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KJRitchie · 10-16-2016, 06:58 AM

The young mechanic probably made a good career decision switching from the IT industry to the automotive industry.

So far no issues since filling up DEF from the pump at a local truck stop a month ago.

Keeping my fingers crossed.

Kelvin

slowmover · 10-17-2016, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AIRHEDS

Thanks all. I have 6500mi on my Cummins TD and filled up the DEF at a truck stop ... thanks to all who posted ... got 4 gals at $2.89/gal ... much cheaper than the boxed stuff. Anyway, you made me more comfortable with trying the truck stop DEF. Thanks for sharing! - Rich

I've run hundreds of gallons of truckstop DEF thru a 15L Cummins. That KW held 18/gls plus 300/Diesel. Best practice is to top off DEF tank at every fill, IMO.

1990 35' Silver Streak
2004 555 Cummins

Tater · 10-17-2016, 06:34 PM

I buy DEF at Walmart and add about every 3,000 miles on my Duramax. I buy the house brand that meets the standard (can't remember what it is called). It's 8 something for 2.5 gallons. 58,000 miles on my 15 Duramax. Only issue has been bad heater in DEF tank. Covered by warranty last month.

joshjack · 10-17-2016, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tater

I buy DEF at Walmart and add about every 3,000 miles on my Duramax. I buy the house brand that meets the standard (can't remember what it is called). It's 8 something for 2.5 gallons. 58,000 miles on my 15 Duramax. Only issue has been bad heater in DEF tank. Covered by warranty last month.

Since the smart people at GM decided the DEF filler for Duramax engines made sense to put under the hood, the convenience of topping off at the gas station is greatly reduced.

Tater · 10-18-2016, 06:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joshjack

Since the smart people at GM decided the DEF filler for Duramax engines made sense to put under the hood, the convenience of topping off at the gas station is greatly reduced.

I use DEF in container so filling it up hasn't been an issue for me.

joshjack · 10-18-2016, 08:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tater

I use DEF in container so filling it up hasn't been an issue for me.

That's my point exactly! DEF is cheaper and fresher at the truck stops; and it's convenient to top off while getting fuel - but ONLY if the DEF filler is in a convenient spot.

Tater · 10-19-2016, 03:48 PM

Like I said, the location hasn't been a problem for me. When I fill up with the container that is date coded I fill up at my convenience not when I buy fuel. The truck stop price isn't much savings over Walmart house brand from USA.

interstateflyer · 10-19-2016, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joshjack

That's my point exactly! DEF is cheaper and fresher at the truck stops; and it's convenient to top off while getting fuel - but ONLY if the DEF filler is in a convenient spot.

How do we know that it's fresher?

joshjack · 10-19-2016, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tater

Like I said, the location hasn't been a problem for me. When I fill up with the container that is date coded I fill up at my convenience not when I buy fuel. The truck stop price isn't much savings over Walmart house brand from USA.

I prefer to buy Peak or branded.

It's fresher because they go through more volume that gets replenished regularly.

AIRHEDS · 11-10-2016, 04:10 PM

We had a scare coming home from Alumalina 2 weeks ago. Saturday evening, after dealers were closed, got the scare (see pic).

A month earlier, when I was down to about 1/4 tank of DEF, I added DEF from a truck stop. It took 3.8 gallons, so about 1/2 tank was from the truck stop with the rest being Mopar fluid from the dealer.

We had to shut down for sleeping that night ... got up the next morning, and the error had cleared on its own. I brought the truck in for its first oil change (synthetic oil), and told the service department about the error ... they had no evidence of a problem. They think the float got stuck ... they said the pic was indicating that I was running low on DEF. Would have really sucked having a problem and not being able to get home on that Sunday because we both needed to be at work on Monday morning...

KJRitchie · 11-10-2016, 06:22 PM

If the float was stuck wouldn't the DEF gauge show almost empty even though you had just topped it off knowing the tank was full?

Did you get an email from FCA of the fault. I get a monthly email about my 2015 Ram status.

I plan to top up my DEF tank whenever it reaches 1/2 full. 2015 Ram 2500 CTD.

Kelvin

Kelvin

AIRHEDS · 11-10-2016, 06:43 PM

Nope - nothing from Ram, Kelvin. I also get the monthly reports... But I didn't get a report for this message. Weird. And yes, I agree ... the float, if stuck in the "empty" position should have resulted in the DEF gauge indicating near/at empty. But it was indicating at more than 3/4 full.

I asked the dealership to drain the fluid and put new fluid in and they said it wasn't needed... They insisted that nothing was wrong, despite my showing them the picture of the console message... I guess I need to trust and wait to see how it goes...

Thanks,
Rich