Exhaust System: Precautions

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2013 Ford F-550 Super Duty, 2013 Ford F-450 Super Duty, 2013 Ford F-350 Super Duty, and 2013 Ford F-250 Super Duty. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

WARNING: Keep the holes and tabs in the tailpipe free of foreign material or blockage. Do not modify or permanently remove the tailpipe section that contains the holes. Operating the vehicle with plugged or blocked holes or with modifications to the system may result in elevated exhaust gas temperatures, which may burn persons contacted by the exhaust gas. Failure to follow these instructions may result in serious personal injury to the technician or vehicle occupant(s).

WARNING: Manual regeneration of the diesel particulate filter causes the exhaust gas to get very hot quickly. □ Initiate a manual regeneration only when the vehicle is on the ground with the area around the tailpipe free of people, obstructions, foreign material or other items. Failure to follow these instructions may result in serious personal injury.

NOTE: Do not use leaded fuel in a vehicle equipped with a catalytic converter. In a vehicle that is continually misfueled, the lead in the fuel will be deposited in the catalytic converter and completely blanket the catalyst. Lead reacts with platinum to "poison" the catalyst. Continuous use of leaded fuel can destroy the catalyst and render the catalytic converter useless.

NOTE: The addition of lead to the catalytic converter can also solidify the catalyst, causing excessive back pressure in the exhaust system and possibly causing engine damage.

NOTE: For areas where ultra low sulfur diesel fuel (15 ppm sulfur maximum) is required, use only ultra low sulfur diesel fuel in diesel vehicles equipped with an Oxidation Catalytic Converter (OC) and Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF). In a diesel vehicle that is continually misfueled by using low sulfur (16-500 ppm) or high sulfur (500 ppm or greater) diesel fuel, the sulfur can effectively poison the catalyst. Continuous use of low sulfur or high sulfur can destroy the catalyst and render the catalyst useless.

NOTE: Extremely high temperatures (1, 100°C [2, 012°F] or above) due to misfiring or over-rich fuel/air mixture will cause the ceramic substrate or Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) substrate to sinter or burn, destroying the catalytic converter, Oxidation Catalytic Converter (OC) and/or DPF. Do not continue to operate the vehicle if the engine is misfiring, there is a power loss or other unusual operating conditions, such as engine overheating and backfiring.

NOTE: Do not use oil or grease-based lubricants on the isolators. These lubricants may cause deterioration of the isolator. This can lead to separation of the isolator from the exhaust hanger bracket during vehicle operation.

NOTE: Exhaust nuts are of a prevailing torque design. Use only new nuts with the same part number as the original. Torque values must be used as specified during reassembly to make sure of correct retention of exhaust components.

Make sure to follow these precautions when carrying out the procedures in this article.