My DEF strategy
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 6,521
Likes: 11
From: Greenwood, SC
My DEF strategy
This really is not that important but I'll just throw this out there.
I have decided on how I am going to handle the DEF refill from now on, based on my last 2 fill ups. I just run the tank down to 100 miles or less to E (which makes the on screen warning things go nuts).
My reasoning is that I can buy two of the 2.5 gal jugs and pour them both in with nothing left over to carry around and my tank is then full. It always irritated me to have a little left over that I could not get in the tank meaning I had to hang on to the jug until I could get the rest in.
Based on the way I use my truck, this is the most convenient way for me. I fill it up about every 5 weeks which is often enough to cause me to find a convenient way to handle it.
There is no negative down side to doing it this way other than activating all the low level warnings, as far as I can tell anyway. Just make sure you have 5 gal. ready when you get it that low.
I have decided on how I am going to handle the DEF refill from now on, based on my last 2 fill ups. I just run the tank down to 100 miles or less to E (which makes the on screen warning things go nuts).
My reasoning is that I can buy two of the 2.5 gal jugs and pour them both in with nothing left over to carry around and my tank is then full. It always irritated me to have a little left over that I could not get in the tank meaning I had to hang on to the jug until I could get the rest in.
Based on the way I use my truck, this is the most convenient way for me. I fill it up about every 5 weeks which is often enough to cause me to find a convenient way to handle it.
There is no negative down side to doing it this way other than activating all the low level warnings, as far as I can tell anyway. Just make sure you have 5 gal. ready when you get it that low.
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 5,158
Likes: 35
From: North of Salt Lake City
Those low level messages are annoying and take up a fair amount of brain space. A gallon a week though seems awfully fast. I'm assuming you always have that trailer attached. How many miles? Are you climbing mountains?
Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,399
Likes: 1
From: Corinth, TX
FWIW, my strategy is to keep one 2.5 gal container in the garage at home. I wait until I get the 800 mile warning, then dump that container in and grab another one when I get the chance, putting the new one in the garage. The cycle repeats every time I hit that 800 mile warning. I'm not going through it as fast as you are by any means, though. each 2.5gal lasts me 4-6 weeks, or about 2500-3000 miles. If I'm towing, I'll usually grab a 1gal container and pour it in there to "hedge my bets" 
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Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 5,158
Likes: 35
From: North of Salt Lake City
Lol, your strategy is to survive the rail transport period. Breathe, just breathe... the end is in sight.
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Senior User
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 376
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From: Tempe, AZ
low level messages.Admittedly, that means I have to open and close the blue cap twice as often as ruschejj does, but that doesn't bother me (yet).
My wife's strategy would be to assume by the low level messages that the computer is broken, and do nothing.
Possibly hard to believe, but true. Which is why I try to make sure she's never driving any of our vehicles with any fluid tank near a low level where any kind of warning light or message would appear. Joe
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This really is not that important but I'll just throw this out there.
I have decided on how I am going to handle the DEF refill from now on, based on my last 2 fill ups. I just run the tank down to 100 miles or less to E (which makes the on screen warning things go nuts).
My reasoning is that I can buy two of the 2.5 gal jugs and pour them both in with nothing left over to carry around and my tank is then full. It always irritated me to have a little left over that I could not get in the tank meaning I had to hang on to the jug until I could get the rest in.
Based on the way I use my truck, this is the most convenient way for me. I fill it up about every 5 weeks which is often enough to cause me to find a convenient way to handle it.
There is no negative down side to doing it this way other than activating all the low level warnings, as far as I can tell anyway. Just make sure you have 5 gal. ready when you get it that low.
I have decided on how I am going to handle the DEF refill from now on, based on my last 2 fill ups. I just run the tank down to 100 miles or less to E (which makes the on screen warning things go nuts).
My reasoning is that I can buy two of the 2.5 gal jugs and pour them both in with nothing left over to carry around and my tank is then full. It always irritated me to have a little left over that I could not get in the tank meaning I had to hang on to the jug until I could get the rest in.
Based on the way I use my truck, this is the most convenient way for me. I fill it up about every 5 weeks which is often enough to cause me to find a convenient way to handle it.
There is no negative down side to doing it this way other than activating all the low level warnings, as far as I can tell anyway. Just make sure you have 5 gal. ready when you get it that low.
I remember reading somewhere that DEF has an expiration date. Would that ever be a concern when topping off versus letting the DEF tank get close to empty before filling?
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 700
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From: Northern Il/Cabin in Wi
AN expiration date, really? anybody know what it is?
Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,399
Likes: 1
From: Corinth, TX
I think it's a factor of light and heat exposure. Kept in a cool, dark place it lasts a long time. Taking the bottle out of the box and tossing it in the bed of the truck... well, that will make it go bad pretty quick. Properly stored, I think the shelf life is long enough that it shouldn't present a concern. I don't have any hard numbers, but I remember reading about it a few months back.
More Turbo
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 677
Likes: 118
From: Ontario, Canada
My Strategy is the same as FourOneTons'... once I get the half full msg, I will add a 2.5 gallon jug. That being said, I filled the tank 3100 miles ago and the DEF is still above 1/2, although I also haven't towed anything in that time either.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 6,521
Likes: 11
From: Greenwood, SC
I drive around 5 to 6K miles/month with a trailer, though it's small, only a 16' enclosed cargo (Pace tandem axle) and I usually roll at about a 16K lb. gross.
The truck does consume about 1 gal/week at this rate, even in the winter. Truck runs great, no worries, very few regen cycles (mostly passive I'm sure). I have 38K and change on her right now, still have about 2K ahead of me before I get home at the end of the month.
And yes, this truck goes at least 7-14 days at a time with the trailer on her. It's funny, when I don't have it I can't back up and I just feel weird driving around. Every time I back up a solo vehicle I always turn the wheel the wrong way. Cracks me up.
The truck does consume about 1 gal/week at this rate, even in the winter. Truck runs great, no worries, very few regen cycles (mostly passive I'm sure). I have 38K and change on her right now, still have about 2K ahead of me before I get home at the end of the month.
And yes, this truck goes at least 7-14 days at a time with the trailer on her. It's funny, when I don't have it I can't back up and I just feel weird driving around. Every time I back up a solo vehicle I always turn the wheel the wrong way. Cracks me up.
