If you drive a Freightliner Cascadia, it is important to not only drive safely but also have knowledge of common mechanical issues that may happen and how to fix them. One such issue that frequently pops up is the need to regen or clean out the diesel particulate filter. When soot builds up in the diesel particulate filter (DPF) it can cause problems with the engine.
Freightliners will often do their own regening if they are kept at a steady, regular speed. This is called passive regeneration and does not require much thought or action on the part of the driver. However, sometimes more active participation is required of the driver, in the form of either active regeneration or passive regeneration. Read on to find out how to do each.
How Do I Perform an Active Regen on My Freightliner Cascadia?
As we already know, a Cascadia will tend to do its regeneration if it is driven at a steady regular speed. If you look at the dashboard and can see that the Malfunction Indicator or the DPF
Regeneration lights are on and solid, then it is okay to do an active regeneration where fuel will be injected to burn off the built-up soot.
This is a pretty simple process, taking the following steps:
- If at all possible, try to find a highway with a high-speed limit. The truck needs to be driven at a high speed to build up the heat to burn off the soot.
- Try to do it at a time of day or in an area without a lot of traffic. You will need to keep your speed steady without any sudden stops or drops.
- Drive for at least 40-45 minutes. This should complete active regeneration and the lights should go out.
Now, let’s take a look at how to perform a passive regen on your Frieghtliner.
How Do I Perform a Passive Regen on My Freightliner Cascadia?
As opposed to active regen, passive regen is more of an urgent situation, where you need to get your truck parked in a safe area with plenty of space and start a passive regen as soon as possible because the engine is about to shut down. This is indicated by DPF Regeneration Lamp, Check Engine Lamp, or Stop Engine Lamp flashing.
To do a passive regen, take the following steps:
- Turn on the truck, shift it to neutral, and put on the parking brake. Set a timer for 3-4 minutes and let the engine idle. The most important thing to make sure of is that the truck is not in the “Power-take-off” mode.
- From this point, you quickly do three things one after the other. First, shift the transmission out of neutral to park and then back to neutral. Next, turn off the parking brake then turn it back on. Finally, press the clutch and then release it.
- The final step, that will put the Freightliner into regen mode is to hold the DPF switch on for five seconds then let it go. You will know you have been successful if the flashing light turns off and the RPM goes up which you will be able to tell by the amount of noise the engine makes.
- Wait forty minutes while the Freightliner does its thing. Once the Freightliner slows back down to idling, the regen is officially complete and you are ready to go.
Avoid any disruptions or having to start from the beginning by making sure that you do not turn off the engine, touch the clutch or parking brake, or switch gears. For safety reasons make sure you are parked in an open place away from anything flammable, such as gas. The extra heat that the engine is producing could cause a fire.
Conclusion
Freightliner Cascadias need to have the soot cleared out of the diesel particulate filter to keep the engine running well and smoothly. This is known as regeneration (or regen). Trucks will often regen on their own if they are run at a regular speed for long enough. However, sometimes a bit more is needed which is where passive and active regeneration comes in.
Passive regen is performed by parking the Freightliner in a safe place away from anything flammable, starting it off idling and then allowing the RPMs to build. This brings heat which helps burn off the soot. Active regen is done by maintaining a high speed for 40-45 minutes. This speed provides the heat from an outside source which in turn helps burn off the soot.