DEF usage?

[RikDavis]

Can anyone tell me where I can buy a magnet for the def pumps at truck stops.

See post 4 in this thread https://www.turbodieselregister.com...t-price-but-a-few-issues?highlight=DEF+magnet

I have only bought DEF at Pilot/ Flying J and had no need for a magnet

 

[CBari]

I have bought at Pilot/Flying J over here and got it in the truck without the magnet but it is easier with the magnet. I keep waiting to buy a magnet thinking Genos will have them.

 

[Bill]

If you started out like the rest of us with 2/3 of a tank of DEF, it sounds like your useage is less than normal. My first 2,000 miles took mine down to the 1/4 mark and the tank took all the 21/2 gallons I offered it. Since the DEF helps our mileage maybe that's some of the problem. You don't mention your gears or trans but I can tell you my 1 ton is doing much better than that. The dead pedal got me again yesterday trying to pass a motor home on a two lane and I had to abort. Next attempt, I dropped back, started my approach early and the HP got me around in good order after the lag. That really sucks but so far, no CEL's and otherwise happy with the truck. Got the notice to reflash the radio module, or whatever it is, and I am afraid to go in. I might wind up with other problems I don't have now. You might consider filling out your profile so we know what truck you have. And let us know if you are driving uphill, both ways.:-laf

 

[Bill]

Mike & Others: I joined this forum not to long ago and found it the best diesel forum on the internet. I've replied to some of the post, which brings me to this. I am known for "rambling" on regardless if I am answering an e-mail or answering a post on here. In fact some of my replies have been extremly long. With that said, the last three replies I made to different guys on here were, again, long. However, before I could hit the "reply" button, everything I had typed quickly went away. Yesterday I type up what I thought was some good information I had got from Consumer reports - again a long reply - and again it just vanished before I could hit the reply button. So with all of that being said, I can't understand what the problem is and I figure my time is just as important as any other guy. Therefore I regret to say that I am signing off and won't be back. Want to thank everybody for the help they have give me. Now I'm going to it the reply button and hope this goes through. Now when I just hit the reply button I get this message saying that my msg is to short. ???????????????????

Mike[/QUOTE]

 

[LocoPilot750]

Read this on another site, kinda made sense. The DEF tank doesn't use a conventional float type gauge, because the fluid in the tank can freeze. It has a sensor instead. It will read "full" until the tank is down to about 60% full, then it will go down from there as the fluid level falls. So, when you first notice the gauge starting to just come off "Full" then I guess you could calculate that you have about 60% of the 5.7 gallons the tank is supposed to hold at that point. Supposedly freezing is a non-issue too, because the tank heater will heat the tank enough to always have enough liquid to spray into the exhaust stream or wherever it goes, which is only a very small amount at a time, and it will wait for that to happen if it has to.

 

[eng208]

How can any of you guys make any true comparisons of DEF consumption when a) the DEF gauge is so non-linear; and b) the DEF being put in is from a 2.5 gal container??? The most accurate way would be to fill the DEF tank up completely (preferably with bulk DEF at the pump), run it out, then re-fill with DEF at the pump again so one has an accurate count on total gallons consumed.......

It's not necessary to run it out. Do it just like fuel. You don't even have to know the total capacity.
Look. Fill the tank to capacity. No need to take note on this, it's not important to find out usage. Set Trip B to 0.0. Drive it like you normally do for several thousand miles. When the DEF gauge gets to 1/3, or 1/4, whatever you feel safe running it to, fill the tank using a method you can calculate the amount of DEF placed in the tank. When the tank is full to the same level as it was when the Trip B was reset, take note of the amount of gallons used and divide into the miles driven listed on Trip B. Simple math calculates your AVERAGE usage. This doesn't mean that is how much it uses, just an average based on those conditions. Towing requires more, unloaded requires less. I used about 2 gallons on a 600 mile trip towing almost 10000 Lbs earlier this summer. Normally, I can go about 1000 miles gallon unloaded.

 

[photowrite]

I've not encountered any issues as of yet. The plastic the tanks are constructed of (based on memory) have an ability to expand 7% to 8% without any issues. Snip...

Good post.

 

[Dutch & Di]

We start looking for a fuel station or to buy DEF when we get down to about 3/4's on the guage. We've been averaging about 1,200 miles between adding more. If I'm at a fuel station, we take advantage of it but I have no problem just stopping to buy 2.5 gallons, putting it in and get back on the road again. For us, the usage doesn't seem to take that much more when towing or not. Hugs, Di

 

[Powder Extreme]

My 3500 which is always towing gets about 2,500-3,000 miles from completely full to completely empty (5 mph warning). That's over the last 16k. I just filled the first time on the 2500 running it to completely empty at 6,900 miles. Probably 3k of that was towing, but not as heavy.

Before the Reflash, the 3500 used even more. The Cummins definitely fluctuates more based on towing, my GMC is pretty consistent at 1,000mpg DEF.

 

[photowrite]

My 3500 which is always towing gets about 2,500-3,000 miles from completely full to completely empty (5 mph warning). That's over the last 16k. I just filled the first time on the 2500 running it to completely empty at 6,900 miles. Probably 3k of that was towing, but not as heavy.

Before the Reflash, the 3500 used even more. The Cummins definitely fluctuates more based on towing, my GMC is pretty consistent at 1,000mpg DEF.

Wow, that seems like a very high rate of use on your 3500! Hope my new 2500 uses much less as the miles pile on (I understand it's somewhat duty-cycle dependent).