DEF mileage on 2013 2500 4x4 4dr

[Bug Out]

Just filled the DEF tank after a month and a half. At first I thought the gauge was broke, but waited and it started moving. I fill it at Flying "J" 2. 79 a gallon, vs 5. 99 per gallon in the store.



After 2637. 5 miles, I used 5. 082 gallons of DEF. Approx. 518 miles per gallon. Gauge was a hair above the empty line. 90% around town driving, 10% towing at near GCVW rating.



I'm curious as to what others are getting MPG in DEF.



Also, at near 6K in mileage, its showing that my oil is 62% good. . Changing oil at 6K and getting it analyzed to see whats actually going on with it. Will report finding when I get them.



Thats a FAR cry from my 2012 that was asking for oil changes at 3500+- miles.

 

[SNiebaum]

Just filled the DEF tank after a month and a half. At first I thought the gauge was broke, but waited and it started moving. I fill it at Flying "J" 2. 79 a gallon, vs 5. 99 per gallon in the store.

After 2637. 5 miles, I used 5. 082 gallons of DEF. Approx. 518 miles per gallon. Gauge was a hair above the empty line. 90% around town driving, 10% towing at near GCVW rating.

I'm curious as to what others are getting MPG in DEF.

Also, at near 6K in mileage, its showing that my oil is 62% good. . Changing oil at 6K and getting it analyzed to see whats actually going on with it. Will report finding when I get them.

Thats a FAR cry from my 2012 that was asking for oil changes at 3500+- miles.

There is a thread on CF where I guy has sent in his oil to be analyzed... very promising results.

Your DEF usage sounds about twice what is expected but with your usage it may be spot on... how much fuel have you used?

 

[Bug Out]

I wasn't keeping track of the fuel. Around town, and I drive easy, not a hot rodder or heavy foot, it shows on "average" 17-19MPG. That apparently means about 16 or so which is 2-3 MPG more then my 2012.

Towing, I get 8-9 MPG .

 

[Gonzo 1066]

I have just 2000 miles of HARD towing (about 25,500#) on my 2013 Dually auto truck. Have gone through 5 gallons of DEF and at 10mpg fuel. The oil says that it is still 89% good.

 

[Bug Out]

is your gross total 25,500 or towing 25,500? Your doing good then.

 

[Gonzo 1066]

Conbined weight,,,, If I was towing 25,500 I might want a Kenworth :-laf

 

[LJones]

Hi, Just got back from a trip to Alaska with an 850 Lance cab over on a 2013 3500 DRW w/3. 73 and 4x4. Total trip was 10K miles. Total weight was right at 12. 5K lbs. Averaged between 12. 5 and 13 mpg (55-65 mph) , depending on where my right foot was. Used about 2. 5 gal of DEF every 1500 miles or so. Then discovered I can buy this stuff at the big boy pumps for about half the cost. Running around town with no load the gauge hasn't moved. Very happy with the truck!

 

[Steve Martin]

Bug Out... . I have 4,500 on my new 2013 2500 Mega Cab and I still have a half tank of DEF. That is mostly freeway miles with one pull with my 24 foot travel trailer. If I keep with that same driving, I should go about 7,000 to 8,000 on one tank of DEF.

 

[Bug Out]

Mine seems to suck it up when towing. Empty, it gauge never seems to move. I almost took it to the dealer thinking the gauge was stuck. Towed 300+ miles after that and gauge started moving.

 

[Cummins12V98]

Bug Out

Maybe your DEF tank was not full prior to your filling it. May not be as bad as you thought?

 

[Bug Out]

Cummins, after I filled the tank and saw no needle movement for 2 weeks,(700 miles) I thought the gauge was broke. Then I towed the trailer 300 miles and it started moving downward quickly. . That was towing N/B I-17 getting 8 mpg.

 

[Cummins12V98]

Cummins, after I filled the tank and saw no needle movement for 2 weeks,(700 miles) I thought the gauge was broke. Then I towed the trailer 300 miles and it started moving downward quickly. . That was towing N/B I-17 getting 8 mpg.

Sounds like a couple fuel gauges I have had in the past, hang at full then drop like a rock. Yea N-17 will burn the fuel and sounds like DEF also.

 

[Bug Out]

I have towed 3 x to flagstaff area and use over a half tank of fuel every time... . 150 miles... puts any vehicle towing to its test. .

 

[Bill Stockard]

Hi, Just got back from a trip to Alaska with an 850 Lance cab over on a 2013 3500 DRW w/3. 73 and 4x4. Total trip was 10K miles. Total weight was right at 12. 5K lbs. Averaged between 12. 5 and 13 mpg (55-65 mph) , depending on where my right foot was. Used about 2. 5 gal of DEF every 1500 miles or so. Then discovered I can buy this stuff at the big boy pumps for about half the cost. Running around town with no load the gauge hasn't moved. Very happy with the truck!

You are getting much better fuel mileage than I get on my non-emission '03 dually that averages between 10 and 11 mpg hauling our Lance. My truck's 4. 10 ratio vs. your 3. 42 makes a difference along with the double overdrive transmission. Our Lance is heavier; however, it has a lower profile and probably a little less wind resistance than your newer Lance.

Bill

 

[firefighter_2000]

There is a flash that fixes several items and the DEF gauge is one of them. My gauge hadn't moved in 4000 miles, and 4-5 gallons of DEF. The new flash it's working as expected.

 

[Powder Extreme]

Do you know what else the flash fixes? The inept service writer had no clue about it. He proceeded to tell me it now uses DEF to clean the DPF instead of diesel fuel. I tried explaining how it actually works. Then he went on to tell another couple about the "compression brake, just like a semi has". I rolled my eyes and left...

1400 miles, 400 of it towing 17k, all highway, I used 3/4 of a tank. WAY MORE then my Duramax uses.

 

[Wertles]

I have 1200 miles so far, the needle started dropping immediately from the dealer. I don't think it was actually full from the dealer. Just enough in the tank to get the gauge close enough to full. At 750 miles I put 2 1/2 gallons in and the needle pegged to full now. The last 450 miles have been half around town, half towing. The needle still registers full.

 

[jus2shy]

I have 1200 miles so far, the needle started dropping immediately from the dealer. I don't think it was actually full from the dealer. Just enough in the tank to get the gauge close enough to full. At 750 miles I put 2 1/2 gallons in and the needle pegged to full now. The last 450 miles have been half around town, half towing. The needle still registers full.

I just bought my Ram on 8/9/2013 and made sure the salesman noted that my DEF tank was not topped off (they topped off the diesel though). It was reading just over 3/4 full. They didn't think it was a big deal and told me to swing by the next Monday. Came in Monday and and they told me that my truck was the 12th 2013 truck they sold all year at their dealership and this was the first time putting DEF into a newer truck. Well the tech and I were surprised to see the truck guzzle 2 gallons of DEF before the needle started to move towards full. The tank was making that gurgling noise letting us know there wasn't much room left after dumping down the 2nd gallon jug. So at just over 3/4, the truck took in 2 gallons. I've only put maybe a hundred miles on my truck since then but I'll be curious to track DEF consumption for my daily commute and then eventually when I get a trailer.

 

[Powder Extreme]

From basically completely empty to running over full took just a touch over 5 gallons maybe a pint. The Duramax holds just over 7 gallons from empty to full, so that explains some of the mileage difference. The Cummins is still burning it at almost twice the rate. I know it doesn't actually burn. Lol.

 

[S.Morris]

My son was just commenting today on the fact that his new 13 DRW Aisin uses pretty much the exact same amount of DEF as the 11 Denali DRW he traded in.