Cantung and Yukon Zinc Mine

It's a beautiful area to visit, especially in the spring. I sometimes go there on vacation.

The problems I have found with DPF systems in winter isn't so much the DEF tank temperature but the particulate filter and catalyst temperatures. It seems that when the ambient temperature is low (below -25) and the exhaust gas temperature is low (pulling empty) the (cold-ish) filter clogs up and rapidly and becomes so clogged that regens are ineffective and the filter must be removed and sent to the cleaners. My suspicion is that DPF systems are designed for California winters and not chilly, chilly winters in Canada.

 

Just delete it we had a bunch of trucks running around up highway 37 around iskit or however you call it for the red Chris mine project. Never had any problems as long as you idled up when sitting.

 

Iskut is in the balmy south part of the Stewart-Cassiar Highway. No requirement for long pants. The cold temperatures are much further north, starting at about Boya Lake.

 

No, not really. It rarely goes down to -50 at Watson Lake but it can hover around the -40 mark for quite a long time, which is remarkable for a place with relatively high snowfall for the Yukon. It does get colder as you head up toward Cantung and Yukon Zinc but not as cold as going all the way to Faro, Dawson City or Snag (coldest temperature in North America at -64).

One of the big bug bears for trucks is going from the extremely warm and humid coastal temperatures at the Port of Stewart (0 in winter) to -35 in Watson Lake in one day. Brake pads easily freeze to drums. Air dryers are tested to the max.

 

I went up to do the Stewart run for Arrow. We used the same tri drive Western Stars as we use down here. DD16s and they are running the DEF system. Honestly, the worst part isn't fuel mileage or dpf problems. The ore concentrate has a 7-10% moisture rate. Put that in a metal trailer with around -100 for a wind chill and you have to use a pick axe to get it out of your trailers. It is NOT fun, believe me. 50 tons is a loooooooong day when it won't come out.