I'm in Western New York and have never had a problem with using that nozzle until the fluid stops in cold weather. That's what it's for.

 

The Ford filler spout attachment is for preventing spills that could damage your paint, since it stops flow automatically when the straw within the spout gets submerged in DEF within the filler neck of the truck. It doesn't have any way to prevent you from filling the tank up into the filler neck, you'd have to do that yourself. And fluid up into the filler neck on the truck means the def tank is plum full, which is no Bueno in freezing conditions.

The spout only extends 2 or 3 inches into the filler neck on the truck, so it doesn't stop flow until the def fluid level is up into the filler neck above the tank. This is every bit as full as the fluid level is when you fill def at the pump. And too full on the tank. Lucky for you that you haven't had issues, but I doubt that's attributed to your use of this filler spout.

 

Ford recommends only putting in 2 gallons, no more, when it's below freezing out and ONLY when the def tank level is below half full.

Filling the DEF tank in cold climates

DEF will freeze below 12°F (-11°C); however, your vehicle is equipped with an automatic preheating system which allows the DEF system to operate below 12°F (-11°C). When the vehicle is not in operation for an extended period of time with temperatures at or below 12°F (-11°C), the DEF tank could freeze. If the tank is OVERFILLED and freezes, it could be damaged, therefore DO NOT OVERFILL.

To prevent overfilling of the DEF tank when filling with a bottle, Ford recommends using Motorcraft DEF. Additionally, if the message center indicates EXHAUST FLUID UNDER 1/2 FULL , you should only add MAXIMUM of 2 gallons (6.7L) of DEF to the tank to prevent freeze damage due to overfilling. If the message center indicates EXHAUST FLUID LEVEL OK, do not add DEF.

 

Okay, from the way I have understood it, and as I have filled up to the top of my DEF tank in winter time with the Ford nozzle, the nozzle prevents over filling which will prevent damage to the tank itself when the temps get down to 12 degrees F. From this link here for my year truck:

http://www.fordservicecontent.com/Fo...US_04_2015.pdf


From page 24 of the manual, page 27 of the PDF:

"Your vehicle is equipped with a DEF tank with a blue-capped filler port located next to the diesel fuel fill inlet. The tank can be filled using a nozzle at a DEF filling station (similar to fuel fill) or using a DEF bottle with a spout. We recommend Motorcraft DEF bottles since they are designed to be spill proof and will stop the flow of DEF when the tank is full. You can use other aftermarket bottles, but they should have a seal on the spout and an internal vent tube to achieve best fill performance and prevent overfilling. Overfilling your DEF tank can cause damage to the tank. For your DEF tank capacity. See Capacities and Specifications (page 56). "

They are talking about the factory "spout" which prevents overfilling. Overfilling would mean there is DEF sitting in the neck above the full line. Yes, the spout is used to prevent a mess on your paint, but it is also used to prevent OVERFILLING which would damage the tank itself when the DEF froze in the colder temps of winter time. I have not had one problem in cold weather filling up my DEF tank fully with the factory spout.

A review from Amazon on the spout explains it further:


Reviewed in the United States on November 13, 2015
Verified Purchase
Motorcraft used to supply this nozzle with their DEF containers, once upon a time. If you use Motorcraft DEF, the only other option now is to use a funnel to fill your tank. And this is a messy operation! As you are sure to overfill the tank every time! Leaving behind the white flakey spillage on the side of your truck.

As stated in other reviews, this nozzle eliminates all of this, as it stops filling once the DEF Tank is full. Another important reason why you should keep this nozzle on hand is it prevents any residual DEF in the fill line to the tank. This is especially important in the Winter months because DEF will freeze at 12*F. The DEF Tank is heated. However the fill line is not. And it is sure to freeze and crack the fill line. The $8.25 you pay for this nozzle is a lot cheaper than replacing the line to the DEF Tank!

You can use this nozzle repeatedly. And it does fit the Blue DEF 2.5 gallon containers. I am not sure if it will fit their larger containers. Nor do I know if it will fit other brands of DEF. I typically only use Motorcraft DEF or Blue in a pinch.

This is another tool that you should have in your truck! I would recommend this to anyone that owns a Ford Super Duty which requires DEF."

I'm just passing on what I believe is the case and my experience with the spout in cold weather.

 

That amazon review is just one guys (mis)understanding of its functionality. The issue isn't freezing the filler tube at all. Of Course the filler tube isnt heated, but tank is. The tank still isn't heated when the truck is off so freezing is still a concern. The def heater next to the solid DEF tank has no give, while the rubber hose leading to the def tank does have give to it. Regardless, use of the ford filler spout WILL fill def up into the def tank filler neck. DEF flow will stop when the fluid level in the filler neck reaches the tip of the spout. It can't stop the filling process when the DEF Level is below the filler neck.

You linked the diesel engine supplement, but you need to read further, theres another seciton explicitly for Cold weather filling, which is exactly what I quoted in my comment above.

Ford Explicitly states to not put more than 2 Gallons into your def tank in freezing conditions, and only to do so when the def tank level reads less than 1/2 full. The def tank itself is a little over 5 gallons, and when the DEF Level sender reports that the tank is less than half full, that means there is more than 2.5 Gallons of empty space in the tank. So Ford saying to only put 2 Gallons in when the level drops below 1/2, and no more, means they are explicitly saying to not fill the tank until the spout stops the flow automatically, to ensure that its not overfull for the conditions.

This is laid out exactly like I quoted it above on page 26 of the diesel engine supplement you linked (page 29 of the PDF).

Here's the important tidbit again, in regards to Cold Weather filling.

I'm inclined to follow this advice seeing its listed directly in the manual for the truck.

As far as anecdotal evidence goes. My experience filling from the pump got the def tank No fuller than it would get filling with the Ford Factory spout, and I had a Tank heater failure. Your lack of failure while using the Ford Spout doesn't imply that the Ford Spout will prevent heater failure from overfilling, just that you've been fortunate enough to not experience it.

 

Apparently I have been corrected. Thank you.

 

This is exactly how I refill DEF in temps down to -40F. As soon as I hit about 3/8 of a tank, I dump a full 2 gallon jug in. This was recommended by the service tech for my climate.

 

You absolutely NAILED this post 👍

 

Well, In almost 8 years I have run mine def tank to <200 mile to empty and never an issue with the tank heater.

I also use the ford filler and it aways fills to the correct level even in winter. When properly fitting, it will stop when full.

I will continue as I have always done.

 

My tank heater failed due to a bad batch. I’m not saying overfilling caused my issue.

I’ve run down to the warning as well but sometimes I’m too far from a town to get def within the warning distance.

 

what you want to stay away from is running it dry. That is not helpful for the life span of the pump or heater.

But running it down until you are within a couple of hundred miles should never cause an issue.

 

I agree. You never want to run a pump dry. A couple hundred miles would be plenty in my opinion.

 

What do you define as the correct level? Because full in the summer is over full when it's below 12F outside, per the diesel supplement manual.

I just filled with the Ford spout, and looked in my filler neck after it completed. It filled up to exactly where the spout stopped inside the filler neck, just a few inches down from the cap. So full in fact that I could stick a finger inside the filler and reach the level of def in the tube. This could pose a problem in cold conditions where Temps drop below well below 12F overnight, something that happens regularly where I live.

I'll note though that the Ford spout got the tank completely full without spilling a single drop of fuel, so it did a great job in that regard and I do use every time I fill def, whether I fill the tank full or just put in a single jug.

Since it allows the tank to be filled so full though, it absolutely makes sense for Ford to recommends not filling the def tank this full when you will experience Temps cold enough to freeze def. Putting in 2 gallons into a half tank ensures there's still headpsce in the tank for expansion. Filling with the Ford spout does not leave this same headspace. For that reason, I absolutely intend to follow the 2 gallons or less only when the tank is less than 1/2 full rule during the winter months.

 

It does say whe1/2 full. only add a max of 2 gallons.

But it does not say that when empty which is the way I do the fills.

 

That seems silly. Why would Ford ask you to leave some space in the tank if you are filling from 1/2 full, but not from empty? That free space recommendation is important regardless.

I guess suit yourself. I will always fill from half empty and only 2 gallons in the winter, and never let the level get below that, so as to keep the heater submerged at all times in cold conditions