DEF Gauge

[tony1461571]

Got a question On the def gauge and warning indicator on the dash. I've added def to the tank about 3 times. I want to see what the warning is like and where it is shown. So I'm letting the def gauge go down till it warns me but that hasn't happened yet this is what the gauge showed today. How low will it have to get before it tells me I need to add def.

and does anyone have picture of the warning shown on the dash.

 

[photowrite]

I'm also interested in an answer, but plan to test it myself as well. My truck is too new with too few miles, and appearanlty uses very little DEF, so it will be a while before I need to add any.

 

[tony1461571]

I just pulled my 5th wheel about 12k to Fayetteville NC Ft Bragg and back. Thru TN and VA mountains pull great lots of power to spar I use about 10 gals down and back. So when you pull more weight you should use more def.

 

[photowrite]

snip.... So when you pull more weight you should use more def.

That is what I'm expecting.

 

[Kirwin]

Mine got all the way down to the needle on the red empty line and i still hadn't gotten the warning. Greg Brockman has a post of the warning. I'll see if I can find it.

 

[firefighter_2000]

Check out this post.

https://www.turbodieselregister.com/threads/249114-2014-Ram-DEF-question?highlight=DEF+gauge+warning

 

[tony1461571]

Thanks Kirwin and firefighter_2000 I've seen that post his truck's a Tradesman.And I wasn't sure if the instrument cluster was the same as the Laramie Longhorn. I figure it's got to go off soon. I've got two 2.5 gal containers to put in when I see the warning.

 

[firefighter_2000]

Mine is the Laramie Longhorn as well, and I believe mine says the same thing. May not look identical, but it's really close.

 

[grabinov]

Thanks Kirwin and firefighter_2000 I've seen that post his truck's a Tradesman.And I wasn't sure if the instrument cluster was the same as the Laramie Longhorn. I figure it's got to go off soon. I've got two 2.5 gal containers to put in when I see the warning.

I did the same - let the warning come on and then add two 2.5 gallon jugs. I overflowed the tank as the second jug neared empty. The tank only holds 5.5 gallons and i apparently had more than a half gallon left. The DEF is kind of nasty when it overflows. You can wash it off, but a day later you'll have salt crystals all over again. Go easy as you near the bottom of the second jug when you fill up!

 

[gsbrockman]

Check out this post.

https://www.turbodieselregister.com/threads/249114-2014-Ram-DEF-question?highlight=DEF+gauge+warning

Thanks for posting that....you beat me to it!!!! On a side note.....I've always ran my def tank down to at least the 200 miles to derate message, then refilled with bulk def. I've never had any def related messages or errors come on in either the '13 or '14.

 

[Newsa]

I made the mistake of filling my DEF to the cap when I bought it. But I only drive about 10 miles a day unless I'm on vacation. I began to worry when I found out DEF has a short shelf life before it starts degrading. And the DEF I bought was on sale, so I think it was on the shelf a while. I live in Miami Florida where it is hot! I am lucky I used it up before having to drain my DEF tank. I'm @ 1/4 on the gauge. I assume I will need to add some in January. I want to run it nesrly empty so I'm not mixing fresh with nearly spent DEF.

 

[tony1461571]

Actually in Issue 85 page 81 TSB 25-006-13: Is about def shelf life ambient temperature has as much affect as anything. Also light plays into it as well. And I think sunlight plays a large part in how long it will last. So store it in a cool dark place the chart that is from Chrysler gives temps and how long it should last. So take all factors into the def you use, and how much you use

 

[Wingate]

yes Caterpillar has issues the same documentation warning against storing in high ambient temps and storing exposed to sunlight. They had a chart showing it degredation rate with temperature increase.

 

[tony1461571]

Aha Caterpillar, I used to build 3408,3412 and the 3406s and a number of others before they went to the EGR motors in 2007 I retired in 2005 from Mossville engine plant. And thanks to the Govt they don't make truck engines anymore. If I buy in the store I try to get it in a box like the Blue DEF.

 

[Wingate]

I will add that I have questioned the accuracy of my DEF gauge as well. To the point that I took it to the dealer. My DEF gauge would actually go up 1/4 tank after a keyswitch cycle!
At this point I will never put any in again unless I am getting an alarm telling me its about to run out. On my FORD service truck it does NOT have a gauge, it just has a message that pops up when it calculates there is approx 800 miles of DEF left. The message will pop up on every keyswitch cycle and you have to clear it to get the alarm to cease. That all that I really need..

 

[sluper]

I too wanted to see the warning indicator and I ran my gauge into the red to get a message on the EVIC as well as the dash indicator. I have concern as to the life of the DEF and plan to fill the tank in the winter and keep the level down to a minimum in the heat of the summer. Who knows what the length of time the DEF has been in the warehouse or the temperature it has been stored in. There is a post here about the DEF being contaminated or incorrect quality. All of us who live in the Southern states may get this type of warning code due to the heat of the summer months. This is going to be another SNAFU that our wonderful EPA has placed on our backs.

 

[tony1461571]

sluper
If you live in a large city, and a truck stop is near you I would get it there. And if not buy def fluid that comes in a box Blue DEF made by Peak and sunlight won't be as big a factor, and if you are concerned about the temp only fill 1 2.5 gal jug at a time. With these trucks it's best to get it up to highway speed every so often and stay away from letting it idle a lot. Q. Are there special storage requirements for DEF?
A. DEF should be stored in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area, out of direct sunlight. While the optimum
storage temperature is up to 77 deg F (25 deg C), temporary exposure to higher temperatures has little to
no impact on the quality of DEF. This is from the Cummins filtration Q and A.

 

[sluper]

Agree. In the summer I do not intend to put more than one container in the truck. There will be problems with the DEF from truck stops as well as the Blue DEF. The shelf life is the problem for all of us. Lets say WW has the DEF, we do not have a born on date for this or any other DEF. What is the problem for all in the South and West is the temperature our trucks will be subjected to in the parking lots etc....
Idling will be kept to a minimum as with the other two trucks in my signature. Just enough for the turbo cool down, both had gauges installed not sure yet if I will add the Edge as Joe Donnelly has done.

 

[JDean]

So I've been adding 2.5 gal of Def as soon as the gauge reads 1/2. Should I be waiting until the the warning comes on or the needle is is the red zone in order to get the most new Def into the tank?

 

[Newsa]

Yeah, let your DEF run out at least once per year to ensure you are not mixing old def with new.

As for filling at a truck stop..... I was trying to put some DEF in at Loves Truck stop last summer.

But the pump would auto-turn off after just putting a swig in. I wore out my forearms squeaziing the trigger repeatedly.

Turns out the newer Semi' s & medium duty trucks have a magnet in the filler

if it doesn't have va magnet, it shuts off