Bison Skid Plate and Fire Hazard

[poordirtfarmer]

I recently purchased a diesel ZR2 Bison edition. Had it for three weeks and less than 1,300 miles. I drove a couple of diesel Colorado ZR2's and a diesel Silverado Z71 before this Silverado ZR2. At around 1,300 miles I had a fire next to the DPF filter on top of the AEV transfer case skid plate that I think is only added on the Bison. I've heard that the DPF filter runs over 1,000 degrees during a regen. I have lots of trucks, tractors, sprayers, combines, pickups with DPF filters and have never had a fire. I got the fire out pretty quick but apparently it burned quite a few wires that run along the frame. When looking at the aev skid plate placement and how Chevy tucked the dpf filter on top of the skid plate it appears to be a fire hazard if a driver runs through any grass or crop residue (I'm a farmer) much over a foot and a half.

My service department filed a claim with GM product assistance and the claim was promptly denied because the truck was not in the same state as when the fire occurred (my authorized GM service department removed the skid plate to assess the damage.....not me). GM did not address the design issue at all (why would they?). Just wanted to give guys a heads-up to be careful driving a diesel Bison ZR2 through any grass or crop residue. The skid plate acts like a rake scooping up grass seed and other residue and leaving it on top of the skid plate to dry. The dpf filter then acts as an igniter during a regen sitting less than an inch (maybe even right next to) the dried grass/residue sitting on the skid plate. Not sure what I'm going to do with mine but just don't want anyone else to experience the same.

 

[AXE]

That's some crazy shit, but I could easily see it happening. The holes in the skid don't seem to help much as the debris gets trapped along the edges and mounting surface.

I have the 2500HD, but I've pulled the skids a couple times for other maintenence and install work and there was plenty of rock, dirt, and sand in there. I was surprised to see so much shit trapped in spite of the holes.

I could easily see that to be a fire hazard for vegetation or woody material. I guess
I'll need to add a couple of extinguishers as I too drive in fields and pastures, occasionally in the desert and forest when camping.

 

[AXE]

GM is generally useless with customer service and I haven't gotten much out of AEV when I've contacted them about their crooked bumpers and the piss poor light pod cut outs.

 

[poordirtfarmer]

That's some crazy shit, but I could easily see it happening. The holes in the skid don't seem to help much as the debris gets trapped along the edges and mounting surface.

I have the 2500HD, but I've pulled the skids a couple times for other maintenence and install work and there was plenty of rock, dirt, and sand in there. I was surprised to see so much shit trapped in spite of the holes.

I could easily see that to be a fire hazard for vegetation or woody material. I guess
I'll need to add a couple of extinguishers as I too drive in fields and pastures, occasionally in the desert and forest when camping.

Yes….carry fire extinguishers. I was lucky and wasn’t far from a water hydrant. I hadn’t even driven through much of any grass. And of course you don’t know when the truck is going to do a regen.

 

[Nmass94]

Damn
Sorry this happened to you man
I guess it wouldn't help if there was alot of grass built up in there, but this is one argument for aluminum skids- better heat dissipation

 

[poordirtfarmer]

Damn
Sorry this happened to you man
I guess it wouldn't help if there was alot of grass built up in there, but this is one argument for aluminum skids- better heat dissipation

Thanks. Just can’t place a dpf filter close to where grass can be collected. Deere learned that years ago with their RX tractors and fixed the issue with a PIP.

 

[ZR2BIZON]

Wow! Good thing there wasn't a catastrophic outcome.

What a shitty response from GM

 

[Nmass94]

Thanks. Just can’t place a dpf filter close to where grass can be collected. Deere learned that years ago with their RX tractors and fixed the issue with a PIP.

they had a huge issue in australia when VW first brought out their amarok pickup.
Dpf was low down and kept starting stubble fires on farms. Completely wrecked their sales

 

[ZR2EDDYB]

Check your frame coating after driving through tall grass for a while. I had to re-coat my frame due to high grass/hay rubbing all the frame coating off.

 

[ShaneR76]

I recently purchased a diesel ZR2 Bison edition. Had it for three weeks and less than 1,300 miles. I drove a couple of diesel Colorado ZR2's and a diesel Silverado Z71 before this Silverado ZR2. At around 1,300 miles I had a fire next to the DPF filter on top of the AEV transfer case skid plate that I think is only added on the Bison. I've heard that the DPF filter runs over 1,000 degrees during a regen. I have lots of trucks, tractors, sprayers, combines, pickups with DPF filters and have never had a fire. I got the fire out pretty quick but apparently it burned quite a few wires that run along the frame. When looking at the aev skid plate placement and how Chevy tucked the dpf filter on top of the skid plate it appears to be a fire hazard if a driver runs through any grass or crop residue (I'm a farmer) much over a foot and a half.

My service department filed a claim with GM product assistance and the claim was promptly denied because the truck was not in the same state as when the fire occurred (my authorized GM service department removed the skid plate to assess the damage.....not me). GM did not address the design issue at all (why would they?). Just wanted to give guys a heads-up to be careful driving a diesel Bison ZR2 through any grass or crop residue. The skid plate acts like a rake scooping up grass seed and other residue and leaving it on top of the skid plate to dry. The dpf filter then acts as an igniter during a regen sitting less than an inch (maybe even right next to) the dried grass/residue sitting on the skid plate. Not sure what I'm going to do with mine but just don't want anyone else to experience the same.

Dang! Thanks for that info!

 

[8ball_99]

Not really a ton you can do about it. I've been trail riding quads and side by sides most of my life. Fires are pretty common with OHV. We all carry fire extinguishers. You have to becareful about what's collecting where. Happens a lot in the fall from leafs. Mud and leafs get sling up and stick around the exhaust and engine. Mud dries up and the leafs catch. I don't care what kind of holes or slots you have. Skid plates catch and hold whatever your driving in.

Just imagine driving in tall grass with that DPF at 1000 degrees without that skidplate covering it, lol.