I got the DEF warning a couple of weeks ago towing my 5th wheel. I checked earlier that day & message said DEF O.K. Added 2.5 gallons & message went away.
Doesn't the XLT (non LCD dash) warn you when 1/2 full when you toggle through the message center?
I thought it must be almost empty so I waited another 1,000 miles & tried to add another 2.5 gallons. It took approximately 1/2.
Do I have a problem or is this normal?

 

Take it for what its worth but i was told from the dealer that if your towing they recommend that your DEF tank be full before towing.... This bit me in the but once. My Indicator said ok Before i got to my camp spot It was prompting me to replenish the DEF tank. Good thing I have a 2.5 gal jug in the 5ther.

 

I always carry a jug when towing. My 2011 would warn me at 1/2 not my 2013.

 

my '12 XL warns when 1/2 full however I generally top it off anytime I'm headed out on a trip of any distance towing or not... It really isn't the hassle that some try to make out like it is...

 

I checked mine earlier that day. Never got the 1/2 full message. I may have an issue. I'll talk to the dealer about it when I'm there for service.

 

I never see any warnings on my 2011 until I hit the 800 miles to empty.

If I want to see it under half full, I have to scroll through the menu.

And even at half full, that is a couple thousand miles, even at towing. I just don't see the need to carry an extra bottle with me. I know that I'll have to stop for fuel or a potty break and I can buy more during that 2000 mile distance.

 

Just my experience, I just completed my first major trip with the truck. Towing the 11k trailer about 1800 miles. 4k miles on the truck at beginning of trip, 6400 at end. DEF was good before trip, and withing 300 miles of home, 500 mile warning showed up. Having read the book some time ago, I had the impression it would require 2.5 gallons to fill. So, I purchased 2.5 gallons (warning says 200 miles) I dump in the 2.5 gallons. Goes up to 500 mile warning again. Drive another 300 without trailer, and am back down to 200 miles remaining. Not sure if truck has decided it has an appetite for DEF all of a sudden, or as the service writer at the local ford shop said, the DEF needs to be refilled when the warning actuates in order to reset the sender. I have since been unable to locate any DEF, the local wallyworld was out, as well as the local truck stop I fueled up at.

 

Ditto, I just got back from a 9946 mile trip towing my 5th-wheel and had to add DEF three times during the trip. I've always had plenty of time to get the DEF once I saw the 1/2 message.

Rob

 

WOW --- you guys eat it up....

I barely remember since it's so rare, but 7500 miles between needs even towing IIRC

and every pilot/flying J has def at the truck pumps for about 2.79 per gallon...
and have a locator app to find them when you drive around - suspect most truck stops will start having pump dispensing of def soon as many newer semi's require def too...
Pilot Flying J
much easier than carrying and dumping bottles !!!

 

I remember (I think) I saw it warn me once when it was half full. But otherwise I had to scroll through the dash to find the level. It is either OK or LESS THAN HALF. I towed my 5'er from Utah (700 miles) and filled it at a Flying J at the pump. Cheap, fresh DEF. But it is scary thinking somewhere in Montana near JFRalph's place they may not have any. So almost 5,000 miles on the truck, about 1,500 towing, and I've put in maybe 3 gallons of DEF. By the way, what is the capacity on a 2013 F-250, 5 or 8 gallons?

 

The norm seems to be 1000 per gallon which is what I can count on. So, with a 5 gallon tank....

BTW, you guys with the '13s, can you fill at the pump without the magnetic thingy?

Rob

 

Fill me in, What is the magnetic thingy???

BTW
I went to Wally world first time and bought bottle, went second time and they were out. Went to local bigtime fuel station with lots of locations, the location I went into was not a truck stop. I will be able to buy it, just need to go to a truck stop about 15 miles out of my way or an auto parts store.

 

I scrolled through the menu earlier in the day. DEF was O.K. I only drove a few hundred miles after checking when I got the DEF 800 miles to empty warning.
Painted Horse, you may have a different dash than mine. I had the LCD dash in my 2011 but not in my 2013. I was wondering if all 6.7 diesel trucks indicate when they are less than 1/2 full.
I never got the low DEF warning on my 2011 because I would check it every 1,000 miles or so & add a jug when less than 1/2.

 

5 gallons...

I buy a 2 1/2 gal bottle ever so often from my Ford dealer... not a big deal and it sits in my garage until I need it.. When I use one I buy another within a week or so and just have it ready... it ain't like it breaks the bank to have one on hand...

 

I have the basic info center on my 2011.
If I run a system check, the two main reports are "Exhaust fluid level OK" and "Exhaust level under 1/2 full."
Aside from that no messages are thrown.

The message center will throw an alert at any time once it reaches 800 MTE and will begin to count down.
You can answer to clear this message.
Another message will not appear until 300 MTE if you never shut down.
Otherwise, you'll be alerted and require to clear the x MTE message each time the truck is started.