up the total cost of operation.

This quote from the HDT article really emphasizes the point about upstream issues:

“Everything runs downstream, but too many fleets and dealers just replace a part that’s failed and never bother to trace the problem upstream to find out if the problem is being caused by a seemingly unrelated issue.”

trace diesel emissions problems upstream

Many fleets make the mistake of treating the exhaust system as if it’s a self-contained entity that is somehow separate from the rest of the engine. It is not, rather issues with the components in the diesel emissions system are often just the symptom of a problem, not the root cause. Throwing replacement parts at the symptom never addresses the root cause and this strategy leads to much higher repair and maintenance costs in the long term.

A Comprehensive Maintenance Plan

At the Diesel Emissions Service repair shops, we have been performing emissions cleanings and repairs for 15+ years, and our experience agrees with what these fleet managers have discovered.

DES recommends that DPF filters be cleaned yearly or every 75-100k miles. This regular cleaning interval of the diesel particulate filter, which is a serviceable filter and does not need to be replaced every time, keeps the filter from being clogged with soot and ash triggering a fault code putting the vehicle into a derate or limp mode. It will also ensure that the volumetric efficiency of the DPF will keep back pressure to a minimum.

DPFs should be cleaned yearly or every 100k miles

We also focus on getting to the bottom of an issue and evaluating upstream systems based on years of operating full-service diesel repair facilities. You can’t just clean the DPF or replace a diesel particulate filter and expect that the problem is solved without addressing the root cause of the problem.

We recommend that when the DPF is removed for cleaning an opacity test is completed, this will give a quick snapshot of any upstream engine upset conditions. This is key as when the DPF is installed you won’t see any smoke coming out the tailpipe until the DPF has failed.

Large fleet operations can also benefit from having their own cleaning equipment while tracking their emissions metrics and adjusting cleaning/maintenance intervals to their situation. This can drastically cut costs and downtime. With Filtertherm’s new Aqueous DPF Cleaning package, truck downtime can be minimal with DPF services taking under 2 hours to remove, inspect, wash, dry, inspect and re-install. This is a gamechanger for fleets.

Education is an Important Part of Lowering Emissions Costs

At DES we believe in putting out educational and informative content to not only our customers but for the general industry to grow and benefit from.

DES is a recognized leader in the diesel emissions industry. We provide a wide range of services for municipalities, fleet operators, and all manner of transportation and construction businesses across the West Coast.

Diesel Emissions Service (DES) is a division of North State Truck Equipment Inc, a family-owned business, who has been providing bus and truck repair solutions since 1978. In 2006, we started focusing on diesel aftertreatment retrofits (DPFs, DOCs, SCRs), troubleshooting, repair, and services to help customers in applying the correct technology for compliance with the growing clean-air regulations. Since that time, we have sold and installed more than 18,000 aftertreatment devices across the country.

We have two locations in California as well as facilities in Portland, Oregon, and Surrey (Vancouver), British Columbia. DES offers a full line of DPFs and DPF accessories through the Redline Emissions Products® brand – including DPFs, DOCs, clamps, gaskets, weld bungs, CACs, sensors, etc. at our online superstore. We also carry brands like Durafit, Skyline, GESI, Redline Detection, Filtertherm®, and more.

If you would like to schedule an appointment for your commercial truck, contact us today.

We’re social, to stay informed follow DES on any or all of these platforms.

More News

Get the latest on the industry and DES.

August 29, 2024 in DES News

FAQ – Clean Truck Check – HD I/M Program

Sep 08

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How to Clean a Diesel Particulate Filter?

By DES Tech News DES Tech Tips, Emissions Industry Related

The diesel particulate filter is the place where soot and ash collect in your diesel emissions system. If you don’t clean your DPF regularly, it can cost you thousands of dollars in unscheduled downtime and repairs.

Why Do DPFs Need to Be Cleaned?

A DPF (diesel particulate filter) filter is designed to catch & oxidize soot (unburned fuel/lube oil) and turn it into ash. The ash is pushed to the back of the filter and stored there.

Over time it builds up and requires removal. With the cost of some new DPFs soaring to over $7000, routine maintenance is key in all aspects of the DPF. Being proactive in your service intervals will decrease downtime, service expenses and increase proper system operation and profit.

Thus, it’s important to regularly clean and maintain your filters, not only to preserve the functionality of the filter but to save on fuel and protect your engine.

OEM Regeneration

In a perfect world, DPF filters perform their regeneration cycles on the truck. But we don’t live in a perfect world. Excessive idling, cold & severe duty cycles, even a broken exhaust pipe can inhibit regeneration on the truck. History has proven regeneration alone will not deliver consistent results and regular cleaning of DPFs is required.

Also, most leading after-market manufacturers require a baking cycle in addition to de-ashing to properly clean their systems. DES takes the guesswork out of DPF cleaning and maintenance to give you consistent results, every time.

What You Need to Know About DPF Cleaning

There are two primary ways to clean a diesel particulate filter.

Thermal

The thermal cleaning process is also commonly referred to as “bake and blow” and involves baking the DPF filter in an oven which oxidizes the soot and using air to force the ash out of the filter.

Aqueous

This is a process that uses a surfactant to surround the ash particles to make it easy for water to wash the ash out of the substrate of the DPF. The DPF is then dried in a special drying cabinet and can be ready to be reinstalled in about 2-hours with the correct equipment.

How to Clean a DPF at Home?

It is not recommended to try to clean your DPF at home.

We’ve heard of stories of vehicle owners using cleaners and a pressure washer, but this will not clean the filter properly and is more likely to damage it and require the diesel particulate filter to be replaced.

How Often to Clean a DPF Filter?

The vocation you work in with your commercial truck is the most important factor in deciding when you should clean your diesel particulate filter. If you do mostly highway driving and are carrying full loads you can go much longer between cleanings than someone who does a lot of starting and stopping or working off road.

The reason for this is that regeneration of the DPF filter is more effective when the truck is operating at higher temperatures. These higher temperatures are achieved when driving at highway speeds and pulling full loads. Trucks that do more stop-and-start type work never get up to the temperatures required for a proper regeneration of the DPF.

Therefore we recommend that most trucks with diesel emissions systems get their DPFs cleaned every 75,000 to 100,000 miles or once a year whichever comes first. This prevents the ash from becoming so hardened that it is difficult to remove. If you delay this regular cleaning of the diesel particulate filter you increase the chances that a replacement diesel particulate filter will be required.

How Much Does It Cost to Clean a DPF Filter?

The average cost for just a DPF cleaning is between $250 and $400 if the vehicle owner removes the DPF filter, drops the DPF filter off and picks the DPF up at the cleaning facility, and reinstalls it on the vehicle.

If our shop completes the removal and replacement, we charge on average one hour at our shop labor rate. On average the DPF cleaning cost, including removal, and reinstalling the DPF, will be between $400 and $650.

Who Cleans DPF Filters Near Me?

Owner-operators, fleets, municipalities, and construction companies that want to have their DPF cleaned in Redding or Sacramento, California, Portland, Oregon, or Vancouver, British Columbia should contact Diesel Emissions Service.

We use our Filtertherm® DPF line of cleaning equipment which includes Aqueous (liquid) and Thermal methods, plus our rigorous 8-Step Cleaning  Process to give you consistent results, every time. Regularly maintaining your aftertreatment system and getting your DPF cleaned is part of an overall strategy that will help you to lower your total cost of operation.

To schedule a time to get your DPF cleaned phone us at 1-844-556-3150 or you can email us.

At Diesel Emissions Service our focus is mainly on serving fleets & municipalities in California, Oregon, and British Columbia, if you need comprehensive aftertreatment maintenance, DPF cleaning, retrofits, and/or repair service, contact us today.

We hope you found this article helpful. At DES, we believe in putting out educational and informative content to not only our customers but for the general industry to grow and benefit from.

To share this article, use one of the social media icons above.

DES is a recognized leader in the diesel emissions industry. We provide a wide range of services for municipalities, fleet operators, and all manner of transportation and construction businesses all across the west coast.

We’re social, follow DES on your social network of choice.

More News

Get the latest on the industry and DES.

June 28, 2024 in DES Tech Tips

DPF Cleaning: How Often?

DPF Cleaning: How Often? Trucks gotta run clean! Especially here on the "left coast". Whatever the case may be, you might be wondering how often to clean your DPF. And…

Jun 25

Love3

What You Need to Know About the Diesel Oxidation Catalyst on a Diesel Engine

By DES Tech News DES Tech Tips, Emissions Industry Related

Since 2006, Diesel Emissions Service has been servicing commercial equipment with aftertreatment systems. There are four components of the aftertreatment system, which is also referred to as the diesel emissions system. It is important that whoever is performing maintenance and repairs on your aftertreatment system understands how the four components of the system work. Over the years we have received several questions specifically about the DOC that we wanted to answer in this article.

What Does the DOC Stand for in Diesel Engines?

The DOC in a diesel engine stands for Diesel Oxidation Catalyst.

Understanding the Diesel Oxidation Catalyst (DOC)

The DOC is designed to convert carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons into carbon dioxide and water. It essentially breaks down pollutants in the exhaust system from a diesel engine which helps reduce particulate matter.

How it works:

The exhaust flows straight through the DOC substrate with very little restriction. In the aftertreatment system, there is a hydrocarbon dosing system where fuel is dosed at a specific temperature; the fuel turns into a vapor and that vapor starts the chemical reaction which produces heat. The ECM has a thermal management system where it maintains that heat and this process allows the diesel particulate filter to operate at peak performance.

Can the DOC be Cleaned like a Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF)?

Yes, anytime the DPF is removed for cleaning, the DOC should be removed, inspected, and cleaned as well. It is recommended to follow the same cleaning method as the DPF. When technicians see a DPF fault code many times they will focus on cleaning the DPF but leave the DOC in place. This is a mistake because the DOC is a flow-through device. Therefore, what is in the filter has passed through the DOC and it should be cleaned as well. If the DOC is not clear, it can become face plugged and this is part of a bigger problem that needs to be diagnosed.

Why Does a DOC Fail?

DOCs are coated with precious metals and over time these deteriorate causing the DOC to fail. The DOC has no moving parts, resulting in it having a long lifecycle. Therefore 80% of DOC and DPF failures are premature due to engine-related issues.

The DOC has one job, which is to create heat for soot oxidation, but if the engine is not running properly because of bad injectors or a turbo issue, or the aftertreatment system is not operating properly due to exhaust leaks or a leaking hydrocarbon doser, the DOC will fail prematurely. We will see DOC contamination which in turn could poison the DOC and cause DOC face plugging.

What is DOC Face Plugging?

Face plugging is an extreme buildup of carbon on the inlet side of your DOC. This extreme buildup causes additional exhaust backpressure and restricts exhaust flow, which hinders the performance of the DPF and SCR downstream.

The Key to Aftertreatment System Maintenance

Regardless of what component of the aftertreatment system you are working on, the most important thing you need to remember about aftertreatment system maintenance is this:

“Upstream problems in the system are often the cause of downstream failures.”

It is so important to look at the entire aftertreatment system when diagnosing problems, but beyond that, it is equally important to look at the other engine systems as well.

At Diesel Emissions Service our focus is mainly on fleets in California, Oregon, and British Columbia, if you require a comprehensive aftertreatment maintenance, DPF cleaning, and repair service, contact us today.

We hope you found this article helpful. At DES, we believe in putting out educational and informative content to not only our customers but for the general industry to grow and benefit from.

To share this article, use one of the social media icons above.

DES is a recognized leader in the diesel emissions industry. We provide a wide range of services for municipalities, fleet operators, and all manner of transportation and construction businesses all across the west coast.

We’re social, follow DES on your social network of choice.

More News

Get the latest on the industry and DES.

June 28, 2024 in DES Tech Tips

DPF Cleaning: How Often?

DPF Cleaning: How Often? Trucks gotta run clean! Especially here on the "left coast". Whatever the case may be, you might be wondering how often to clean your DPF. And…

Jun 16

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DES offering expert, hands-on training in partnership with Diesel Laptops at multiple west coast locations.

By DES Tech News DES News

Diesel Emissions Services (DES) is offering expert, hands-on training courses in partnership with Diesel Laptops at multiple west coast locations.

There are currently 3 different classes being offered:

Electrical Diagnostics I (full day).
Aftertreatment and Emissions Systems class (full day)
TEXA Training In-person (half-day class)

These are classed developed by Diesel Laptops, to be in-depth, and hands-on.

The combination of Diesel Laptop’s training & diagnostics expertise with the practical experience & knowledge of our lead trainer, Steve “JR” Stratton creates a valuable resource for diesel technicians. Aftertreatment systems aren’t getting any simpler and they’re not going away anytime soon. These training opportunities offer great benefits for your diesel operation for years to come.

To learn more and sign up for upcoming classes visit:
https://training.diesellaptops.com/apps/bookthatapp/calendar

Electrical Diagnostics I – full-day class.

In this class, you’ll get an overview of the fundamentals of electrical flow. You’ll learn the necessary skills used by technicians to diagnose the most common wiring and electrical issues.

Regeneration System Operation and Diagnostics:

How electricity works and how we identify and use it to perform functions.
What voltage, amperage, and resistance are and how to quantize and use them to correctly perform their diagnostic procedures.
How to properly use a multimeter to test the most common functions of electricity.
How to perform amperage draws, voltage drops, and continuity tests with a multimeter.
Difference between parallel and series circuits and how that affects troubleshooting sensors and wiring.
Ohm’s Law and the relationship between voltage, amperage, and resistance.
Difference between open circuits and short circuits and how to diagnose them quickly and efficiently.
Limitations of multimeters and how to supplement by using load testing techniques to give accurate information.

The technology in diesel engines is progressively shifting from mechanical to electrical. Many previously mechanical systems are now being integrated with electronic systems such as transmissions and turbochargers.

A huge benefit of learning these electrical diagnostic skills is that they aren’t specific to any industry. With the skills and techniques from this class, you’ll be able to work on everything from heavy-duty vehicles, off-highway equipment, generators, really any piece of equipment with an electrical system.

This class also features hands-on labs that challenge you to apply what you’ve just learned on various boards that recreate common real-life circuit setups.

Aftertreatment and Emissions Systems – full day class.

The main topics covered include Aftertreatment System Components, Fault Codes or lack thereof, Oil Dilution and Regeneration, Injector Programming and Regeneration Issues, etc. These classes will also incorporate lots of hands-on training and demonstrations.

Regeneration System Operation and Diagnostics:

Engine controls that regulate the DOC inlet temperature during regeneration
How to spot low-temperature issues during regeneration
How to clean DPFs and DOCs and inspect them for replacement when removed

SCR System Operation and Diagnostics:

What diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) is and the importance of verifying concentration with a refractometer
DEF system operations including pumps, tanks, lines, tank and line heaters, decomp tube, and dosers
Particulate matter sensor function and operation
How to address aftertreatment and SCR derates, including what they mean and how certain manufacturers require you to clear them.

Actuators Affecting Aftertreatment:

Turbocharger and related components (How low boost can cause regeneration issues)
EGR valve and related components (How EGR function can cause regeneration issues)
Fuel systems and related components (How fuel-related issues can cause regeneration issues)
How low power, oil consumption, smoke, and cylinder performance affect aftertreatment

For Shop Owners/Managers, the skills your technicians learn in this class will help them diagnose equipment quickly and efficiently, resulting in less time wasted on incorrect diagnostics and repairs, ultimately leading to less downtime for your fleet and/or customers. The benefits for Diesel Technicians will be the sharpening of your skills to simplify diagnosing these complex aftertreatment systems. Application of this knowledge will help you diagnose vehicles all across the board as this training is not specific to any one manufacturer, and we go over most variations you’ll find.

TEXA Training (In-Person) – half day class

ASE and OEM certified Diesel Technician trainers developed this course to provide hands-on experience using the IDC5 software. You’ll learn how to incorporate TEXA’s IDC5 software along with Diesel Laptops’ exclusive software into your diagnostic process. This is an in-depth view of the TEXA IDC5 software, including how to navigate the software, check codes, run commands, and change parameters. You’ll learn how to use the Diesel Laptops’ software to find repair information. By the end of this half-day course, you’ll be able to go back to the shop and diagnose vehicles and equipment more efficiently

Topics covered in the TEXA training:
• Differentiating between active, inactive, and stored codes
• Checking live data to help in diagnostic procedures when fault codes aren’t available
• Performing diagnostic tests such as fuel system tests and cylinder contribution tests
• Correctly programming fuel injectors
• Resetting aftertreatment systems and clearing derate codes
• Performing stationary regeneration and SCR tests
• Using DTC Solutions, KnowledgeBase, and Truck Fault Codes to find wiring diagrams, component locators, and more repair information

This is course is designed to help Diesel Technicians improve their knowledge and confidence with the TEXA software kit, adding value to whatever operation/shop they will be returning to. At the end of the course, participants will receive a certificate of completion.

Visit the Diesel Laptops calendar page to find an upcoming class near you!

https://training.diesellaptops.com/apps/bookthatapp/calendar

We hope you found this Training information helpful. At DES believe in putting out educational and informative content to not only our customers but for the general industry to grow and benefit from.

To share this article use one of the social media icons above.

DES is a recognized leader in the diesel emissions industry. We provide a wide range of services for municipalities, fleet operators, and all manner of transportation and construction businesses all across the west coast.

We’re social, follow DES on your social network of choice.

More News

Get the latest on the industry and DES.

June 28, 2024 in DES Tech Tips

DPF Cleaning: How Often?

DPF Cleaning: How Often? Trucks gotta run clean! Especially here on the "left coast". Whatever the case may be, you might be wondering how often to clean your DPF. And…

Jun 02

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The Key to Maintaining the EGR on a Diesel Engine

By DES Tech News DES Tech Tips, Emissions Industry Related

One common mistake diesel technicians make when diagnosing problems and performing repairs on the aftertreatment system is to only look at one part of the system instead of the entire system. Upstream problems are often the cause of downstream failures.

It is important that whoever is performing maintenance and repairs on your aftertreatment system understands how the four components of the system work. They need to know what they are and the function that they perform. This basic information provides the foundation for the maintenance program and diagnostic and repair criteria that keep fleets from experiencing rising costs and unscheduled downtime caused by premature aftertreatment failures.

At Diesel Emissions Service, we have specialized in maintenance and repairs on aftertreatment systems since 2006 and we have seen firsthand the negative impact on fleets when the aftertreatment system is mismanaged. In this article, we are going to focus on maintaining the EGR.

Understanding the Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR)

How it works:

Engine manufacturers know that if they can lower cylinder temperature during the combustion process, they will lower the amount of NOx created. The EGR removes a portion of the oxygen and replaces it with an inert gas. Those inert gases lower the cylinder temperatures. The EGR cooler (or coolers depending on which engine we’re talking about) lowers exhaust temperature before it’s reintroduced into the intake manifold.

The Symptoms of EGR Failure and What to Do About It

The most common issues are rough idle, increased fuel consumption, and excessive fuel knock. The problem is that these symptoms can also be indications of other problems unrelated to the EGR. An experienced diesel technician will perform several diagnostic checks to identify if the EGR is the cause.

Recommended EGR Maintenance Procedures

OEMs don’t offer EGR maintenance procedures, but there are machines available to the independent service channel that have been specifically designed to help in this area.

In the diesel industry, it is well known the EGR system loads the intake tract, injectors, EGR cooler, and the turbo with carbon, which interferes with the engine’s ability to maintain the air-fuel ratio.

We use a special machine to remove this carbon build-up by running a solution through the engine while the EGR is commanded in the open position to make sure every aspect of the engine receives the decarbonizing solution. We recommend that this is done during the yearly DPF service while the truck is out of service. It is a 1-hour process and requires an oil change.

Repair Procedures for the EGR

Because failure of the EGR is usually related to a carbon build-up, maintaining the EGR system and the other engine components affected by the carbon build-up is the first step. But there are times when replacing the EGR and related parts is the most cost-effective option. Repair procedures are manufacturer-specific. But generally, the procedure is relatively straightforward and is similar from one engine to another.

If you require a more comprehensive aftertreatment maintenance and repair service, contact us today.

We hope you found this article helpful. At DES, we believe in putting out educational and informative content to not only our customers but for the general industry to grow and benefit from.

To share this article, use one of the social media icons above.

DES is a recognized leader in the diesel emissions industry. We provide a wide range of services for municipalities, fleet operators, and all manner of transportation and construction businesses all across the west coast.

We’re social, follow DES on your social network of choice.

More News

Get the latest on the industry and DES.

August 29, 2024 in DES News

FAQ – Clean Truck Check – HD I/M Program

Apr 28

Love3

Everything You Need to Know About Aftertreatment Maintenance

By DES Tech News DES Tech Tips, Emissions Industry Related

Fleets of commercial trucks and owner-operators have been struggling to maintain and repair aftertreatment systems for over 15-years. It has been a source of frustration and a financial burden.

At Diesel Emissions Service we have been providing aftertreatment maintenance and repairs since 2006 and in that time our technicians have observed two main factors that are driving the problems with aftertreatment we see today.

Factor 1: A Lack of Accurate Information and Support

Having accurate information about how and when diesel emissions systems require maintenance and repairs is the key to avoiding many of the problems that fleets experience. However, that is what has been missing since the very beginning.

Insufficient Training

The independent service channel has not received adequate training from the very beginning. When diesel mechanics had to diagnose and repair pre-emissions vehicles, they knew how to troubleshoot known smoke issues.

With the 2007 and newer vehicles, these mechanics had to become technicians and really learn and understand the new technology to be able to diagnose the systems. As far as the DPF or aftertreatment goes, in 2007, fleets were kind of thrown into a tailspin with downtime and costs attributed to the aftertreatment system and they never were able to figure it out.

A Lack of Support

Part of the reason for this is the OE service channel has purposely made the information unavailable. They really don’t want the independent service channel to do the work, they want the vehicle brought back to the dealer.

The fleets had a belief that the OEM or the vehicle make that they had purchased, would keep them in the loop for training and would let them know what their service intervals should be. In 2007, almost every truck manufacturer and engine manufacturer basically said, “Look, the aftertreatment systems are going to last 500,000 to 600,000 miles. Don’t worry about them.” This wasn’t the case and it turned out to be a lot more complicated and expensive than anyone could have imagined.

Factor 2: Understanding the Aftertreatment System

There are four components to the aftertreatment system, and it is important to understand what they are and the function that they perform. This basic information provides the foundation for the maintenance system and diagnostic and repair criteria that keep fleets from experiencing rising costs and unscheduled downtime caused by premature aftertreatment failures.

Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR)

The ERG is an emission control technology that reduces NOx emissions from most diesel engines.

How it works:

Engine manufacturers know that if they can lower cylinder temperature during the combustion process, they will lower the amount of NOx created. The EGR removes a portion of the oxygen and replaces it with an inert gas. Those inert gases lower the cylinder temperatures. The EGR cooler (or coolers depending on which engine we’re talking about) lowers exhaust temperature before it’s reintroduced into the intake manifold.

Diesel Oxidation Catalyst (DOC)

The DOC is designed to convert carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons into carbon dioxide and water. It essentially breaks down pollutants in the exhaust system from a diesel engine which helps reduce particulate matter.

How it works:

The exhaust flows straight through the DOC substrate with very little restriction. In the aftertreatment system, there is a hydrocarbon dosing system where fuel is dosed at a specific temperature; the fuel turns into a vapor and that vapor starts the chemical reaction which produces heat. The ECM has a thermal management system where it maintains that heat and this process is all for the DPF.

Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF)

The DPF is an exhaust device that traps particulate matter such as soot and ash.

How it works:

Unlike the DOC, which is designed to be flow-through, the DPF is a wall-flow which means the exhaust flows into the filter through pores, and the soot and ash collect on the walls of the filter. The DPF has two jobs, catch soot and store ash.

Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR)

The SCR is an advanced active emissions control technology system that injects a liquid-reductant agent through a special catalyst into the exhaust stream of a diesel engine. The reductant source is usually Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF).

How it works:

The SCR is also a NOx reduction technology, and its job is to lower engine outlet NOx to as close to zero as possible. The SCR is a flow-through technology a lot like the DOC. It injects diesel exhaust fluid which is 67.5% water and 32.5% urea and when the water evaporates, the remaining urea converts to ammonia and the ammonia reacts with the NOx and coverts it into nitrogen and water.

These four parts of the aftertreatment system work together and have allowed truck and engine manufacturers to meet the Environmental Protection Agency mandates. There are even more regulations and further reductions in how much NOx diesel engines will be permitted to emit in 2027. Therefore, the systems are here to stay.

The Key to Aftertreatment System Maintenance

One of the most common mistakes fleets make is failing to service the aftertreatment systems often enough. DPFs require regular cleaning, and the rest of the system requires regular inspections. Upstream leaks in the system are often the cause of downstream failures.

The most common mistake diesel technicians make when diagnosing problems and performing repairs is to look at one part of the system instead of the four parts that make up the complete system. For example, the DPF is often blamed as the source of the problem when it is the symptom of a problem elsewhere in the system.

For a more detailed explanation of the most common problems with the aftertreatment system, we encourage you to listen to Steve Hoke and Steve “Junior” Stratton on the HDT Talks Trucking podcast.

If you require a more comprehensive aftertreatment maintenance and repair service, why not contact us today.

We hope you found this article helpful. At DES, we believe in putting out educational and informative content to not only our customers but for the general industry to grow and benefit from.

To share this article, use one of the social media icons above.

DES is a recognized leader in the diesel emissions industry. We provide a wide range of services for municipalities, fleet operators, and all manner of transportation and construction businesses all across the west coast.

We’re social, follow DES on your social network of choice.

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August 29, 2024 in DES News

FAQ – Clean Truck Check – HD I/M Program

Jan 02

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DEF Doser issue causes truck to “de-rate”

By DES Tech News DES Tech Tips

Recently one of our diesel repair techs came across some bizarre looking formations on a customer’s aftertreatment emissions system – specifically around the DEF Doser.

This mess around the DEF Doser indicates a major problem with the SCR section of the aftertreatment system and caused the truck to “de-rate” itself.

What does “de-rate” mean? You probably already know, but for those that don’t…

In a de-rate condition, the ECM (Engine Control Module) limits the horsepower and/or speed of the truck, sometimes to as slow as 5 mph. The ECM is hard-coded to do this when it detects certain problems with the engine such as low coolant, low oil pressure, etc and especially any fault codes related to the emissions system. This is to protect the engine as well as prevent unwanted emissions.

It’s recommended that the driver get the vehicle serviced immediately. Driving with a de-rate may cause permanent damage to your engine or emission system. Be cautious when driving with an active de-rate and get into a service shop as soon as you can to figure out what the issue is.

In this case, it was obvious the DEF Doser was not functioning as it should. That white powder is DEF that was found its way out of what is designed to be a closed system.

With DEF (diesel exhaust fluid) leaking out in places it shouldn’t, the DEF was not being injected properly. DEF fluid converts to ammonia which reacts with the NOx gases turning them into harmless nitrogen and water. That reaction is constantly monitored by the inlet and outlet NOx Sensors.

What’s the point of all this? It illustrates the importance of regular, scheduled maintenance for your fleet/truck’s emissions aftertreatment system. All components should be inspected and any codes investigated. Even a failure of a small, relatively inexpensive part (in this case a DEF Doser) can lead to costly and frustrating downtime. A great time to do this is when a DPF is being cleaned.

At DES we not only clean your DPFs, we have trained diesel techs who can inspect and diagnose your truck’s aftertreatment system for issues.

We recommend whoever you have service your diesel emissions components that they regularly and proactively take into account the complete aftertreatment system. In the long run, it’s well worth it.

We hope you found this DES Tech Tip helpful. At DES believe in putting out educational and informative content to not only our customers, but for the general industry to grow and benefit from.

To share this article use one of the social media icons above.

DES is a recognized leader in the diesel emissions industry. We provide a wide range of services for municipalities, fleet operators, and all manner of transportation and construction businesses all across the west coast.

We’re social, follow DES on your social network of choice.

More News

Get the latest on the industry and DES.

August 29, 2024 in DES News

FAQ – Clean Truck Check – HD I/M Program

Nov 15

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Cleaning DPFs vs Reman – Steve Hoke of DES on The HD Parts Report Podcast

By DES Tech News DES News, Emissions Industry Related

Check out Jamie Irvine’s informative interview with Steve Hoke, President of Diesel Emissions Service. In this recent episode of The Heavy-Duty Parts Report Podcast, listen as they discuss a range of topics related to cleaning DPFs and diesel emissions. Steve also talks about the benefits of cleaning DPFs vs using REMAN, why we had to build a better oven and some exciting new developments with the company and it’s brands.

Cleaning DPFs vs Reman:

One of the main benefits of cleaning your own DPF filter is you know the history of the filter. A reman filter could have previous issues that are hard to spot and could lead to more repairs and damage to the diesel emission system or engine.

“On the filter side there isn’t really much testing… It’s better to clean your filter” – SH

Why build your own oven?

The Filtertherm DPF Cleaning Oven and other related equipment were created because of our experience cleaning thousands filters on average every month. We learned early on – the hard way (listen to hear the story) how important it is to design and build safety into our DPF cleaning equipment as well as providing better efficiency, training and powerful software/technology to help shops properly clean DPFs.

“We set out to build an oven that is safe, reliable and made to clean DPFs, our standard size does 8-10 filters at a time…” – SH

Knowledge is power

Steve shared his vision for helping those in this industry by providing valuable information and education to empower and demystify diesel emissions cleaning, service and repair.

“It’s getting people trained. Because there’s this high tech version of emissions that you have to be a factory guy to understand it… All shops can deal with this, all shops can fix this, emissions get such a bad rap… knowledge is power. We want people to share in that knowledge… We want everybody to have it, and not be afraid of this stuff…” – SH

These are just a few of the highlights, listen to the complete podcast here.

The Heavy-Duty Parts Report is an industry leading podcast where Jamie Irvine and his guests provide expert advice about the heavy-duty parts you need to keep your trucks and trailers rolling, lower your cost-per-mile, and keep you informed about what’s happening in the industry.

Listen to the podcast:

https://www.buzzsprout.com/272315/1970608-clean-your-dpf-instead-of-buying-reman-with-steve-hoke-of-diesel-emissions-service

We hope you found this article helpful. At DES believe in putting out educational and informative content to not only our customers, but for the general industry to grow and benefit from.

To share this article use one of the social media icons above.

DES is a recognized leader in the diesel emissions industry. We provide a wide range of services for municipalities, fleet operators, and all manner of transportation and construction businesses all across the west coast.

Diesel Emissions Service (DES) is a division of North State Truck Equipment Inc, a family-owned business, who has been providing bus and truck repair solutions since 1978. In 2006, we started focusing on diesel aftertreatment retrofits (DPFs, DOCs, SCRs), troubleshooting, repair, and services to help customers in applying the correct technology for compliance with the growing clean-air regulations. Since that time we have installed more than 15,000 retrofits across the country.

We have four locations in California as well as facilities in Portland, Oregon and Surrey (Vancouver), British Columbia. DES offers a full line of DPFs and DPF accessories through the Redline Emissions Products® brand – including DPFs, DOCs, clamps, gaskets, weld bungs, CACs, sensors, etc at our online superstore. We also carry brands like Durafit, Skyline, Filtertherm® and more.

We’re social, to stay informed follow DES on any or all of these platforms.

More News

Get the latest on the industry and DES.

August 29, 2024 in DES News

FAQ – Clean Truck Check – HD I/M Program

Sep 21

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DES partners with Red Fox Resources to recycle DPFs

By DES Tech News DES News, Emissions Industry Related

How to recycle DPFs?

How does a company like DES recycle DPFs and other spent aftertreatment parts? Simple, we use Red Fox Resources!

Recently DES was featured in a DES Customer Profile on Red Fox by Red Fox Resources, a company that specializes in recycling diesel particulate filters (DPFs) and diesel oxidation catalysts (DOCs) from trucks, buses, heavy equipment, and generators at the end of their useful lives through a compliant buy-back program. They also feature deep regulatory expertise in navigating emission regulations both at the local, state, and federal levels to help customers dispose of spent emissions responsibly and in compliance.

DES is committed to operating all our locations in an environmentally responsible and compliant manner and Red Fox is a key part of our recycling program. Working with Red Fox to attain this has been an excellent experience.

So how does DPF recycling work?

DES collects the spent DPFs and DOCs from each of our service locations to a central facility. When we’re ready to have a load of parts recycled, we call Red Fox. They come out to the facility in which the parts are collected and provide a per-piece quote. When the quote is agreed upon, Red Fox handles the transportation of the parts to their Oakland facility, and the recycling load is processed.

A recent recycling load we had consisted of over 300 parts and the prices per part ranged from $0 for the uncatalyzed parts to over $600 per part. Red Fox provided payment and a release of liability to DES within 15 business days.

“Red Fox provides a compliant solution to our DPF and DOC recycling needs and provides liquidity to a commodity that can be tricky to try to manage ourselves. When we process recycling loads through Red Fox, we know we’ll get paid what they said we would, when they said we would. But more importantly, we know that when we use Red Fox, our recycling will be completed in a manner that is consistent with our environmental compliance standards and aligned with our sustainability goals.”

Steve Hoke, President – Diesel Emissions Services

Learn more about Red Fox Resources:

https://redfoxresources.com/

Read full customer profile article here:

https://redfoxresources.com/blog/dpf-recycling/red-fox-customer-profile-des-dpfrecycling

We hope you found this article helpful. At DES believe in putting out educational and informative content to not only our customers, but for the general industry to grow and benefit from.

To share this article use one of the social media icons above.

DES is a recognized leader in the diesel emissions industry. We provide a wide range of services for municipalities, fleet operators, and all manner of transportation and construction businesses all across the west coast.

Diesel Emissions Service (DES) is a division of North State Truck Equipment Inc, a family-owned business, who has been providing bus and truck repair solutions since 1978. In 2006, we started focusing on diesel aftertreatment retrofits (DPFs, DOCs, SCRs), troubleshooting, repair, and services to help customers in applying the correct technology for compliance with the growing clean-air regulations. Since that time we have installed more than 15,000 retrofits across the country.

We have four west coast locations. 2 in California as well as facilities in Portland, OR, and Surrey (Vancouver), BC. DES offers a full line of DPFs and DPF accessories through the Redline Emissions Products® brand – including DPFs, DOCs, clamps, gaskets, weld bungs, CACs, sensors, etc at our online superstore. We also carry brands like Durafit, Skyline, Filtertherm®, and more.

DES Tech News