DEF dipstick
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 151
Likes: 0
Give it a little time and you will think back about how much you worried about def and laugh...it really is something you don't need to think about. if i were you i would let it get down to a few hundred miles left till empty, then get it filled, and you will realize there is absolutly no reason to spend time thinking about it. The truck will start yelling at you like an ex-wife before you are even remotely close to empty.
Freshman User
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
I left for Florida with 900 miles on my new truck, according to the dealer the DEF was full on delivery. Before I go to FL 1130 miles the below half light was on, I put in a gallon, and by the time I got to my destination it was low again. I put in almost 2.5 gallons in, and now with 4800 miles it is still showing full. I was nervous, but now I feel better and understand there is a lot of miles between half full and running out.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 238
Likes: 0
From: Northern New Mexico
DEF Range
The 800 mile warning is plenty good enough for me even with the remote driving I do in New Mexico. Besides, DEF is a pretty nasty chemical. The manual says to take precautions including for the paint job. Now every time I check the oil, I can not seem to get by without a drip somewhere. So even if I found a compatible dipstick for DEF and a calibration ..... nope. The stock scheme of things here is more than good enough.
Freshman User
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 48
Likes: 0
From: New Orleans,La
Your dealing with a clear liquid, IMHO a dipstick type sytem will not work to well. Dont know about you guys, but i have a hard enough time reading the oil level dipstick right after an oilchange. I find myself addding 13 qts and checking it double guessing the level. So, i always check it again a few days later once the oil turns more of a rich dark color.
Senior User
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 331
Likes: 0
DEF
I am consistently using about 1/2 tank of DEF normal driving per oil change interval, which is approximately 10 000 kms or 6 200 miles. And when I get the oil changed I have the dealership top it up. I have put it in a couple of times, once when the dealership didn't top it up, and be careful about spilling it on the paint. It turns white and wipe it off right away.
Super Moderator
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 24,308
Likes: 42
From: SW Virginia
I think RAM has the right idea with the DEF gauge in their new trucks.
That said, I agree with the above comment about DEF being a clear liquid and that making a little more difficult to read accurately. Most large truck stops all have DEF at the pumps now. Just cycling through the truck menus will tell you where you stand with regard to the amount left. If you've got any doubts, just top it off before a long trip.
I don't get overly concerned with mine. I just topped it off the other day so I know I'm good to go for quite a while.
That said, I agree with the above comment about DEF being a clear liquid and that making a little more difficult to read accurately. Most large truck stops all have DEF at the pumps now. Just cycling through the truck menus will tell you where you stand with regard to the amount left. If you've got any doubts, just top it off before a long trip.
I don't get overly concerned with mine. I just topped it off the other day so I know I'm good to go for quite a while.
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Elder User
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 508
Likes: 0
From: Texas Hill Country
Thanks for all the sarcasm. ☺
Perhaps I'm in a unique situation, all my oil changes and fluids are paid for by the dealership, so spending money to carry a jug of DEF doesn't make sense to me. I periodically drive straight through from San Diego to Seattle, 1250 miles. I was trying to determine if I had enough DEF in the tank before I left to not have to worry about stopping in the middle of nowhere, in the middle of the night, to find DEF.
Perhaps I'm in a unique situation, all my oil changes and fluids are paid for by the dealership, so spending money to carry a jug of DEF doesn't make sense to me. I periodically drive straight through from San Diego to Seattle, 1250 miles. I was trying to determine if I had enough DEF in the tank before I left to not have to worry about stopping in the middle of nowhere, in the middle of the night, to find DEF.
More Turbo
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 576
Likes: 4
From: Graham, WA
My personal experience is that this DEF stuff is just a non-issue. I tow my 5th-wheel on long trips twice a year. In fact I'm currently on a 7000+ mile three month trip from Seattle to Texas. I notice my DEF message was at LESS THAN HALF FULL in Auburn California. When I filled up in Needles California I bought, and put in, 2.5 gallons of DEF. I won't have to put in anymore for at least 2500 mile. You have plenty of warnings and time. I see no point in carrying extra.
Rob
Rob
Fleet Owner
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 20,138
Likes: 15,895
From: Wisconsin
My personal experience is that this DEF stuff is just a non-issue. I tow my 5th-wheel on long trips twice a year. In fact I'm currently on a 7000+ mile three month trip from Seattle to Texas. I notice my DEF message was at LESS THAN HALF FULL in Auburn California. When I filled up in Needles California I bought, and put in, 2.5 gallons of DEF. I won't have to put in anymore for at least 2500 mile. You have plenty of warnings and time. I see no point in carrying extra.
Rob
Rob
x2
It really isn't worth worrying about.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 171
Likes: 0
Thanks for all the sarcasm. ☺
Perhaps I'm in a unique situation, all my oil changes and fluids are paid for by the dealership, so spending money to carry a jug of DEF doesn't make sense to me. I periodically drive straight through from San Diego to Seattle, 1250 miles. I was trying to determine if I had enough DEF in the tank before I left to not have to worry about stopping in the middle of nowhere, in the middle of the night, to find DEF.
Perhaps I'm in a unique situation, all my oil changes and fluids are paid for by the dealership, so spending money to carry a jug of DEF doesn't make sense to me. I periodically drive straight through from San Diego to Seattle, 1250 miles. I was trying to determine if I had enough DEF in the tank before I left to not have to worry about stopping in the middle of nowhere, in the middle of the night, to find DEF.
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 2,131
Likes: 0
From: Ararat, VA
Yea the warning will pester the crap out of you until you fill it up. All of my service is pre-paid as well and my dealer just gave me two jugs to refill it as needed. They just charged it to the service plan anyway so they didn't care.
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 112
Likes: 0
From: Pahoa, HI
I'm with most of them here. Not to worry. I also have the full service plan, they even replace my windshield wipers. But they are stingy on them!
Only once so far after 2 years has the 800 mi. warning even come on between oil changes. The last time they only put a gal. in. I am a bit concerned about that, but with more non towing freeway driving it might not use as much.
You should be just fine, if you are really worried, just pick up a gal. or have the dealer give you one for reserve. Other wise enjoy the truck. I won't say enjoy the trip up I-5. Done it many times and after a while it gets a bit boreing.
Only once so far after 2 years has the 800 mi. warning even come on between oil changes. The last time they only put a gal. in. I am a bit concerned about that, but with more non towing freeway driving it might not use as much.
You should be just fine, if you are really worried, just pick up a gal. or have the dealer give you one for reserve. Other wise enjoy the truck. I won't say enjoy the trip up I-5. Done it many times and after a while it gets a bit boreing.
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Postmaster
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 2,773
Likes: 0
From: Bonney Lake, WA
Before all the responses, I didn't know that the DEF was expected to last through an entire oil change cycle, so not knowing the exact DEF level isn't as important as I thought it might have been.