Compact Tractor Diesel Particulate Filters (DPF)

[ericm979]

BTW.....good thread. I’m happy to see no mention of a heavier DPF being a critical deciding factor on purchase of machine ��

Just kidding. But I am looking forward to learning a little more about them. What I’m real curious about is “how long do they last?” Does the DPF that came on it last lifetime or after X hrs or Y regen cycles it has to be replaced. And if it does have a limited lifespan, does it have to be replaced or can you just drill it out like you could (illegally but would function) a catalytic converter on a car?

The Branson 25 series's DPF having more catalyst (according to the dealer) was a small factor in my choosing a 25 series instead of a 20 series.

Semi trucks' DPFs are supposed to last in the 3500-5000 hour range. Their emissions systems also use DEF (and have to handle a lot more power) so they may be harder on the DPF than our < 75hp tractors. There are services that will clean a DPF- for semi trucks it's in the $3-500 range. Probably less for our smaller DPFs.

Successfully gutting a DPF depends on the particular tractor's programming. There are usually pressure sensors on the input and output side of the DPF to detect when it needs a regen. If it's programmed to sense that there's no pressure drop between them meaning that the honeycomb's been removed, then you may end up needing to buy a new DPF or having to figure out a way to trick the ECU. On Bransons the only computer is a "data recorder" that monitors the DPF pressure and temp. The tractor will run fine with it unplugged.

 

[ericm979]

This might sound a bit dumb, but most agree that breathing in diesel fumes, weather they have been through a DPF or other process, is not best for our lungs. But many tractors have their exhaust pipe right in front of the driver. This means that whilst travelling into the wind the driver is breathing in the exhaust fumes. Many have cabs, OK but still the cab is in the `fume cloud`. This leads to a question of, `would it not be better to move the exhaust pipe to somewhere else.` and `does the pipe have to be where it is or is just traditional, because that's where our fore fathers put them`

That's a good thought. Old tractors have their exhausts running straight up in a stack. I think the idea was to get the exhaust up above the operator. Having the exhaust low and facing forward is probably mostly for a sleeker look.

On my old Kubota b7100 the exhaust could be mounted to go up as a stack or forwards like most current CUTs. It worked, sort of- I didn't breathe too many fumes when mowing. But when changing implements in the barn or running the chipper with the wind coming from the front of the tractor, yuck. Some people have run a tailpipe out the back of the tractor but that's not going to be an improvement when running the chipper or mowing backwards.

 

[jeff9366]

Having the exhaust low and facing forward is probably mostly for a sleeker look.

More so compact tractors can enter a residential garage with an 84" header and work under tree branches in landscaping applications.

 

[prof fate]

Kioti dealer told me (2018 ck3510) keep revs at 1800-2000 min, and run it to operating temp. Less revs or lots of cold use (short run times) will increase the regen frequency.

Filter should last 3000 hours, costs about $300 to replace (didn't say clean).

Mine regens every 35-40 hours. Now that winter is here we'll see if that changes - much longer warm up times, less use overall, less time on it each operating session.

At work we run 2017 and 2019 IC school buses. Lots of slow. stop n go and idling. About 15% of them have had pretty serious DPF issues...IC claims bad sensors, and now that we've had some nearly 2 years the issues are less than they were - bus would go into a limp mode, limit rpm and speed to about 15mph...sucked to be driving and have it go into limp mode. A new filter is $900 on these machines.

 

[JimR]

That is great JimR! Mine goes about every 40 hrs. My dealer said 2000rpm, but not critical, just more frequent regen running low rpm.

Yours may have regened more and you didn稚 know it. If it wasn稚 for the smell, I would have never noticed mine doing it. The dash light is easy to miss in overhead sun.

Mine has developed the annoying habit of wanting to start on the way to get fuel. Driving 1/2 mile down the road to gas station it starts....meaning I have to wait or turn around and kill some time. I know I can put it off or shut down in process, but I don稚 want to tempt fate so just let it do it痴 thing

My tractor in regen mode cranks up to 2600 for about 15-20 minutes. There is no way you can miss that happening. The first time it happened it threw me for a loop. I just stopped and watched it do its thing. recently I did do a few manual regens to try and solve a problem that I was having with low RPM's limp mode that turned out to be a bad hand lever controller. Had I learned all the controls on my tractor I could have easily used the linked pedal switch to see that the problem was the hand controller.

 

[Paystar]

Following summarizes cost to VW for exceeding diesel emission standards on their diesel engine cars. Not entirely germane, but somewhat so.

How much has Dieselgate cost Volkswagen?​

Dec. 23, 2018 5:33 AM ET​

|

About: Volkswagen AG ADR (VWAGY)|By: Yoel Minkoff, Seeking Alpha News Editor​

The cleanup of Volkswagen's (OTCPK:VWAGY) diesel cheating scandal will cost the automaker €5.5B in 2018, around €2B in 2019 and €1B in 2020, CFO Frank Witter told Boersen-Zeitung.

Since 2015, the German group has paid more than €27B to settle investor and consumer lawsuits, as well as regulatory fines and remedies tied to resolving excessive emissions levels in its diesel cars.

27,000,000,000 Euros = $23,700,000,000 $/US​

Well, luckily for the auto makers they grossly over charge for the junk they are selling us so it was affordable for them. LOL

 

[ning]

27,000,000,000 Euros = $23,700,000,000 $/US​

I don't think the Euro's been upside-down to the dollar in years (2002); you probably meant €27B = $30.76B.

 

[jeff9366]

YOOPER DAVE​

Tier IV Emissions Confusion​

Are new tractors with <25hp Tier IV emission exempt ?

The demarcation is 19 kW engine power output = 25.4794 horsepower.

While Tier IV exempt, tractors with <25.4794 horsepower comply with relatively loose Tier II emission requirements.



Some mfrs note no pollution filter is needed, but tier 4 compliant.

Most manufactures can meet Tier IV requirements without a Diesel Particulate Fillter up to about 27 horsepower via engine design and injection timing.

(Diesel Off-road emission standards are uniform in developed world.)

Then there is a horsepower gap.

Beginning about thirty-three horsepower most tractors have Diesel Particulate Filters.
If there is no DPF there is an alternative incendiary technology to burn off very fine particulates (soot). Sometimes exhaust heat is elevated all the time, sometimes periodically.
Diesel particulates must be burned. THERE IS NO FREE LUNCH.



Consider DPF and alternative soot burning exhaust technology as a sophisticated muffler.
When pondering a tractor purchase consider muffler technology last.

When considering a tractor purchase, bare tractor weight first, tractor horsepower second and (narrowly) rear wheel ballast third.

Tire wear and tire replacement will cause as many headaches and more expense than DPF for most long term compact tractor owners who can comprehend their Operator's Manual.

 

[jeff9366]

I wonder what would happen if the DPF was replaced with a straight pipe ?
Not that I have any intention of doing so, just curious.

DPF is connected to exhaust manifold in lieu of a muffler. If you replace DPF with a straight pipe your tractor will be ungodly loud.

 

[Threepoint]

My tractor in regen mode cranks up to 2600 for about 15-20 minutes. There is no way you can miss that happening. [snip]

Jim, with my NX, when I'm in medium range pulling a 7-ft box blade filled with wet crusher run, I'm at that rpm for an hour at a time. I think I could easily miss a regen if one were to happen. But, then, working the tractor that hard keeps the DPF pretty clean to begin with.