oilhammer
Certified Volkswagen Nut & Vendor
Don't most of those types of applications just have a manual regen method? I lamp that comes on telling the operator one is required, and then a switch that starts the process? I know John Deere does. They use two modes: Auto and Parked. In either case, the light will flash and then come on steady during. Which is something I think would/could be useful in passenger cars and light duty trucks.Mack refuse trucks had constant issues. They never ran down the highway unless one of us mechanics took them out. On and off the throttle and they never properly regened because they would get shut down. Worst part there is the ecu would derate the engine and the operators generally didn't bring them in until it was too late. Once past a certain point a regen could not be forced without dealer specific software.
Point being, a diesel with DPf's need to stretch there legs on a regular basis. Tough on manufactures also as the government mandated a 5yr warranty. Backhoes were especially troublesome also.
Technically, the DPF light coming on is supposed to tell you a regen NEEDS to occur, as it has failed X many attempts. However a lamp that comes on telling you when the process has started would be helpful, because then you would KNOW and, if at all possible, you could slightly change your current driving to allow it to complete.
But the way Volkswagen (and I assume MB and the rest?) have it, once the light comes on, you've already failed any passive attempts.