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DEF use

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Old Jun 7, 2017 | 12:40 AM
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DEF use

I am 600 miles from home and noticed that my display says my DEF is below half full. Would I be able to make it home before I have to fill it up or should I just find an AutoZone and do it. I'm not pulling anything so I'm not using extra. I truck came with a 5 year maintenance plan which includes filling up the DEF tank so I was hoping to get to the dealer before having to fill it. Will it go into limp mode if it runs out? This is my first truck with DEF and I've only had it for a few weeks so this is new territory for me. What do you guys think?
 
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Old Jun 7, 2017 | 03:06 AM
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If it just went below 1/2, I'd expect you to get at least 3,000 miles since you're not towing.
 
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Old Jun 7, 2017 | 08:08 AM
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I wouldn't worry too much about it. I think it will give you another warning before you get close to limp mode. Does your trip home not take you near any major stores like auto zone, wal mart etc where you could get some if needed? Any idea how long its been below half. DEF is cheap.
 
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Old Jun 7, 2017 | 08:50 AM
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My tank lasted over 7,000 miles, and I still had 650ish to go before I added DEF.
 
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Old Jun 7, 2017 | 10:54 AM
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Originally Posted by razehm
I wouldn't worry too much about it. I think it will give you another warning before you get close to limp mode. Does your trip home not take you near any major stores like auto zone, wal mart etc where you could get some if needed? Any idea how long its been below half. DEF is cheap.
I will be going by stores that have it and I can stop and get some. I'm not sure how long it's been below half. I haven't gotten into the habit of checking yet. I towed a TT about 600 miles with it over memorial weekend. I will probably just pick some up and keep it with me just in case.
 
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Old Jun 7, 2017 | 02:08 PM
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It will give additional warnings. I know that it will give a 500 mile warning on the 'productivity screen' that you need to clear.

It will also give more warnings as it gets closer to zero but I don't know what the mileage triggers are.

If you look in your diesel supplement, it will tell you the info.

I wouldn't be worried about it. You can buy DEF pretty much anywhere these days.
 
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Old Jun 7, 2017 | 03:51 PM
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You will get a 500 mile warning. Then a 200 mile. At some point when you get closer to empty it will begin a countdown. So, you have plenty of warning giving you lots of time to get DEF. On mine the display simply tells me "below half full".
 
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Old Jun 7, 2017 | 06:06 PM
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With a 2.5 gallon jug costing $8-12, I just stop at Walmart and pick one up.
 
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Old Jun 7, 2017 | 06:09 PM
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don't bother, drive it home. you have along time before it will need to be filled.


Too many warnings to even begin to worry about running out.


Only way you even knew it was below half was because you will checking.
 
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Old Jun 7, 2017 | 06:12 PM
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I got that on my way down from Alaska... At the next hotel I dumped my 2.5 gal jug in and then it went back up to DEF level Full. I topped off about 1,000 miles later when I happened to stop at a fuel station that sold DEF at the pump and refilled my 2.5 gal jug. Granted, I still have another potential 10k miles to drive before I make it back home...

I get wanting to take advantage of the maintenance plan you bought too... So I'd probably try to make it back unless I missed it and you have 3k miles to get home.
 
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Old Jun 7, 2017 | 08:17 PM
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An average base line to consider is 1000 miles per gallon of DEF. 5 gal tank = 5000 mile radius.
 
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Old Jun 7, 2017 | 10:05 PM
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Originally Posted by dirthawg
An average base line to consider is 1000 miles per gallon of DEF. 5 gal tank = 5000 mile radius.
I was wondering if there was an average miles per gallon. After looking at the amount of miles I've driven I realized that I'm only 2K miles from needing to change my oil anyways so it only makes sense that it would be below half. Glad to hear about the alarms at different mileage intervals as well. I guess I was just concerned it would just go into limp mode with no warning at all. I made it home without any issues and now I'm not so concerned about it.


thanks for all the help guys
 
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Old Jan 28, 2018 | 12:20 PM
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I got the DEF 500 mile warning.
So I filled the tank until it overflowed, about 2 gallons?
I still get the alarm...What gives?
 
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Old Jan 28, 2018 | 12:36 PM
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2 things, try filling it again after a drive and make sure you are filling on level ground.

second, sometimes it takes a few drive cycles to reset.

If After that you are still in the countdown to walking, you may have to get the system reset by the dealer, uunless we now have a way to do it with forscan that I'm unaware of.
 
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Old Jan 28, 2018 | 01:40 PM
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Don't over fill the tank. Now that you know it is full, as suggested, drive it awhile and hope it resets.
 
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