Dreaded DPFE Sensor fail @86K miles

[kerbvibe5]

Noticed recurring hesitation and shuddering at low rpm's and eventually got a check engine light. Took my 2020 Ranger into a Ford dealer while away from home on a long trip, thinking I'll just let them diagnose the check engine light and go from there. They said I needed a new EGR cooler which was reporting "low threshold efficiency". Fortunately I remembered an early post on this forum about the EGR DPFE sensor habtually failing around 75K miles and decided to do some research to see if my symptoms matched up. Sure enough, after some arguing with the dealer, I got them to change the DPFE sensor and not the cooler (which requires substantial labor to get at and replace). So, thanks 5G'ers for sharing your knowledge and saving me some big bucks!

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[got3fords]

Noticed recurring hesitation and shuddering at low rpm's and eventually got a check engine light. Took my 2020 Ranger into a Ford dealer while away from home on a long trip, thinking I'll just let them diagnose the check engine light and go from there. They said I needed a new EGR cooler which was reporting "low threshold efficiency". Fortunately I remembered an early post on this forum about the EGR DPFE sensor habtually failing around 75K miles and decided to do some research to see if my symptoms matched up. Sure enough, after some arguing with the dealer, I got them to change the DPFE sensor and not the cooler (which requires substantial labor to get at and replace). So, thanks 5G'ers for sharing your knowledge and saving me some big bucks!

So that cured it? Egg on the dealer's face?

 

[kerbvibe5]

Yep, so far so good! Fortunately the service reception team brought a young tech in from the garage who agreed with my hunch and another nearby Ford dealer had the part, so I lucked out and enjoyed a same day repair.

 

[ctechbob]

I just recommend that people put it on a 30k schedule. Buy the VP41 from Rockauto when they are in stock and just replace them around that mileage.

There's a reason the dumb things are constantly out of stock.....

 

[Beach]

I just recommend that people put it on a 30k schedule. Buy the VP41 from Rockauto when they are in stock and just replace them around that mileage.

There's a reason the dumb things are constantly out of stock.....

Some of those other versions don't fit all Ranger applications. I'd go with the real thing

 

[SpaceGhost]

Hi, any chance you have the part number? My 2020 has 50k and I'd like to get ahead of this issue. Thanks in advance.

 

[Beach]

Hi, any chance you have the part number? My 2020 has 50k and I'd like to get ahead of this issue. Thanks in advance.

LB5Z-9J433-B

Here is a link to one OEM source, another I tried was out of stock as are many rn: https://www.fordoempartsoutlet.com/search?search_str=LB5Z-9J433-B

 

[SpaceGhost]

Awesome, thanks!

 

[kerbvibe5]

I don't know the typical failure modes for the DPFE Sensor, but I wonder if a good first step would be to take it out and soak/clean it to remove carbon build up and try putting it back in?

 

[ctechbob]

Some of those other versions don't fit all Ranger applications. I'd go with the real thing

That's why I specifically said VP41.

That is the only part number and by the only manufacturer that you should use other than OEM.

So far, everyone that has bought one has reported that they are MC sensors with the gold print scrubbed off.

All the ones I've bought have been exactly that way.

 

[airline tech]

I don't know the typical failure modes for the DPFE Sensor, but I wonder if a good first step would be to take it out and soak/clean it to remove carbon build up and try putting it back in?

NOOOO, it is an electronic circuit membrane, there is no carbon buildup on the sensor, this is why moisture is taking them out.

 

[ctechbob]

Yep, so far so good! Fortunately the service reception team brought a young tech in from the garage who agreed with my hunch and another nearby Ford dealer had the part, so I lucked out and enjoyed a same day repair.

https://www.ranger5g.com/forum/threads/whats-inside-a-dpfe-sensor-pics-inside.26792/

There's some pics there. To back up what @airline tech said, there's nothing to clean. Moisture is what is killing the sensors, and it isn't just a matter of drying them out. It is getting into the sensors substrate and changing the electrical properties making the readings it reports abnormal. Usually not abnormal enough to throw codes, but enough to dork up the way the truck runs.

 

[kerbvibe5]

Thanks for the explanation of how the DPFE works--just looking at it I assummed there was some way for it to get contaminated but never thought acidic water vapor content on the exhaust is the culprit.

 

[Friday yet?]

86K miles ain’t bad. Many of us have had it fail much sooner. I recently changed mine out. Original only made it to @42K miles.

About a 30 minute project. For someone with younger eyes it’d be 15-20 minutes. (Hard to get light in that spot without them blocking the light with your hand.)

Glad you’re back to Rangering!

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