DEF 500 miles to empty
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 784
Likes: 27
From: Toronto
DEF 500 miles to empty
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?
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?
More Turbo
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 543
Likes: 26
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.
Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 784
Likes: 27
From: Toronto
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.
Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 784
Likes: 27
From: Toronto
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.
Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 5,248
Likes: 4,274
From: Kaysville Utah
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.
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.
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 551
Likes: 1
From: SW Montana
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.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2002
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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 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 !!!
New User
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
From: California
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?
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 551
Likes: 1
From: SW Montana
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.
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.
Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 784
Likes: 27
From: Toronto
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.
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.
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.
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 274
Likes: 0
From: Waco, Tx
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?
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...
Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 6,600
Likes: 84
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.
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.