New Owner with DEF Question
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 105
Likes: 0
New Owner with DEF Question
Hi
I recently purchased my first diesel truck, a 2012 F-350. My question concerns the DEF that the truck uses and how fast it is consumed. I have a little over 2k miles on the truck now and I am getting the warning notice that I have about 350 miles of DEF left. The dealer told me (I know, they will tell you anything) that the DEF should last between 5 - 7k miles. I spoke to the service department at my dealership and was told that normally you refill at each oil change (which based on what I'm experiencing means I will change oil about every 2500 miles). I have not down any towing so far with the truck and I have a light foot on the gas. My concern is that the DEF tank was not full when I purchased the vehicle. I would appreciate any thoughts, suggestions, recomendations from forum members. (I hope I put this thread in the right place on the forum, if not, please excuse my mistake.)
Thanks in advance
Ronn
F-350 CC, SB, SRW
I recently purchased my first diesel truck, a 2012 F-350. My question concerns the DEF that the truck uses and how fast it is consumed. I have a little over 2k miles on the truck now and I am getting the warning notice that I have about 350 miles of DEF left. The dealer told me (I know, they will tell you anything) that the DEF should last between 5 - 7k miles. I spoke to the service department at my dealership and was told that normally you refill at each oil change (which based on what I'm experiencing means I will change oil about every 2500 miles). I have not down any towing so far with the truck and I have a light foot on the gas. My concern is that the DEF tank was not full when I purchased the vehicle. I would appreciate any thoughts, suggestions, recomendations from forum members. (I hope I put this thread in the right place on the forum, if not, please excuse my mistake.)
Thanks in advance
Ronn
F-350 CC, SB, SRW
Postmaster
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,202
Likes: 1
From: Illinois
We get about the same on our F450 towing very heavy.
Rather Be Floatin
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 2,468
Likes: 0
From: Marble Falls, Tx.
Ronn, Ill bet the dealer didnt fill your tank before you took receipt of the truck. If you have to refill every 2000/3000 miles and dont tow you need to have the dealer look at it. Thats wayyyy too much usage.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,243
Likes: 79
From: Roman Forest, TX
Sounds like they didn't fill it to me also. I'm just short of 3,000 miles on my 2011 and I haven't seen a message yet. I've had about 6 regens that I can recall seeing, but nothing on the DEF yet.
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Elder User
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 585
Likes: 4
Do NOT let the DEF tank level determine your oil change interval. The two have nothing to do with each other. Change your oil on the schedule appropriate for your style of driving according to the owner's manual maintenance section or according to the oil monitor in the truck, whichever comes first.
Have the DEF tank filled when the truck says it needs DEF. Just because it needs DEF at 2500 miles does NOT indicate that it also needs an oil change.
FWIW, I tow heavy (GCW = 30,000 lbs) for about 65% of the miles on my truck. I use a tank of DEF every 4,000 miles, but the oil monitor pops a message about every 7,500 miles.
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New User
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: Boise idaho
DEF on new trucks
On my truck, I tow mixed loads both bumper and gooseneck loads, I had the light come on @2100 miles, showing 1/2 empty, I was on the road with a heavy load, my next fuel stop I refilled the tank then, I was worried about how fast it was using DEF as well, my driving hasnt changed, still towing 75% of the time I now have 5,000 miles, I haven't had any DEF warnings, my assumption so far is that it was not full when I took delivery of the truck. My next worry is when is the oil change notice is going to come on. Again I don't want to be on the road away from my home dealer when the first service is due.
Hopefully our first DEF usage is from the dealer not topping it off at delivery. Good luck.
Hopefully our first DEF usage is from the dealer not topping it off at delivery. Good luck.
More Turbo
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 576
Likes: 4
From: Graham, WA
Rob
