Ls engine issue?

[Username Taken]

The way I understand it, with these LS engines, is that they regen every 50hrs. Mine did, exactly at 50hrs. 26hrs over 9 months is not a ton of use, but for a home owner that only needs it to plow snow or move somethign heavy, odds and ends, that sorta thing, its not out-of-this-world low. The button is to by-pass the regen. So if you are out in a wheat field or something that you really dont want to burn down, you can by-pass it temporarily to avoid burning down your field type of thing. It shouldnt be used all the time and the regen should take place very shortly after. It is just to get you to a safe place before turning your exhaust pipe red.

I believe, but not certain, that you can also initiate a regen by using this button too. Not sure about that.

My tractor currently has about 80hrs on it, bought it this last April. It has regend once. It notified me and I did what my dealer told me to do, which was firewall the throttle and lift the bucket out of the way to prevent the paint from burning. About 10 or so minutes later, and after some odd burning smells, it was done. I throttled back and went about my day. They say you dont need to stop working, but I did, just to watch it happen.

I dont believe Rusty's issue was due to a lack of regen or the DPF being an issue. Might have, but probably not.

Just my .02

My theory (just a theory) is that the computer read it was okay to do a regen because of the coolant temp. So it sends raw fuel to the DOC/DPF in order to cook (400 - 500 degrees or more) all that nasty out of it. But the extreme ambient temperatures wouldn't let the fuel get hot enough. So instead of cleaning the DPF, it clogged it. Which clogs your entire exhaust system. And with a clogged exhaust system, you ain't moving. And the diesel fuel would build up inside the engine's combustion chambers and cause it to knock and generally be very unhappy.

Just a Dumb theory.

If I were operating in extreme cold, I would inhibit regen until the tractor got HOT enough to handle it. But that's just another dumb theory on my part.

Diesels don't get nearly as hot as gasoline engines. Not even close. Not even in the same galaxy. In fact, one their main problems operating in cold environments is that they don't get hot enough.

Dummy computer sends raw fuel into exhaust, doesn't burn, clogs DPF.

Just a dumb theory. Hopefully, all Rusty will have to go through is a new DOC/DPF/Muffler.

 

[Bbc396]

^^^^
That was my thinking when mine did it's first regeneration in -35 Temps and split the dpf

 

[Avenger]

I gotcha. That is a good theory! it's not Dumb.

I didnt see (or more likely forgot) that Rusty said it went into regen while plowing. The one thing that doesnt make sense is the oil being pumped out of the exhaust before seizing the engine. Granted, no oil in the engine would size it pretty quick at full rpms. If the exhaust was clogged, oil shouldnt be able to flow out either.? How would oil even get to the exhaust? Blown head? Maybe the coolant froze and cracked the head? IDK.

Rusty, please let us know what the dealer comes up with. This is starting to hurt my brain.

 

[Username Taken]

I gotcha. That is a good theory! it's not Dumb.

I didnt see (or more likely forgot) that Rusty said it went into regen while plowing. The one thing that doesnt make sense is the oil being pumped out of the exhaust before seizing the engine. Granted, no oil in the engine would size it pretty quick at full rpms. If the exhaust was clogged, oil shouldnt be able to flow out either.? How would oil even get to the exhaust? Blown head? Maybe the coolant froze and cracked the head? IDK.

Rusty, please let us know what the dealer comes up with. This is starting to hurt my brain.

Not sure it's seized as much as it's hydrolocked from all the diesel fuel still stuck in the combustion chambers that couldn't escape due to the exhaust system being clogged at the DOC/DPF/Muffler.

Again, just a dumb theory.

 

[Bbc396]

I'm think what he might have thought was oil coming out the exhaust was the fuel mixed with the soot in the dpf while in regeneration just an idea

 

[Avenger]

Regardless, this thread got hi-jacked.... Kinda.

The OP, Bbc396, talking about a mechanic replacing 7 engines in the same model tractor, and someone chimes in with blowing their tractor up this morning!

Timing.

maybe there is something to this? :confused3:

 

[Bbc396]

Don't matter if it got hijacked I own one of these tractors so I'm curious

 

[RustyA]

Sorry I did not mean to hijack thread, thought it might be related since they are sister tractors. Fluid coming out of exhaust was engine oil as it consumed one full gallon of oil within minutes, rods began knocking, then engine seized. Fuel was blended 50/50 and treated and coolant was not gelled or frozen. Engine was at normal operating temp before during and after failure...I could hold my hand on the radiator cap after failure.

 

[PCABE5]

Rusty I hope they gave you a loaner with snow coming tonight and tomorrow.

 

[RustyA]

My dealer generously offered a loaner and I declined. I'll make due with other equipment until my tractor is repaired or at least diagnosed and we have a better idea of how long I'll be without it. If there truly are lots of these going down it might take a long time to obtain a new long block. I have also requested factory help to trade me out of the tractor since it had so few hours for such a major meltdown. We'll see how it all works out and I'll keep everyone updated. Again I hope it's okay I used this thread since I felt it was a related failure. If anyone objects I'll be happy to start a new thread in the New Holland section.