DEF utilization question
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2014
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From: Rural Sumter Co. Georgia
DEF utilization question
New truck just turned 2000 miles, appox 50/50 city highway mix, no towing or heavy loads. Just out of curiosity and just to be sure, I added DEF even though the info. center said it was OK. It took all but a tiny bit of a 2 1/2 gallon jug. My dealer led me to believe would go at least 5000 miles before any fluid was "needed".
Is my experience normal?
Is it using DEF at an excessive rate?
Do you reckon they delivered it without filling the tank? It had 9 miles on it when I got it.
Is my experience normal?
Is it using DEF at an excessive rate?
Do you reckon they delivered it without filling the tank? It had 9 miles on it when I got it.
Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 8,451
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Most likely the dealer didn't top it off.
Usage will depend on how you use the truck.
I tow a LOT and get about 4600 miles on a tankful.
And I don't know where you live, how close you are to a big truck stop, but I have never bought any jugs of DEF, I buy all of mine from the pumps at the truck stops. It's always about 1/3 the cost per gallon of buying the jugs.
Usage will depend on how you use the truck.
I tow a LOT and get about 4600 miles on a tankful.
And I don't know where you live, how close you are to a big truck stop, but I have never bought any jugs of DEF, I buy all of mine from the pumps at the truck stops. It's always about 1/3 the cost per gallon of buying the jugs.
Junior User
Joined: Nov 2007
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Using the DEF pumps at the truck stops is a sure way to be sure you get it filled completely.
Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2005
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That's pretty close to what I use, not like it's excessively more anyway.
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2014
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From: Rural Sumter Co. Georgia
I live in Sumter Co. GA which is fairly rural area. If there are any stations that sell DEF by pump I certainly cannot find one. I try and stick with a major brand of fuel such as Shell, Chevron, or BP and they don't have DEF pumps. I have made inquiries of other diesel pickup owners in the area who know of no pumps.
A lot of stations don't even sell diesel, though most do. I did go on a trip recently but got fuel at smaller stations along the route. I don't remember seeing a single truck stop but admittedly wasn't looking for one. I wish I could find a pump but I am afraid I am stuck with the jug method of topping off my DEF.
A lot of stations don't even sell diesel, though most do. I did go on a trip recently but got fuel at smaller stations along the route. I don't remember seeing a single truck stop but admittedly wasn't looking for one. I wish I could find a pump but I am afraid I am stuck with the jug method of topping off my DEF.
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 11,314
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NNM,
check here --> Pilot Flying J
or
Love's Location Search
truck stops are everywhere trucks go
When we are towing the rv and don't want to worry about 'fitting into' a small svc station, we use a pilot/flying j app on the phone to tell us where the next one is and use the truck lanes...
USUALLY not more than 200 miles away from each other...
oh, and my usage is such that I don't know my usage it gives you a low def message with LOT's of warning....
whenever I need fuel every 5000 miles or so, I will run by a truck stop - never buy jugs...
check here --> Pilot Flying J
or
Love's Location Search
truck stops are everywhere trucks go
When we are towing the rv and don't want to worry about 'fitting into' a small svc station, we use a pilot/flying j app on the phone to tell us where the next one is and use the truck lanes...
USUALLY not more than 200 miles away from each other...
oh, and my usage is such that I don't know my usage
it gives you a low def message with LOT's of warning....whenever I need fuel every 5000 miles or so, I will run by a truck stop - never buy jugs...
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Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2007
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I have the Edge CTS monitor and have the urea level read in percentage full, so I know that when it reads 66% I can pour in exactly 2.5 gallons. This last time I let it go until the truck computer gave me the 250 mile warning and the CTS read 65%, for whatever reason it has never read below 65% even when its really low. This time I poured in 4 gallons and it spilled out a little so I know it is full. I am not complaining, this truck runs too good to complain about the little things One day I will be deleted and this will be a moot point.
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Lead Driver
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I have the Edge CTS monitor and have the urea level read in percentage full, so I know that when it reads 66% I can pour in exactly 2.5 gallons. This last time I let it go until the truck computer gave me the 250 mile warning and the CTS read 65%, for whatever reason it has never read below 65% even when its really low. This time I poured in 4 gallons and it spilled out a little so I know it is full. I am not complaining, this truck runs too good to complain about the little things One day I will be deleted and this will be a moot point.
Strange system but guess it's the only way it will work since the DEF will freeze at 12 degrees.
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 263
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From: Rural Sumter Co. Georgia
NNM,
check here --> Pilot Flying J
or
Love's Location Search
truck stops are everywhere trucks go
When we are towing the rv and don't want to worry about 'fitting into' a small svc station, we use a pilot/flying j app on the phone to tell us where the next one is and use the truck lanes...
USUALLY not more than 200 miles away from each other...
oh, and my usage is such that I don't know my usage it gives you a low def message with LOT's of warning....
whenever I need fuel every 5000 miles or so, I will run by a truck stop - never buy jugs...
check here --> Pilot Flying J
or
Love's Location Search
truck stops are everywhere trucks go
When we are towing the rv and don't want to worry about 'fitting into' a small svc station, we use a pilot/flying j app on the phone to tell us where the next one is and use the truck lanes...
USUALLY not more than 200 miles away from each other...
oh, and my usage is such that I don't know my usage
it gives you a low def message with LOT's of warning....whenever I need fuel every 5000 miles or so, I will run by a truck stop - never buy jugs...
Junior User
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 73
Likes: 0
From: Castle Pines
NN Mike - I posted this same question in the 6.7 forum a few weeks back as my 14' took 2 gallons at 1000 miles. I think the dealers short changed us but will know when I roll 2k next week and fill it up again.
Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 8,451
Likes: 4,948
There is one but about 50 miles away and I don't go that way often. I have heard that the diesel fuel at Loves's and Pilot are not the best, i.e. a suboptimal choice for powerstroke. I guess an occasional stop for DEF only, or an occasional tank of their fuel won't hurt much. I use fuel additive anyway.
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 11,314
Likes: 4
There is one but about 50 miles away and I don't go that way often. I have heard that the diesel fuel at Loves's and Pilot are not the best, i.e. a suboptimal choice for powerstroke. I guess an occasional stop for DEF only, or an occasional tank of their fuel won't hurt much. I use fuel additive anyway.
We just round every trip up to an hour and call it a day !!!Never, ever heard they are a bad choice for powerstrokes -
but I've only been using them since 2002, so I'm a newbie...
Only places I've heard are bad choices is places that don't turn over much diesel, so that's why I use the high volume stations...
good luck !
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2014
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From: Rural Sumter Co. Georgia
Then you would REALLY hate to live in the DFW area then it's 50 miles to EVERYTHING it seems like We just round every trip up to an hour and call it a day !!!
Never, ever heard they are a bad choice for powerstrokes -
but I've only been using them since 2002, so I'm a newbie...
Only places I've heard are bad choices is places that don't turn over much diesel, so that's why I use the high volume stations...
good luck !
We just round every trip up to an hour and call it a day !!!Never, ever heard they are a bad choice for powerstrokes -
but I've only been using them since 2002, so I'm a newbie...
Only places I've heard are bad choices is places that don't turn over much diesel, so that's why I use the high volume stations...
good luck !
BUT nowhere near DFW> I drove through there about 10 years ago and swore "never again". Houston from what I hear is worse. Visited son in Austin 3 years ago and traffic there more than I can bear. If I do retire to The Lone Star State I reckon it will be in the western half. Some mighty remote areas there, too remote for my wife!
Meanwhile I will try Pilot or Love's when I am on the interstate here in GA.
I am also thinking about an older somewhat beat up 1/2 ton truck a friend is selling. I want it as a clunker. It is ugly and bent up but reported sound mechanically with 6 cylinder but 4x4. Bad news it is a Chevy. I won't get booted off the FTE forum for getting a GM product will I? If so the deal is off.
BTW, I whole heartedly and very strongly agree on your 2nd amendment feelings.
Molon Labe.
Nearly Normal Mike
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