DEF Question

[TJJEEPER]

Just wondering out loud...

My '12 has just under 19,000 miles in just over the 4 years I've owned it. Most of it's life is in the shop (garage) in a climate controlled environment when not in use. The vast majority of the miles are either with the 5th wheel on the pin (12, 000 lbs+) or the Lance Camper in the box.

The question is: Will DEF deteriorate to the point of causing problems on a truck with this duty cycle and conditions? It can sit for a month or so at a time. The temps in the shop run from a low of 68 to a high of 78, never higher or lower.

Just curious... TIA

 

[Berrigan]

Just wondering out loud...

My '12 has just under 19,000 miles in just over the 4 years I've owned it. Most of it's life is in the shop (garage) in a climate controlled environment when not in use. The vast majority of the miles are either with the 5th wheel on the pin (12, 000 lbs+) or the Lance Camper in the box.

The question is: Will DEF deteriorate to the point of causing problems on a truck with this duty cycle and conditions? It can sit for a month or so at a time. The temps in the shop run from a low of 68 to a high of 78, never higher or lower.

Just curious... TIA

That's about 5000 miles a year you drive. If I recall DEF at those temps is good for about 2 years. maybe three. I think if you use a full tank of DEF a year you should be fine. At 5000 miles a year that's close to a full tank a year.

On a side note, wasn't 12 model year a non DEF truck. I thought 13 was the first RAM DEF truck.

 

[BILLUA]

You are correct.

 

[SnoKing]

I think the OP is thinking about a new truck. SNOKING

 

[TJJEEPER]

You are correct...

Two reasons... black truck and 68 RFE
No issues what so ever so it's just curiosity at this point.

 

[Newsa]

Just wondering out loud...

My '12 has just under 19,000 miles in just over the 4 years I've owned it. Most of it's life is in the shop (garage) in a climate controlled environment when not in use. The vast majority of the miles are either with the 5th wheel on the pin (12, 000 lbs+) or the Lance Camper in the box.

The question is: Will DEF deteriorate to the point of causing problems on a truck with this duty cycle and conditions? It can sit for a month or so at a time. The temps in the shop run from a low of 68 to a high of 78, never higher or lower. Water can evaporate out of solution even in climate conditions. If your climate contolled shop reduces humidity in the shop that can reduce the water vapor pressure in the air and encourage evaporation. (The same way a wet towel will dry quicker in a low humidity environment than a humid environment)

Just curious... TIA

Biggest concern about DEF is evaporation of water out of the def solution. As stated by diesel techs on this forum previously, your def system will not be harmed irreparably by low def comcentration; but can be damaged by too high of urea concentration. During summer months (hot weather) in Florida, i add deionolized (a pint every month) water when the def sits in the tank too long. I make sure to buy reagent grade DI so that I'm not adding contaminants.

You might consider adding a pint of DI water every 6 to 8 months. This will replace the water that evapotates to the air. And add no more than 2,5 gallons at a time.

 

[Newsa]

Ever since I started adding DI water, i noticed i don't have white residue on the inside of my filler tube. It washes the white residue (urea) down into the tank. And you can imagine that if you have white residue collecting in your filler tube, you probably have white residue covering the entire inside of your def tank. If any of that white residue gets into your def pump or def nozzle, you will need a trip to the dealer service dept.