I took delivery of my new truck 12 days ago. I'm currently on my second tank of fuel with 560 miles on the odometer. My DEF was full from the dealer and I just switched to gauge view and see that I'm less than 1/4 tank remaining. This is my first diesel with all the emissions crap but I was led to believe that the DEF is almost a non-issue, that I'd only need to fill every 3000-7500 miles depending on how much towing. I haven't towed anything yet but it has been 10 degrees or less every day and it's been in 4X4 almost constantly because it never quits snowing. Do I have a problem or is this normal? Have had two 70 mile highway drives everything else just daily driver.

 

How can you be sure that it was full? If you overfill in freezing weather the DEF can expand causing a leak, so check for that. Using a diesel for a daily driver may not make sense, it may not have warmed up sufficiently to even inject DEF.

 

DEF will freeze. If it's frozen then the gauge may not be reporting a correct level.

 

I'll bet it was not full at delivery. Unless you validated the level via the gauge, I'll bet it was not full.

 

I guess I can't be "sure" that it was full at delivery but they told me it was full and the gauge said it was full. I got it into the heated shop for a couple hours today and now it reads full again so must have been froze. Lynnmor I sure hope Ford isn't selling 60k+ trucks that can only be used for long hauls and vacations.

 

I agree with Senix. As to being in four wheel drive, it will drive mileage down a lot and will probably use more DEF as well. What you describe is not normal DEF usage for our engines.

I just daily drive mine but have enough highway miles to keep the emissions system happy. My regens are out at about 500 miles. I've started keeping track of my DEF usage. I get about 8000 miles out of a tank of DEF. Because I live in a cold climate area, I keep my DEF tank filled as per the recommendation by the user radium here to keep the heater covered in fluid as The DEF heater turns on when the glow plugs are activated at key on. Maybe this will help with the DEF heater element life. The last time I filled it, recently, I used 2.75 gallons and had last filled it up 4700 miles prior. Just so you have an idea of what the range of miles are for DEF. It changes for the different gear ratios and obviously usage of the truck, loaded or unloaded. I have 3.55s.

 

I get around 4900 miles per tank of DEF. Mine is a 2013 so a smaller tank. I don't fill till I get < 200 miles to empty, then do a complete refill. Seems happy with that routine for me.