Finally got the warning that I need to add DEF. I have 6,300 miles and the owners manual says change oil at 10K. Do you add DEF yourself, go to a Truck Stop and use the dispenser (I understand you need a demagnetizer for this?), or go ahead and change the oil and have them add DEF?
igotjam said
06:33 AM Apr 1, 2015
I just buy a jug at Auto Zone etc. FYI on a Ford when the warning comes on you need to add 2.5 gal or more to have the alarm reset. Adding a gallon won't reset the alarm.
Second Chance said
06:52 AM Apr 1, 2015
I buy BlueDef at WalMart in 2.5 gal plastic jugs. It's very affordable. I also change my own oil for 1/3 the price at the dealership (no need for ramps or lifts on these trucks since they have so much ground clearance, anyway). Mobil 1 if you use synthetic, Shell Rotella-T if petroleum based. Mobil 1 filters are the choice of the folks on the diesel truck forums.
Rob
el Rojo and Pam said
06:54 AM Apr 1, 2015
I just add 2 1/2 gallons, aprox $15 takes 5 min.
D and M said
07:25 AM Apr 1, 2015
Thanks everyone for the great advise.....
TRAILERKING said
09:12 AM Apr 1, 2015
As easy as puttin' in windshield washer fluid.
MarkS said
09:58 AM Apr 1, 2015
DEF is BS but, as long as it's required I guess we will buy it and add it. Shop carefully for this stuff. I have seen it sell for as much as $16 for 2 and a half gallons. At the truck stop pump it is usually less than $3 a gallon. There is nothing magic about DEF. Just top it off when you buy fuel or when it's low enough and you feel the urge.
Bill and Linda said
10:43 AM Apr 1, 2015
Mark is right, nothing magic about DEF but a few things to know might be helpful.
First, it doesn’t particularly like to be hot for long periods of time.It has a shelf life.So it’s not a good idea to store a spare container where it can get hot.I like to get mine at Wal-Mart because if you look on the container it will have a date when the store got it.Pick the newest container.
I’ve seen some auto stores shelve this in the window with the hot sun on it.Not recommended as the truck will do a test for the quality of this stuff, by law.If the test is bad it can cause it to go into limp.(See below about “limp mode.”)
Use will depend on the amount of fuel the engine is using.So when towing you will use more than when running solo – quite a bit more in some cases.
As commented, purchasing at Wal-Mart or the like can be much cheaper than at a dealer – half the price in some cases.
By federal law, if you run totally out, or the DEF is “bad,” eventually your truck will go into limp mode – i.e. it will limit the truck speed and eventually it won’t start.I won’t go into all that but it’s in your manual.Might be worth a read.
A slight pain, but there is a lot less soot coming out the tail pipes now.This was required of most all diesel engines beginning in 2011. Dodge’s were a bit later but now all including Dodge / RAM require DEF.
I have no ideas what you’re referring to concerning a demagnetizer as pertains to DEF. You just pour it in the filler pipe. (But it is April 1st.)
D and M said
11:48 AM Apr 1, 2015
Thanks Bill....great information.
I was reading on the Ford forum that Love's Truck Stops have a DEF pump that requires the demagnetizer tool. I don't understand the need either....maybe it was a April Fools joke ;>)
Second Chance said
04:21 PM Apr 1, 2015
D and M wrote:
Thanks Bill....great information.
I was reading on the Ford forum that Love's Truck Stops have a DEF pump that requires the demagnetizer tool. I don't understand the need either....maybe it was a April Fools joke ;>)
No joke - some DEF pumps at truck stops require a magnet (not a demagnetizer) at the tank inlet (circular with a hole in the middle) that opens a valve in the dispenser nozzle. Many truck stops carry magnets that can be slid over the dispenser nozzle for trucks without the magnet built into the DEF inlet.
Rob
Bill and Linda said
07:22 AM Apr 2, 2015
Second Chance wrote:
D and M wrote:
Thanks Bill....great information.
I was reading on the Ford forum that Love's Truck Stops have a DEF pump that requires the demagnetizer tool. I don't understand the need either....maybe it was a April Fools joke ;>)
No joke - some DEF pumps at truck stops require a magnet (not a demagnetizer) at the tank inlet (circular with a hole in the middle) that opens a valve in the dispenser nozzle. Many truck stops carry magnets that can be slid over the dispenser nozzle for trucks without the magnet built into the DEF inlet.
Rob
Ah, the safety device to keep “you” from putting DEF in the fuel tank.On some trucks, especially HDT’s (semis), the DEF tank filler is right there with diesel tank filler.
Thanks - good post.
VanMar said
11:08 AM Apr 4, 2015
D and M,
I don't know about a demagnetizer, but at one truck stop an attendant came out and not only put something on the end of the nozzle, but also filled my tank. I assumed it was a reducer since this pump was meant for semis. It took forever to dribble it in. Any attempt to speed it up and the pump would shut off. I usually pay less than $3 gallon at the bulk pump but it's a pain so I pay $12 for 2 1/2 gallons at Wal-Mart.
Vance
Hdrider said
09:01 PM Apr 4, 2015
Napa Auto Parts has it on sale now and again for $8.00 for 2.5 gal. In fact I just picked up two while in Hawthorne Nevada a couple days ago.
Bill and Linda said
04:27 AM Apr 5, 2015
Hdrider wrote:
Napa Auto Parts has it on sale now and again for $8.00 for 2.5 gal. In fact I just picked up two while in Hawthorne Nevada a couple days ago.
Great price, but keep it cool and certainly out of the sun.It has a shelf life totally based on temperature.
Hdrider said
07:12 AM Apr 5, 2015
Bill and Linda wrote:
Hdrider wrote:
Napa Auto Parts has it on sale now and again for $8.00 for 2.5 gal. In fact I just picked up two while in Hawthorne Nevada a couple days ago.
Great price, but keep it cool and certainly out of the sun.It has a shelf life totally based on temperature.
No problem,,,, both went right in my tank . My tank holds 13 gal. and I was down to 1/4. In fact I should go buy 2 more now that I think of it.
Bill and Jodee said
10:33 PM Apr 6, 2015
We add two boxes when the DEF gets half empty - not a big deal to add.
Have you read the ingredients? 65% water and 35% urea. Really? It's pee-water? I feel like someone is playing a big joke on us to see if we'll notice
Jodee
BiggarView said
04:47 AM Apr 7, 2015
Bill and Jodee wrote:
We add two boxes when the DEF gets half empty - not a big deal to add.
Have you read the ingredients? 65% water and 35% urea. Really? It's pee-water? I feel like someone is playing a big joke on us to see if we'll notice
Jodee
It's not just any pee water.... it's magical, engineered synthethic "pee water" that has been run through a specialized, gold plated, certified EPA compliant and patented rigorous process that took 20,000 environmental engineers and scientists 10 years to perfect, all the while paying hundreds of lobbyists millions of dollars to craft legislation with sufficient pork to get the various politicians opposed to clean air regulations to get on board. But yes, it's essentially diluted pee water.
-- Edited by biggaRView on Tuesday 7th of April 2015 06:44:43 AM
R12 said
05:56 AM Apr 7, 2015
Every time DEF is talked about on the various truck forums I visit DEF is compared to urine.
DEF is a mixture of urea, not a mixture of urine. I realize this is not science class, but it’s nice to understand what urea really is. Natural urea is waste excreted by humans and other mammals from metabolizing protein. In humans, the liver breaks down protein and ammonia that forms the waste urea. The kidneys then transfer the urea from the blood to the urine. The average person can excrete 30 grams of urea a day, mostly from urine and some through perspiration. DEF, however, is made from a synthetic urea. It is produced from a compound of ammonia and carbon dioxide manufactured for uses such as animal feed and fertilizer.
DEF is used to reduce the levels of nitrogen oxides, know as NOx. Nitrogen oxide is formed in an internal combustion engine from the reaction of nitrogen and oxygen during the combustion process. The NOx causes air pollution and in bigger cities is a major contributor of greenhouse gas.
BiggarView said
06:42 AM Apr 7, 2015
R12 wrote:
...DEF is a mixture of urea, not a mixture of urine. I realize this is not science class, but it’s nice to understand what urea really is. Natural urea is waste excreted by humans and other mammals from metabolizing protein. In humans, the liver breaks down protein and ammonia that forms the waste urea. The kidneys then transfer the urea from the blood to the urine. The average person can excrete 30 grams of urea a day, mostly from urine and some through perspiration. DEF, however, is made from a synthetic urea. It is produced from a compound of ammonia and carbon dioxide manufactured for uses such as animal feed and fertilizer....
TMI... I like my explanation better!
-- Edited by biggaRView on Tuesday 7th of April 2015 07:03:28 AM
Hdrider said
08:38 AM Apr 15, 2015
Just and FYI, I just checked on NAPA's web site and found that at least the NAPA by where I am now has the DEF on sale for the month at $8.99.
Selah said
07:23 PM Apr 15, 2015
Mark. It is not BS.... It is DEF. Please do not confuse the two and put BS in the DEF tank. Your truck will run very poorly on BS but will do just fine on DEF.
I love these little acronyms...
Terry and Jo said
12:06 PM Apr 16, 2015
Selah wrote:
Mark. It is not BS.... It is DEF. Please do not confuse the two and put BS in the DEF tank. Your truck will run very poorly on BS but will do just fine on DEF. I love these little acronyms...
Well, since BS has been brought into the conversation, I'll have to agree that it won't work well for diesel trucks.
However, back in the olden days, those traveling west in wagon trains would fasten a sort of sling or hammock-type device below their wagons. Then, as they traveled across the plains (where fewer trees were to be found), they picked up BS (then more like the "B" stood for "buffalo") and tossed it in their sling. Since what they picked up was dry, it could be used for campfires and cooking.
Now, with that bit of knowledge in your thoughts, imagine how their beef and beans tasted.
Terry
MarkS said
10:23 PM Apr 16, 2015
Thanks for the visual, Terry. I guess the settlers were a lot tougher than I ever thought. I'm seeing the Dutch oven lid covered.
I've heard some conversation that DEF will go away in the next few years. There are better solutions on the horizon.
Finally got the warning that I need to add DEF. I have 6,300 miles and the owners manual says change oil at 10K. Do you add DEF yourself, go to a Truck Stop and use the dispenser (I understand you need a demagnetizer for this?), or go ahead and change the oil and have them add DEF?
Rob
Mark is right, nothing magic about DEF but a few things to know might be helpful.
First, it doesn’t particularly like to be hot for long periods of time. It has a shelf life. So it’s not a good idea to store a spare container where it can get hot. I like to get mine at Wal-Mart because if you look on the container it will have a date when the store got it. Pick the newest container.
I’ve seen some auto stores shelve this in the window with the hot sun on it. Not recommended as the truck will do a test for the quality of this stuff, by law. If the test is bad it can cause it to go into limp. (See below about “limp mode.”)
Use will depend on the amount of fuel the engine is using. So when towing you will use more than when running solo – quite a bit more in some cases.
As commented, purchasing at Wal-Mart or the like can be much cheaper than at a dealer – half the price in some cases.
By federal law, if you run totally out, or the DEF is “bad,” eventually your truck will go into limp mode – i.e. it will limit the truck speed and eventually it won’t start. I won’t go into all that but it’s in your manual. Might be worth a read.
A slight pain, but there is a lot less soot coming out the tail pipes now. This was required of most all diesel engines beginning in 2011. Dodge’s were a bit later but now all including Dodge / RAM require DEF.
I have no ideas what you’re referring to concerning a demagnetizer as pertains to DEF. You just pour it in the filler pipe. (But it is April 1st.)
I was reading on the Ford forum that Love's Truck Stops have a DEF pump that requires the demagnetizer tool. I don't understand the need either....maybe it was a April Fools joke ;>)
No joke - some DEF pumps at truck stops require a magnet (not a demagnetizer) at the tank inlet (circular with a hole in the middle) that opens a valve in the dispenser nozzle. Many truck stops carry magnets that can be slid over the dispenser nozzle for trucks without the magnet built into the DEF inlet.
Rob
Ah, the safety device to keep “you” from putting DEF in the fuel tank. On some trucks, especially HDT’s (semis), the DEF tank filler is right there with diesel tank filler.
Thanks - good post.
D and M,
I don't know about a demagnetizer, but at one truck stop an attendant came out and not only put something on the end of the nozzle, but also filled my tank. I assumed it was a reducer since this pump was meant for semis. It took forever to dribble it in. Any attempt to speed it up and the pump would shut off. I usually pay less than $3 gallon at the bulk pump but it's a pain so I pay $12 for 2 1/2 gallons at Wal-Mart.
Vance
Great price, but keep it cool and certainly out of the sun. It has a shelf life totally based on temperature.
No problem,,,, both went right in my tank
. My tank holds 13 gal. and I was down to 1/4. In fact I should go buy 2 more now that I think of it.
Have you read the ingredients? 65% water and 35% urea. Really? It's pee-water? I feel like someone is playing a big joke on us to see if we'll notice
Jodee
It's not just any pee water.... it's magical, engineered synthethic "pee water" that has been run through a specialized, gold plated, certified EPA compliant and patented rigorous process that took 20,000 environmental engineers and scientists 10 years to perfect, all the while paying hundreds of lobbyists millions of dollars to craft legislation with sufficient pork to get the various politicians opposed to clean air regulations to get on board. But yes, it's essentially diluted pee water.
-- Edited by biggaRView on Tuesday 7th of April 2015 06:44:43 AM
DEF is a mixture of urea, not a mixture of urine. I realize this is not science class, but it’s nice to understand what urea really is. Natural urea is waste excreted by humans and other mammals from metabolizing protein. In humans, the liver breaks down protein and ammonia that forms the waste urea. The kidneys then transfer the urea from the blood to the urine. The average person can excrete 30 grams of urea a day, mostly from urine and some through perspiration. DEF, however, is made from a synthetic urea. It is produced from a compound of ammonia and carbon dioxide manufactured for uses such as animal feed and fertilizer.
DEF is used to reduce the levels of nitrogen oxides, know as NOx. Nitrogen oxide is formed in an internal combustion engine from the reaction of nitrogen and oxygen during the combustion process. The NOx causes air pollution and in bigger cities is a major contributor of greenhouse gas.
TMI... I like my explanation better!
-- Edited by biggaRView on Tuesday 7th of April 2015 07:03:28 AM
I love these little acronyms...
Well, since BS has been brought into the conversation, I'll have to agree that it won't work well for diesel trucks.
However, back in the olden days, those traveling west in wagon trains would fasten a sort of sling or hammock-type device below their wagons. Then, as they traveled across the plains (where fewer trees were to be found), they picked up BS (then more like the "B" stood for "buffalo") and tossed it in their sling. Since what they picked up was dry, it could be used for campfires and cooking.
Now, with that bit of knowledge in your thoughts, imagine how their beef and beans tasted.
Terry
I've heard some conversation that DEF will go away in the next few years. There are better solutions on the horizon.