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Code went away

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Old Aug 9, 2021 | 12:27 PM
  #1  
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paparoach48
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Code went away

Had a P20EE code for about a week. Filled DEF tank up at the Pilot Station(half empty) as suggested on this forum. Well 24 hours later the code disappeared on it's own. This morning called the mechanic he said don't worry it'll be back , they don't fix themselves. Not sure what to think anymore

 
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Old Aug 9, 2021 | 12:43 PM
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I had that same code about a year ago. I contacted dealer to get truck in for service and they were 3 weeks out. I decided it was possible that the def had been degraded. It still showed OK when checking level on display. I siphoned 3 gallons of the def out and was going to drive it around for awhile to try to get more def out of it. While I was doing that I got the 200 mile to reduced power message for low def and the check engine light went out. I added a 2.5 gallon jug of def and everything is fine. The code went away and never came back. I surmised that I had been keeping the def tank full and the pcm never saw a under 1/2 indication and the pcm thought there was a problem with the def system. I now put enough to get the display over 1/2 tank and let it drop down again before refilling it to over 1/2. No issues since other than it took forever to use a 1/2 tank and get back to the 200 mile message.

FWIW, you can't fix something that isn't broken. If the check engine light is off and the codes are cleared you have no idea what caused it. Don't let your mechanic start replacing parts hoping to resolve a problem you may no longer have.
 
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Old Aug 9, 2021 | 03:43 PM
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I have always, in 9 years, ran it down to less than 200 to empty, then a complete refill, no issues.
 
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Old Aug 9, 2021 | 05:15 PM
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Originally Posted by senix
I have always, in 9 years, ran it down to less than 200 to empty, then a complete refill, no issues.
Yup that is what I do. Use the old stuff as much as you can then when the warning comes on fill it up. No reason to keep it topped off.
 
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Old Aug 10, 2021 | 12:02 AM
  #5  
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Code back

The mechanic was right the code came back so guess I'll do what you guys are doing let the def get down to 200 miles then fill it. I've been told that as long as the cel is solid it should be ok.
 
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Old Aug 10, 2021 | 05:09 PM
  #6  
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Originally Posted by paparoach48
The mechanic was right the code came back so guess I'll do what you guys are doing let the def get down to 200 miles then fill it. I've been told that as long as the cel is solid it should be ok.
Best to get it repaired if it comes back. Murphy says that it will leave you walking at the most inopportune moment.
 
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Old Aug 10, 2021 | 05:20 PM
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Sounds like the DEF tank has some contaminates in it. I would drain the tank, fill it with a gallon, take it for a drive on rough road, drain the tank again. I would repeat this a couple times and then fill the tank with some fresh DEF.

Th code is reset if the next drive cycle does not indicate a problem. It is tested once per drive cycle.

You can get a pump from Harbor Freight or wal mart or you part stores to drain the tank.



This would be a lot cheaper than having a shop to repair it. If the problem persits, then maybe consider taking it some place to repair it.
 
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