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07-27-2016, 01:05 PM
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#1
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Rivet Master
2008 25' Classic
Full Time
, Texas
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 4,309
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DEF: Dealer, Retail or Truck Stop?
I'm heading off on a 4000mile trip next week to Glacier National Park. My Ram 2500 DEF tank is full. Should I purchase so DEF from the auto parts store for the trip? Most of it seems to be Peak which is ISO-22241-1 compliant or should I just use a truck stop DEF pump if I find I need to top off. I realize the truck stop will be the cheapest.
Anyone use the Peak brand in their RAM or GM diesels?
The dealer says I should stick to Mopar but isn't DEF only made by a couple of companies. As long as its fresh it should be OK, right?
Kelvin
__________________
2008 Classic 25fb "Silver Mistress"
2015 Ram 2500 6.7L Cummins. Crew Cab, 4x4, Silver
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07-27-2016, 01:24 PM
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#2
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Rivet Master
2002 30' Classic S/O
Fleming Island
, Florida
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 4,668
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Kelvin,
I use Blue DEF in the cardboard box carton and I get it either from Advance Auto Parts or WalMart. You can almost always find a WalMart, and you get a lot of warning. In case you are not up on the gauge non-linearity, my tank is a five gallon tank, but when down to 1/4 on the gauge a single 2 (or 2-1/2?) gallon box will put it up to full. I usually run it down to empty ( and I still haven't seen the "200 miles to limp mode" warning) and put in one box in an attempt to not leave the DEF in the truck too long. I've read it deteriorates at 90 and above temperatures.
I tried to get fuel and DEF at the truck pump at a Pilot or Flying J and the fuel nozzle wouldn't run slow enough to get an appreciable amount of fuel in my truck before it would shut off and the nozzle wouldn't fit my DEF fill (if I remember correctly).
I envy you the trip to Glacier. We were planning on a trip to Wyoming but family matters and a new (to us) trailer got in the way. Hopefully next year.
Al
__________________
“You cannot reason someone out of a position they have not been reasoned into"
Al, K5TAN and Missy, N4RGO WBCCI 1322
2002 Classic 30 Slideout -S/OS #004
2013 Dodge 2500 Laramie 4x4 Megacab Cummins
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07-27-2016, 01:29 PM
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#3
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4 Rivet Member
1991 25' Excella
Stanfield
, Oregon
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 317
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Dont bother keeping it full. When it gets down to 1/4 or so then top it off. Now as far as where to top it off. Busy truck stops go through a lot more def then other places which insures they have the freshest def.
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07-27-2016, 01:42 PM
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#4
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Rivet Master
2015 30' Classic
2012 28' International
Greensboro
, North Carolina
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,708
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Kelvin, I have basically the same truck -- only it's a '14. I have the same process as Al. I buy DEF at AutoZone or Advance Auto Parts. Just bought two boxes for $25. Have also bought it at Wal Mart, and virtually every station that sells diesel has DEF. My gauge stays at full until I've used about 2 gallons of DEF, then it drops to around 3/8's of a tank. I've got about 42,000 miles on my truck -- all but about 2000 are towing -- and my DEF utilization rate varies on terrain. If I'm doing lots of mountains I'll use more, if flatlands, quite a bit less. I'd guess I get around 1000 miles per gallon of DEF. Barry
__________________
_________________
"SilverLeaf II" 2015 30' Classic
2019 RAM 2500 Limited 4x4 CC w/6.7L Cummins
ProPride 3P
AIR# 58452
WBCCI # 3430-Unit 21
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07-27-2016, 02:02 PM
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#5
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Rivet Master
Currently Looking...
Currently Looking...
Currently Looking...
2022 Atlas
Homosassa
, Florida
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 729
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I have used GM, peak and Walmart house brand. All have been fine. Peak as I recall has code for date which is first 2 digits ignore, next two minus one is the year, next three are days from the end of the year. I buy before major trip when I know Def is getting low.
50k miles almost all towing and def usage is insignificant.
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07-27-2016, 02:11 PM
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#6
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Rivet Master
1971 27' Overlander
2023 28' Flying Cloud
Monmouth
, Oregon
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 607
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Good to read of your guy's experience. I have 1,800 miles on my 2016 thus far, and I haven't had to put DEF in yet; I am still reading full.
I would probably set out without any on hand and plan to find some along the way because of the high temperatures you are likely to be in along the way.
I have read a few hoar stories of folks whose DEF tanks got cross contaminated, so I will be sure to use a new funnel when filling; a benign I hear you get with Mopar brand.
__________________
“Let’s be careful out there.”
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07-27-2016, 06:12 PM
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#7
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Rivet Master
Tavares
, Florida
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 1,052
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DEF is DEF is DEF, as long as it is to ISO 22241.
I buy mine at WalMart in the 2.5 gallon jugs. Usually Blue DEF; but whatever is cheapest.
I have the same truck ('16 Ram 2500 with the Cummins). What I do is wait till the tank reads 1/2, then dump in the entire jug at the next fuel stop.
With the tank size of 5.9 gallons (I think) this plan works pretty well for me. Towing, I go through more jugs than not towing; I'd guess 4 to 5 thousand miles per jug, but that is just a guess. 21k on the truck; love it.
__________________
“Character is doing the right thing when nobody’s looking. There are too many people who think that the only thing that’s right is to get by, and the only thing that’s wrong is to get caught.” - J.C. Watts Jr.
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07-27-2016, 06:17 PM
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#8
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Rivet Master
Tavares
, Florida
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 1,052
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Thiss
Good to read of your guy's experience. I have 1,800 miles on my 2016 thus far, and I haven't had to put DEF in yet; I am still reading full.
I would probably set out without any on hand and plan to find some along the way because of the high temperatures you are likely to be in along the way.
I have read a few hoar stories of folks whose DEF tanks got cross contaminated, so I will be sure to use a new funnel when filling; a benign I hear you get with Mopar brand.
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Blue DEF jugs at WalMart come with a flexible pour nozzle that fits the DEF inlet perfectly.
__________________
“Character is doing the right thing when nobody’s looking. There are too many people who think that the only thing that’s right is to get by, and the only thing that’s wrong is to get caught.” - J.C. Watts Jr.
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07-27-2016, 08:12 PM
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#9
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Usually lost
2007 27' Safari FB SE
Maricopa
, Arizona
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 75
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Based on recent experience I would suggest getting DEF at a high volume truck stop and not filling over half a tank. My 2015 Ram CTD uses very little when not towing. I was almost empty and decided to fill before towing up to the Mogollon Rim for the 4th of July. I bought at Walmart as I had several times in the past. Per the date code it was 28 days old. I towed up the mountain with no problems but a couple days later while running around the warning came on that incorrect def detected. see dealer. Got it to the dealer before it went into limp mode. They determined that the DEF was bad. They showed my their chart indicating that the shelf life was 2 months at 104 degrees. It has been over 110 here. They had to replace several parts in the emission system which was covered by warranty, but I had to pay to have the DEF tank drained and flushed at a cost of $360. To make a very long story as short as I can it took 14 days to get my truck back and their solution to prevent this from happening again was to never fill over half in the summer here and if I don't use it up in 30 days have them drain the tank (at $360/time). This is after I had my issue escalated 4 times at FCA. I've purchased a def refractometer from Amazon and a pump to drain the tank to try to stop this from happening. The better solution would be for us to get out of AZ entirely for the hotter months.
__________________
Pat, Babs & Riley
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07-28-2016, 10:42 AM
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#10
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Rivet Master
2008 25' Classic
Full Time
, Texas
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 4,309
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Was the DEF you purchased sitting in your truck just prior to towing up to the Mogollon Rim or had you purchased it months earlier and it was sitting in your hot truck all that time? Was it Peak DEF?
I found this youtube video on DEF filling from a truck stop.
Kelvin
__________________
2008 Classic 25fb "Silver Mistress"
2015 Ram 2500 6.7L Cummins. Crew Cab, 4x4, Silver
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07-28-2016, 11:10 AM
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#11
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Rivet Master
2007 28' International CCD
Springfield
, Missouri
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,423
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O'Reilly's Blue Def 2.5 gallons are on sale.Two for $25.00
I am leaving for Glacier Friday July 29th for a couple of weeks.
Maybe I will see you there!
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07-28-2016, 11:23 AM
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#12
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TinCan
2016 30' Classic
Apache Junction
, Arizona
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 880
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Really makes no difference. Essentially water and urine. Actually that is what it is.
__________________
TinCan
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07-28-2016, 11:33 AM
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#13
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Rivet Master
2008 25' Classic
Full Time
, Texas
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 4,309
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Moflash
O'Reilly's Blue Def 2.5 gallons are on sale.Two for $25.00
I am leaving for Glacier Friday July 29th for a couple of weeks.
Maybe I will see you there!
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We are leaving August 5. Will be on east side for the first week at St Mary and Many Glacier then over to Fish Creek for the 2nd week.
Kelvin
__________________
2008 Classic 25fb "Silver Mistress"
2015 Ram 2500 6.7L Cummins. Crew Cab, 4x4, Silver
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07-28-2016, 11:56 AM
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#14
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Rivet Master
2007 28' International CCD
Springfield
, Missouri
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,423
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Just watch for a black F350 Platinum with a CanAm 4 wheeler in the box with two Hobie kayaks on top pulling a 28ft International.That would be me
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07-28-2016, 12:08 PM
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#15
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4 Rivet Member
2014 27' Flying Cloud
Stowe
, Vermont
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 338
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If you spill any DEF on your paint, make sure you wash it off. Urine will eat the paint off.
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07-28-2016, 12:40 PM
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#16
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2 Rivet Member
2016 30' Classic
Lake Wylie
, South Carolina
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 58
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After reading these post I did a Google search and found the following information. I hope this is correct because I carry a container of DEF in the bed of my truck. When my gauge reaches just below the 1/2 mark I fill it then purchase another one at Walmart.
DEF will degrade over time depending on temperature and exposure to sun light. Expectations for shelf life as defined by ISO Spec 22241-3 are the minimum expectations for shelf life when stored at constant temperatures. If stored between 10 and 90 deg F, shelf life will easily be one year.
Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) Q & A - Cummins Filtration
https://www.cumminsfiltration.com › files
__________________
Paul and Linda Hardin
WBCCI 21870
2016 Airstream Classic 30'
2015 Ram 2500 Laramie Mega Cab Turbo Diesel 4x4
Vietnam Veteran Army 70 - 71
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07-28-2016, 01:32 PM
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#17
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Usually lost
2007 27' Safari FB SE
Maricopa
, Arizona
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 75
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I put the DEF in the truck immediately from the store, in the parking lot actually. It was not the Peak, but rather the stuff in the blue container. I forget the name.
.
__________________
Pat, Babs & Riley
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07-28-2016, 01:48 PM
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#18
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2 Rivet Member
2002 31' Classic
Houston
, Texas
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 68
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"Really makes no difference. Essentially water and urine. Actually that is what it is."
__________________
TinCan
*********************
TC:
Actually, that's not quite true.
"Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) is an emissions control liquid required by modern diesel engines. It is injected into the exhaust stream. DEF is never added to diesel fuel. It is a non-hazardous solution of 32.5% urea in 67.5% de-ionized water. DEF is clear and colorless, and looks exactly like water. It has a slight smell of ammonia, similar to some home cleaning agents. DEF is used in by Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) technology to remove harmful NOx emissions from diesel engines."
The fluid is injected into the exhaust stream, where it is vaporized, and reacts with the pollutants and scrubs NOx from the exhaust gasses. It's been used for several decades in diesels as well as other IC gadgets like combustion turbines.
It keeps Colorado air clean smelling.....
Urea is actually the nitrogen (first number) in common fertilizer, such as 15-10-5.....
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07-28-2016, 01:49 PM
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#19
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4 Rivet Member
1991 25' Excella
Stanfield
, Oregon
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 317
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One of the nice things about Ram is it won't go into limp mode when you run out of def. Or at least until you shut it off and with def being readily available theres no real need to carry any with you. When it gets below 1/4 tank start thinging about filling it. No need to keep it full all the time.
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07-28-2016, 02:16 PM
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#20
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4 Rivet Member
2016 26' Flying Cloud
2016 25' Flying Cloud
1997 21' Excella
Full-Time
, Full-Time
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 281
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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.
__________________
Greg
2016 RAM 2500 6.7L Cummins, 4WD, Crew, Rear Air
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