Hot Exhaust Light after exiting freeway and smoke

The truck unfortunately didn't come with a pyrometer. If it were my truck I'd have one. It is fitted out with more guages than most. 17 to be exact. There is one blank spot though and that's probably where the pyro would have been I guess lol.

Mostly I'm worried about there being a fire associated with the smoke. I have a dog and a cat so I'd prefer not to have them burn up in the truck while I'm away for a few minutes after coming off the highway. And I know that there is a group out in Cali blaming truck fires off of the DPF. So that's probably what's got me worried. The other issue is this truck doesn't tell me it's regenning going down the road. So how am I supposed to know that it's in the middle of that process when I exit the highway? Is there a way to know?

MS

 

That's what that light does

 

Less than 5 mph and above 842F (450 C) will trigger HEST lamp. Smoke(whitish blue usually) is usually raw fuel from HC doser. How often is it regening?

 

HEST lamp is normal. As stated above. And you have an exhaust leak somewhere between the engine and the DPF. First place to go is inspect the exhaust flex pipe. You should find a soot trail somewhere.

 

I suppose you could put a piece of black tape over it,,,like the "ABS light", get it? A,,BS light?

 

It only "asks" for a regen if I've been idling for more than 12 hours. Other than that I can't tell you how often it's doing it.

 

I'm wondering if I need to describe the smoke. It's like a light white smoke, not thick at all and it only occurs if I get this light.

MS

 

You need to get the truck inspected, these emission trucks do not like to be idled, really messes up the system, carbon packing. Sounds like you need a good EGR tuneup and the exhaust inspected for leaks and or broken DPF/DOC filters along with a new doser. Just be glad it is not your truck. $$$$$

 

I had a 2013 volvo that started doing that... Turned out my dpf filter was plugged... Really badly. New dpf and it quit doing it.