Notices
2017 - 2022 Super Duty The 2017-2022 Ford F250, F350, F450, F550 & F600 Super Duty Pickup and Chassis Cab
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by: CARiD

DEF storage

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jul 28, 2022 | 03:50 PM
  #1  
johndeerefarmer's Avatar
johndeerefarmer
Thread Starter
|
Cargo Master
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 2,898
Likes: 184
DEF storage

https://www.motorcraft.com/content/d...%20Quality.pdf

I think I better move mine from the 90-95 garage to inside the house. Can't do much about what's in the truck
 
Reply
Old Jul 28, 2022 | 04:07 PM
  #2  
TX Chris's Avatar
TX Chris
Tuned
Joined: Nov 2021
Posts: 287
Likes: 219
I bought too much last time. I stuck the extra bottle in a hall closet so it's in air conditioned space. Like you said, there's nothing we can do about the tank on the truck.
 
Reply
Old Jul 28, 2022 | 04:09 PM
  #3  
Section179's Avatar
Section179
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 1,502
Likes: 165
So I should put my def in the fridge then?
 
Reply
Old Jul 28, 2022 | 04:33 PM
  #4  
Ltngdrvr's Avatar
Ltngdrvr
Lead Driver
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Top Answer: 5
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 8,454
Likes: 4,952
I think you guys are all worrying way too much about DEF storage, unless you are hoarding the stuff.
That document is meant for the dealers and other retailers that may keep large amounts of DEF in stock for long periods of time.
In your truck, the DEF is shaded from sunlight and heat to a certain extent, and while ambient temps may exceed 86 degrees, they do not remain constantly over 86.
And, if you read the whole sheet, the truck can still consume DEF even after it has started to degrade, it just uses more to make up the difference.

Now, I don't have any issues with this because I go through DEF like it was free. I do usually keep a jug that I pumped extra at the truck stop, but that doesn't get kept more than a week or two at the most before it gets used.

 
Reply
Old Jul 28, 2022 | 04:40 PM
  #5  
SARDiverDan's Avatar
SARDiverDan
Cargo Master
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 2,871
Likes: 767
From: SoCal/Wyoming
My truck sat on a SoCal lot for five months (June - October) before I bought it. Sat outside in temps as high as 115 in the summer after I bought it before I finally added some DEF. Out of curiosity, I checked the old DEF before I added the new DEF and it was right at 32% with the recommended range being 31.8 - 33.2%. I would not worry about it and I have an extra jug in the garage now.
 
Reply
Old Jul 28, 2022 | 04:44 PM
  #6  
TX Chris's Avatar
TX Chris
Tuned
Joined: Nov 2021
Posts: 287
Likes: 219
It took me 5 months to need my first DEF refill so this extra bottle I bought will be sitting for a while before it's needed. I figure it's better off taking up 1 SF of unused space in an air conditioned hall closet than sitting in my 100+ degree garage.
 
Reply
Old Jul 28, 2022 | 04:58 PM
  #7  
senix's Avatar
senix
Super Moderator
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Top Answer: 1
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 37,375
Likes: 1,860
From: Frederick, MD
Club FTE Gold Member
If I have some on hand, I store in the laundry room where it is a constant 70 degrees (basement).

Otherwise I don't worry about it as I go through a tank so fast anyway.
 
Reply
Old Jul 28, 2022 | 08:03 PM
  #8  
fordman19762003's Avatar
fordman19762003
Cargo Master
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Top Answer: 1
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 3,357
Likes: 250
I had a heavy diesel mechanic tell me that as long as you keep it out of direct sunlight you'll be fine.
 
Reply
FTE Stories

Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts

story-0

Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make

 Brett Foote
story-2

Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-3

Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?

 Brett Foote
story-6

2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-7

10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026

 Brett Foote
story-9

5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time

 Joe Kucinski
Old Jul 28, 2022 | 08:17 PM
  #9  
ATC Crazy's Avatar
ATC Crazy
Hotshot
Community Builder
Loved
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 10
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 12,338
Likes: 4,349
From: SW VA
I never bought DEF until the gauge read 1/4 or thereabouts. Buy a jug next trip to Walmart and pour the whole thing in the tank. Done.
 
Reply
Old Jul 28, 2022 | 09:21 PM
  #10  
Ltngdrvr's Avatar
Ltngdrvr
Lead Driver
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Top Answer: 5
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 8,454
Likes: 4,952
Originally Posted by ATC Crazy
I never bought DEF until the gauge read 1/4 or thereabouts. Buy a jug next trip to Walmart and pour the whole thing in the tank. Done.
Used to run my RAM down almost to the point of having it limited on speed, nearly empty, less than 20 miles to being limited.
But, my F250 starts bugging me to death every 60-75 miles with warnings before it gets below the halfway point, where it starts off saying 500 miles to empty.
Sure wish I could turn that garbage off.
It used to blow up the warning notifications on the Ford Pass app too, but after I complained a couple of times about that, they must have reset the app because it doesn't do that anymore.
 
Reply
Old Jul 28, 2022 | 09:31 PM
  #11  
ShowMePSD's Avatar
ShowMePSD
Cross-Country
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jun 2022
Posts: 51
Likes: 22
I sell DEF by the case, drum and bulk here in the Midwest. We have customers who keep it outside in 330 gal totes year round. Although most of them consume it fairly quick 330 gal +or- / month, we have yet to see any problems. You are probably more likely to have issues from contaminated DEF from oil, dirt, fuel etc. than from it degrading from longer term storage or UV degradation.
If you have or see crystals floating around in solution or a seperated liquid look, by all means, do NOT use it. Get some fresh DEF. We test customer samples regularly and rarely find urea concentration less than 32%.
That's my observation from out in "the field"...
 
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
MARTYSTOWRIG
Washington Chapter
8
Jul 28, 2022 09:27 PM
Secret Agent 069
Delaware Chapter
3
Apr 24, 2008 08:54 PM
jake00
Illinois Chapter
1
Apr 15, 2007 10:33 PM
Panteraboy
1948 - 1956 F1, F100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
8
Feb 27, 2006 01:18 PM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 11:09 AM.

story-0
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

Slideshow: Top 10 Ford truck tragedies.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-18 19:34:33


VIEW MORE
story-1
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make

And it might be even better than that.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-18 19:26:42


VIEW MORE
story-2
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!

Slideshow: Does lowering an F-150 Lobo RUIN the ride quality?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-05-18 19:20:37


VIEW MORE
story-3
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

Slideshow: Ford's bizarre fishing-themed Explorer concept has resurfaced after spending decades largely forgotten.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:07:46


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

Slideshow: The 10 best Ford truck engines we miss the most.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 13:09:47


VIEW MORE
story-5
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?

Slideshow: first look at the 810 hp 2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road!

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-12 12:50:07


VIEW MORE
story-6
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!

Slideshow: Everything You Need to Know about the 2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-05-07 17:51:06


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!

Slideshow: 10 most surprising Ford truck options/features in 2026.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:17:22


VIEW MORE
story-8
Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026

Slideshow: Here are the top 10 Fords coming to Mecum Indy 2026.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:49:49


VIEW MORE
story-9
5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time

Slideshow: The 5 best and 5 worst Ford truck wheels of all time

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 16:49:01


VIEW MORE