Can you imagine being in the left lane of a multilane freeway and suddenly your truck slows to 5mph. HOLY CRAP.

That is a great theory. I will be very interested in seeing how your truck acts now when it runs out of DEF. Keep us posted.👍

I think you nailed it. Can't wait to see what you find this time when you run it out of DEF.

I saw a guy on KZread today that ran out of DEF truck wouldn’t start he popped the hood pulled the relay fuse don’t recall wich one but he used a simple jumper wire with the key on and it start he put relay in and was able to drive normally ! I believe it was the ecodiesel though if it matters ? May try that out could save your butt in the woods !

The EPA doesn't care about your DPF or your vehicles limp mode but it does have 1.67 billion other things they are interested in

I'm really looking forward to what you find out when testing your truck when running out of DEF and if your speed immediately becomes limited. I believe you may be on to something important.

A logical hypothesis! However, I have to wonder what happens with Ford and GM diesels when they run low or out of DEF. If they have a similar failsafe built in, then why wouldn't they be on the hook for $2B? It's all too strange...

Found an article in fortune. "They have Cummins diesel engines equipped with software that limited nitrogen oxide pollution during emissions tests but allowed higher pollution during normal operations" apparently the software mod fixes this issue.

@aaronsrose

5 ай бұрын

Very cool. Thanks Jake! I've got to look that up.

@aaronsrose

5 ай бұрын

Reading that, I think they may have been referring to the 3.0L ecodiesels they got hammered for about 5 years ago. I still don't see much exposition about this latest silliness. Thanks!

When I was having all my "Service DEF system, see dealer" problems (unrelated to the amount of DEF in the tank, because I always had plenty), I got the dreaded limp mode countdown on a bunch of different occasions. I was actually able to intermittently clear the system message with my Bluedriver scan tool with the full scan and clear of all system modules (could just be coincidental too, but it is a very powerful scan tool). It would always keep coming back randomly, but I was able to turn off the truck, turn it back on and sometimes the message would be gone or a brand new countdown would start. It was seriously like it was possessed! 🤣 Obviously, there must have been some electrical fault somewhere in that overly complex aftertreatment system for the message to appear and disappear, but I do attribute some of the countdown resets to my Bluedriver's functionality. I never did end up taking it far enough into where limp mode would have engaged and I was terrified to drive it any significant distance for fear of getting stranded at 5mph with an unpredictable mileage countdown. I certainly don't miss that time period where I felt more comfortable taking my 20 year old Honda Civic with 200k on it on a road trip than my 5 year old truck with less than 100k. It was nice to find out information on the forums that the truck would have continued to run as long as I didn't shut it off, worst case scenario! I'll be really interested to see what your testing reveals!! It definitely seems like there should be a bit of leeway for owners being able to continue to drive while the truck remains powered on though, with these system faults that are unfortunately all too common. You may very well be onto something and I never really thought to investigate what happens with Ford's or Chevy's trucks when a similar issue arises with their aftertreatment systems. For those of us living in rural places, it's easy to be much further than 50mi from an actual Dodge dealer to perform that required "service" (if they're even able to figure out the problem while your truck's out of commission for 3+ days). Ridiculous, unnecessary problems for a newer vehicle to be plagued with!

That's a reasonable theory (tin hat not needed for that one). It also makes sense because many regualtions don't have much room for judicious exceptions (the acting in "good faith" part of this). It'd actually be interesting to look up the actual regulation and see if there's any wiggle room in its language where Cummins could have interpreted it in a way that aligns with this theory.

I dont know about your truck, but I just had the recall done on my truck. Before I never smelled anything from my exhaust and after the recall was done now my exhaust stinks.

@aaronsrose

5 ай бұрын

Interesting data point. So far I've noticed nothing different on mine. Hopefully yours stays good.

1.6 billion dollar fine is far above a major nuisance emission issue Cummins is facing on its Diesel engines in RAM 2500 and 3500 trucks. There is something that is not a reasonable decision or it was an accounting situation where the cost for not doing the emissions was significantly less than the financial penalty. Why aren't the RAM 1500 with the Cummins with the same type engine not included in the advertised recall? Regular emissions testing don't run a long time highway test where Diesel emission defeat devices typically go into effect. This is a mystery right now that people that follow the industry want to known what was going on. Why would Cummins, that through a huge amount of advertised effort had established itself as the accomplished road diesel emissions development and durability leader in the world, risk its hard won reputation with obvious Diesel emissions defeat devices? Unless it is impossible to actually make a low emissions well performing Diesel engine it seems insane. There are mentalities that want to eliminate Diesels all together. They don't believe there is such a thing as cleaner running Diesel. That can cause regulations not so much intended to create cleaner running Diesels, but simply eliminate them.

@parexc07

5 ай бұрын

Ram 1500 did not use Cummins diesel engines.

@aaronsrose

5 ай бұрын

Good point. I think the 3.0L ecodiesels were of Italian origin.

How dangerous would it be when towing if you ran low on DEF. It almost happened to me, and it is concerning. I got lucky and the next gas station on my route had DEF. If you forced the truck into limp mode it's a safety concern. I'm sure most people would stop and fill ASAP.

I’m surprised they haven’t already indicted trump for this Cummins mess 😂

let me know when you have done your test to prove or disprove your Hypothesis

@aaronsrose

5 ай бұрын

Down to 140 miles until 5mph. Hopefully tomorrow.

My understanding is that the money will stay in California to be spent by the politically connected, so there you have it.

Your guess would be wrong. There are other reasons.

@aaronsrose

5 ай бұрын

Okay. So what would those other reasons be I might ask?

@user-pt9wc7cf6x

5 ай бұрын

​@@aaronsroseI would not be able to say but your guess is very wrong.