7 Gallons of DEF after 2K miles?

[RachelZ3]

New 2020 Sprinter, checked DEF before I left, drove Pennsylvania to Florida. In for other repairs, I asked them to check the DEF. They said it needs 7 gallons of DEF. Does that sound right?

[CBWELL]

Def tank size is about 6.6 gallons!! How full was it when you left home?

[Boxster1971]

Originally Posted by RachelZ3

New 2020 Sprinter, checked DEF before I left, drove Pennsylvania to Florida. In for other repairs, I asked them to check the DEF. They said it needs 7 gallons of DEF. Does that sound right?

I would not trust what the shop told you. Only way to know for sure is to fill it yourself and see how much it takes to get back to same level you started trip.

[Titus]

I believe the new Sprinters have a DEF gauge. What level did it show? Were you getting a low DEF warning? I think that comes on with 2.5 gallons left.

[BeachBrad]

drove cross country twice in our 2021 Interstate and the DEF alert went off almost every 3500 miles. had to fill up the DEF fluid 3x. each container was 2.5 gallons I believe.

[Zach05855]

On my 2018 sprinter there is a tank gauge. I just drove cross country (5600 miles). Started with a full tank and ended with about 1/4 left. My tank capacity is 4.7 gallons

[kidjedi]

Originally Posted by RachelZ3

New 2020 Sprinter, checked DEF before I left, drove Pennsylvania to Florida. In for other repairs, I asked them to check the DEF. They said it needs 7 gallons of DEF. Does that sound right?

I'm trying to figure out how they're going to get 7 gallons into a 6 and a half gallon tank, let alone tell you it *needs* 7 gallons (when it can't even hold it!).

[uncle_bob]

Hi

Odd ..... I just got a "tank empty" warning on my F350 after about 3,000 miles towing in the mountains. It slurped up 7 gallons to fill the tank. Was the tank full "as delivered" ? ... anybody got the keys to the Tardis?

Bob

[Wazbro]

Maybe they meant 7 quarts?

[Alex AVI]

Originally Posted by RachelZ3

New 2020 Sprinter, checked DEF before I left, drove Pennsylvania to Florida. In for other repairs, I asked them to check the DEF. They said it needs 7 gallons of DEF. Does that sound right?

Mercedes Sales or Service only talks metric, even in their USA dealerships. It is possible they misspoke -or- you misheard/misunderstood. But regardless, they most likely filled with 7.0 liters = 1.85 gallons. Their AdBlue DEF comes in 1.89 or 10 liter containers (which do have the US gallon conversion value right next to it for the US market).

[CavemanB]

Originally Posted by Zach05855

On my 2018 sprinter there is a tank gauge. I just drove cross country (5600 miles). Started with a full tank and ended with about 1/4 left. My tank capacity is 4.7 gallons

2019 Sprinter here and we are nearly done with a NY —> CA —> OR —> NY trip (over 6,000 miles) and I had to refill at about the 5,000 mile point.

[Titus]

Zach05855
Your 3/4 tank (3.5 gallon) per 5600 miles is similar to my DEF consumption: 2250 mpg before AEM, 1950 mpg after AEM. Surprised if you were able to get to 1/4 tank (a bit over 1 gallon left) without triggering whatever warning is used on 2018's.

[uncle_bob]

Originally Posted by Alex AVI

Mercedes Sales or Service only talks metric, even in their USA dealerships. It is possible they misspoke -or- you misheard/misunderstood. But regardless, they most likely filled with 7.0 liters = 1.85 gallons. Their AdBlue DEF comes in 1.89 or 10 liter containers (which do have the US gallon conversion value right next to it for the US market).

Hi

If it's the real MB item, those 7 liters will cost you pretty close to what 7 gallons will run down at the big box store ....

(yes, AdBlue is a German trademarked term for DEF from multiple suppliers so there may be cheap jugs out there ....).

Bob

[Zach05855]

Originally Posted by Titus

Zach05855
Your 3/4 tank (3.5 gallon) per 5600 miles is similar to my DEF consumption: 2250 mpg before AEM, 1950 mpg after AEM. Surprised if you were able to get to 1/4 tank (a bit over 1 gallon left) without triggering whatever warning is used on 2018's.

Agreed, it does trigger at around 1/4 tank.

[Anders79]

a little off-topic but If you go to a major truck stop they will have DEF in DEF pumps (typically next to each diesel pump) and the cost is just a fraction of what it costs to buy DEF in the containers. And you can fill up with Diesel at the same time.

[Starlight Mike]

Originally Posted by RachelZ3

New 2020 Sprinter, checked DEF before I left, drove Pennsylvania to Florida. In for other repairs, I asked them to check the DEF. They said it needs 7 gallons of DEF. Does that sound right?

No, you have a problem.
It is probably one of two things. First, my GMC dealer automatically filled my DEF tank and they only charge for a full tank when i did not need that much.
Second, there is a problem with how much DEF you are using. I was using double what I should have and took to dealer and they said they could not find anything wrong. I drove away and truck continued to use too much fluid. I returned to dealer and told them to figure out the problem and they finally did and fixed it.
Now it uses the proper amount.

[Ken G]

Dealerships gouge on DEF, buying it in boxes is slightly better, BEST is getting it from a pump @ a truck stop with commercial truckers.

[DaveG]

Left side steering wheels control. Upper left corner > Home button. Scroll the display in the gauge cluster to the left using the square button on the steering wheel. Select > Service by depressing the square button. Scroll down to DEF Level. Press the square button again. With some luck the level indication will be accurate. You may also choose to have the DEF level displayed all the time as you drive (settings). Keeping the DEF tank maintained is important for not only avoiding the countdown but preventing crystals from forming in the tank. Best may be to watch the tank and when it hits the one half mark add to fill it up again. Buying a box of DEF is a good idea but large to carry around with you. The stuff should store in the box for a year plus if in reasonable temperature range.

[uncle_bob]

Originally Posted by Ken G

Dealerships gouge on DEF, buying it in boxes is slightly better, BEST is getting it from a pump @ a truck stop with commercial truckers.

Hi

Well .....

When the messages start popping up about "contaminated DEF, see dealer immediately" and "contaminated DEF, world ending in 21 seconds" and on and on ... the dealer likely wants money to fix the problem. If you have been filling the tank here and there, you really don't have a lot of leverage. If it's all come out of boxes with name brand labels on them, you have bit more (but not a lot) of wiggle room on that charge.

Bob

[Vagabonds_2]

Originally Posted by DaveG

Left side steering wheels control. Upper left corner > Home button. Scroll the display in the gauge cluster to the left using the square button on the steering wheel. Select > Service by depressing the square button. Scroll down to DEF Level. Press the square button again. With some luck the level indication will be accurate. You may also choose to have the DEF level displayed all the time as you drive (settings). Keeping the DEF tank maintained is important for not only avoiding the countdown but preventing crystals from forming in the tank. Best may be to watch the tank and when it hits the one half mark add to fill it up again. Buying a box of DEF is a good idea but large to carry around with you. The stuff should store in the box for a year plus if in reasonable temperature range.

You know, we had two RAM diesels and they both used a fair amount of DEF. The Bighorn was lighter and used less than the Laramie 6.7 Cummins which seemed to use a 2 1/2 gallon box every 750 miles. We never let it get below 50%; because all sorts of nasty things happen if you run it dry--engine stops wherever you by the side of the rode. There may even be an alarm reset, etc., etc. The RAM dealer said to bless California EPA Air regulations; although hopefully, it means a cleaner environment with all the trucks/sprinters on the road.