DEF: Dealer, Retail or Truck Stop?

[Plan-B]

Originally Posted by Plan-B

My 2016 2500 Cummins: 2,500 miles Michigan to Central Idaho Mountains. Highway 65mph, mountain roads as I felt comfortable. Used 2.5 gal DEF, half tank.

If the DEF tank is completely full it will go many miles, like your 1,600 oberserved, before a noticeable movement. The RAM Supplemental Diesel Manual describes this behavior as normal.

Forgot to mention. Pulling 26u, gross trailer weight approx 7,300 pds. Bed payload around 400 pounds.

[ghaynes755]

I use the container from 5Star Def. Fill it before a trip or as need. Average about $2.00 per gallon. So $5 vs $10-12 most places. I've also filled at the DEF pumps. Pretty easy.

http://www.fivestardef.com

[jtwind]

RAM 1500 eco diesel, I get it at a truck stop. Much cheaper, small nozzle with credit card slot like fuel. Around 10,000 miles to a tank of DEF.

[Naper]

Originally Posted by graysailor

Really makes no difference. Essentially water and urine. Actually that is what it is.

Urea not Urine

[Rich Jenkins]

Originally Posted by jtwind

RAM 1500 eco diesel, I get it at a truck stop. Much cheaper, small nozzle with credit card slot like fuel. Around 10,000 miles to a tank of DEF.

Cheaper being...how much? Per gallon, say?

[KJRitchie]

$2.50 roughly compared to $4-5/gallon average buying it by the retail container.

Kelvin

[Moflash]

Urea is urine.


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[rmkrum]

Chemically it is just one component of urine.


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[Elbo]

From my 35 years working on trucks with Cummins motors I have found out that if you have a problem with the engine and you have not used what Cummins recommends then you are out of luck on the warranty. Whether its a Peterbuilt, Kenworth, Mac or a Dodge Ram. So good luck if it is Def is Def is Def. Try and sell Cummins on that.

[Rich Jenkins]

Originally Posted by Elbo

From my 35 years working on trucks with Cummins motors I have found out that if you have a problem with the engine and you have not used what Cummins recommends then you are out of luck on the warranty. Whether its a Peterbuilt, Kenworth, Mac or a Dodge Ram. So good luck if it is Def is Def is Def. Try and sell Cummins on that.

Right.

So here is what is in my owner's manual. Basically, FCA specifies MOPAR DEF, or anything API certified to ISO 22241.

As I said. DEF is DEF is DEF. As long as it is 22241, you are good to go.

[Adiredneck]

I've had good luck with Loves and Pilot DEF in my '15 Ram 3500. I also bought a 2.5 gallon container from NAPA which I keep in the tool box for those trips away from the interstates. I may have to toss the remainder of that jug after reading this, inasmuch as I bought it last year and it has been simmering in the heat of our Mississippi summer...

[Endodoc]

2.5 gal Blue DEF 10.95 at SAM's today

[Rgentum]

We just got back from the Lewisburg, WV rally with a day thereafter in Glacier Park as part of the Kalispell, MT rally.

My experience with DEF. First of all, DEF is DEF --- it's a water solution of urea: CO(NH2)2. Nothing fancy at all.

In cartons, such as with Blue DEF, 2.5 gallons typically costs around $12.50 --- around $5/gallon, and you've got to mess with opening the carton, attaching the nozzle, & filling.

At a truck stop, DEF at the pump typically cost around $2.75/gallon, and all it takes is putting the nozzle in & filling however much you need. You're right, the DEF nozzles have high flow rates. So the answer is to squeeze the nozzle handle ever so slightly so the DEF just starts flowing. Yes, the first time I did it, I put DEF all over the side of my truck. Lesson learned. Don't crank the handle down all the way, pull it lightly, fill as much as you need, & save approx 50% of the price. The only problem I've had is finding truck stops with DEF at the pump --- not all truck stops have it. And some truck stops that have DEF at the pump don't have them at all of their pumps.

[KJRitchie]

I looked at a 2 1/2 gallon carton at my local O'Reilly's auto parts store. They had the Peak and the O'Reilly's brand. They both had the goofy date stamp code.

The one I kinda remember had two alpha characters then 17 then 237.

My understanding is you subtract 1 from the first so the year produced is 2016 and the next set of digits you subtract from 365. So the code means it was produced about a month ago?

So if DEF shelf life is reduced by high temperatures can retail DEF shelf life be reduced if it was shipped by truck in hot weather. The truck could sit travel in 100F heat while in transport.

How is bulk DEF transported to a truck stop?

Kelvin

[Tincampers]

I buy the cheapest stuff I can in the 2.5 gallon jugs. I carry one with me. The warning has come on anywhere from 200 miles to 950 miles remaining. When using these jugs pay very close attention to the filler spout. That sucker will pop off at the most inconvenient time...like right when you tip the jug over to start pouring. In the Chevy/GM the fill port is located very conveniently under the hood by the firewall. Good thing I am 6'1" tall.

[Florida 55]

For five years I have been buying Blue DEF at WalMart. Usually about $11.99 for the 2 1/2 gallon container. There is a manufacture date on the carton. I rarely find containers more than 2 months old.

[Elbo]

Oil is oil also. It comes out of the ground and it basically refined the same at the big refineries, but still some charge more then others. Why?? Because of different additives. So if the Chrysler dealer selling the Ram Dodge with a Cummins and they recommend a certain brand that Cummins says you should be using then there is some reason Cummins is doing that. So good luck if you have to deal with Cummins on an injector or motor problem.