'08 Superduty recall

JB4310 · Mar 30, 2008

In defence of Ford, that's probably the only one that actually shot flames out, that video has been all over the diesel truck sites, but it's the only one, if this was a common problem there would be more videos.
That one obviously had an over active injector!
My Dodge doesn't shoot flames out but you don't want to walk within 4 feet of that tail pipe with shorts on when the 6.7 goes into regen.
Regeneration is what these new trucks do to burn off the soot trapped in their diesel particulate filters, DPF's, by dumping a bunch of fuel in a post combustion injection to super heat the exhaust stream, and I do mean super heat! and I do mean a bunch of fuel, my mpg go down about 10% during regen, mine does regen about every 250 miles, for about 30 miles due to my in town stop and go driving, for those who drive more on the highway under load ,theirs will do it less often due to already higher exhaust gas temps, EGTs.

Dmace · Mar 30, 2008

Z-Michigan said:
Is that video for real? Unmodified truck? Wow and yikes!

Oh yeah, completely stock truck! Just another recall on Ford's ever growing list...
Ford Stops Sales of Big Super Duty, Recalls 2008 Trucks

Ford Motor Co. has ordered dealers to stop selling the new Super Duty pickup with the 6.4-liter diesel engine and is recalling more than 37,000 of the 2008 F-Series trucks after reported tailpipe fires in the diesel version of the pickups.

Egon · Mar 30, 2008

Last time I was out in Alberta there seemed to be a very even distribution of Ford, Chev, and Dodge diesels out there.

Many of these are working trucks so they must be okay or they would not be on the road!

Z-Michigan · Mar 30, 2008

JB4310 said:
In defence of Ford, that's probably the only one that actually shot flames out, that video has been all over the diesel truck sites, but it's the only one, if this was a common problem there would be more videos.
***
My Dodge doesn't shoot flames out but you don't want to walk within 4 feet of that tail pipe with shorts on when the 6.7 goes into regen.
Regeneration is what these new trucks do to burn off the soot trapped in their diesel particulate filters, DPF's, by dumping a bunch of fuel in a post combustion injection to super heat the exhaust stream, and I do mean super heat! and I do mean a bunch of fuel, my mpg go down about 10% during regen, mine does regen about every 250 miles, for about 30 miles due to my in town stop and go driving, for those who drive more on the highway under load ,theirs will do it less often due to already higher exhaust gas temps, EGTs.

The story linked by Dmace said 3 reports.

I can't see buying any 2007+ diesel until this stuff is well sorted out. The cost increase and mpg decrease is bad enough, but the regeneration as you describe it for your Dodge 6.7 (much less the Ford's flamethrower) is dangerous. Many of us park in garages, believe it or not. I don't want even 200 degree exhaust gas being shot out 4' in my garage. And it's dangerous whether you have a conventional rear exhaust or if the makers tried going to stacks. (For those who don't know, I'm not a diesel hater - I have a 2006 Ram/Cummins that I'm totally happy with, and also had a Jeep CRD but it was a lemon.)

Of course it's only a matter of time before a little bit of hot soot from one of these hits a dry grass patch and starts a fire that causes lots of damage. I'll bet there are calls to prohibit and immobilize the trucks whenever that happens.

Seems to me the danger could be nearly eliminated just by setting the software so regen mode only goes on at >30mph and stops at lower speeds, based on the assumption that at road speeds there won't be any people, vehicle, or dry grass right by the exhaust pipe. This might not eliminate the roadside grass fire risk, but would reduce all other risks. IMHO, stupid.

jcmseven · Mar 31, 2008

Dmace,

The video you show is the only visual example of this supposed malady of which I am aware and has been determined already to be in part as a result of an injector issue. It is also very old, reportedly being filmed as these trucks were just being released. If I recall, it is not yet determined whether this was just a regen issue (seems doubtful it was) or even fully legitimate. Ford (as I mentioned in my previous post) has been very careful to calibrate the modules in the 6.4L so as not to place too much fuel into the system during the regen mode to avoid any risk of particulate burn to excess. This avoided any risk when the trucks were idled for long periods or not warmed properly. The whopping three (yes, three) cases of this merited swift response from Ford, and no cases since of which I am aware (and this has been over one year). When one thinks of how many of these trucks are now running, and running hard, with no such problems it seems we are relegating ourselves to old news.

John M

Egon · Mar 31, 2008

Remember way back when catalytic converters first came out and resulting kerfuffle about them starting fires?

scesnick · Mar 31, 2008

JB4310 said:
On my second in (12 years that is) Dodge Ram with Cummins and have been very happy, I do think the Pooper Duty LOOKS better than the Dodge though and almost bought one for it's strong looks.
.

Ditto. Glad you came to your senses before it was too late.

I do like the looks of the Ford. But looks don't get the trailers pulled down the road. A strong dependable engine does. I think I will keep my CTD,,,

Builder · Mar 31, 2008

scesnick said:
Ditto. Glad you came to your senses before it was too late.

I do like the looks of the Ford. But looks don't get the trailers pulled down the road. A strong dependable engine does. I think I will keep my CTD,,,

Yeah, what's the old trucker saying "Chrome won't get ya home"....something like that.

I left Ford before I had the chance to own a 6L or a 6.4L Ford. I read and witnessed all the problems and decided I wanted no part of them. The Ford transmissions behind the 7.3L's drove me away and over to GM. I really hoped that when the 6.4L hit the market that Ford would step up and build a 6-speed tranny with more nutz to compliment the new diesel, but they didn't.

I definately miss the macho man styling and size of the Superduty, my HD looks like Toyota next to a Ford, but the drivetrain that pulls my GM HD down the road more than makes up for it.

Did anyone ever see the original gauge package that the '08 Superduty was supposed to come with? There was a picture of it on the internet at one time. The '08 diesel was going to have a boost, pyro and trans temp gauge in a cluster near the speedo, not one of the cheesy pillar pods. looked really cool, but they scrapped it.

Bird · Mar 31, 2008

I reckon that's why they build so many different brands; personal choice.

It remains to be seen how well it'll hold up since my brother only has about 3,500 miles on his '08 F550, but it's incredibly quiet for a diesel, and the automatic transmission is incredibly smooth. Now I haven't been in it when it was towing anything, but he says he loves the power and the transmission. And of course, he's not exactly new to diesel trucks; having owned 2 diesel F350s in the past, 2 GMC (Isuzu) diesel trucks, one Chevrolet Top Kick with a Cat engine, one Kenworth with a Cummins, and one Peterbilt with a Cat. Then he also drove a number of other 18-wheelers for other people.