This is maddening that they warn you they will cripple your engine if you run out of def and the only indication is an electronic nanny ?!?

Mine has said less than half.... for a couple of months and so started getting paranoid that I would be towing === cuz ZERO is less than half ?!?!
am I going to be shut down any mile now ????

I know, I know, other warnings come later, but is there any thing Ford can do to give us a gauge or is there an aftermarket like using a scanguage or torque pro, or ??? to get a better idea ?

So I made a trip over to the flying J to fill up and it only took 2.5 gallons !!!

GGGGRRRRR !!! between the stoopid gooberment making this mandatory with fake science and ford not putting a real gauge on it --- just GGGGRRRR

 

There are only two or three sensors in that tank so there isn't much you can monitor since the truck isn't monitoring much.
My truck begins a countdown at 800 MTE. That is plenty of time for me to add DEF.

 

If you go to the RV forums they have after market sonic type gauges for the various water tanks. All external with it's own gauge in %.

 

Because of the corrosive nature of the def, you can't use the standard level gauge. The "gauge" is just 3 stainless steel rods of different length. An electric current is introduced, and however many rods are immersed in the def, the returning current shows approximate level.

 

I can think of a way to make your DEF worries go away.

 

The sonic type I mentioned don't go in or penetrate the tank Everything is outside of the tank and they are quite accurate from what I've read.

 

Any OBD gauge is only able to read the OEM gauge or in this case the lack of one. My Edge CTS is still telling me 66% and I am currently at 430 miles to empty. Like others have indicated, the factory sensors for this just plain suck. I gotta say though worrying about the DEF level prior to 800 miles to empty is just being paranoid. In 64,000 miles my truck has never failed to give me the 800 miles to empty message. Surely you are able to find DEF within 800 miles. Every truck stop in the country has DEF as well as most auto parts stores and even most Walmart stores. I say worry less and drive more!

 

I've had my MTE for DEF down to 200 miles and have never run out or had a derate...However I do think its stupid that ford did not put a gauge in for DEF when every other truck I've seen that uses DEF has one...

 

The RAM DEF gauge is run by an algorithm with the same sensors as we have. Its a dummy gauge.

I don't see the problem. The MTE is like a 500 mile warning....I would think you can find DEF within 500 miles pretty much anywhere in the country.

It can also be checked. I can see the anxiety of the warning, but I would much rather have an EGT gauge than waste the space on my cluster for a DEF gauge that is a dummy gauge.

 

Like Matt said, the Edge CTS is a monitor only, not a programmer, but it will tell you how much is you have. I just got mine to show that parameter today, so just starting to monitor it.

 

Delete it!! And all that grrrrrrowling can stop!

 

When I tow far away from home I take 5 gallons with me. When I run out I fill up.

500 miles to empty, then I think 200 and then it starts the count down every so often, then when you run out it will tell you 50 miles I think till reduced power.

All that is plenty good enough

 

Mine looks like this now. Urea level on the right

 

Let us know if the CTS ever says less than 66%, Monty!

 

Yeah I was kind of wondering if it only reads "1/3" increments which would still be fine, just throwing this out there. I really would like to see a Ford diagnostic computer hooked to the truck to see what it said. To see if it can actually be read.