Bought DEF at the pump, great price, but a few issues...

[jacknife]

When filling at truck stop most of them if you go in with a credit card tell them you want x number of gal they will ring itup on your card and give you a temp receipt then when you are done and you have pumped more or less it doesnt matter they will give you a receipt for that amoubt. They do this to prevent the cashiers from holding on to your card. Where do you get the magnet?

 

[TimBrunett]

Filled up Sunday with DEF for the first time. Was at a Pilot truck stop for $2.79/gal and had no issues. Beat the heck out of Walmart at 5.25/gal. They must not require any magnet because I just put the nozzle in and started pumping right away. Use of a credit card and making the selections was new but easy enough to do. The process was a learning experience for me and I'll be aware of the magnet requirement if needed. I got 269 mpg so no need for a DEF can in my case. YMMV

Tim B

 

[gsbrockman]

I got 269 mpg so no need for a DEF can in my case. YMMV

269 mpg of DEF is quite low.....you must have been doing some heavy towing!!!

 

[TimBrunett]

269 mpg of DEF is quite low.....you must have been doing some heavy towing!!!

It may not have been filled all the at the dealership. (No, they wouldn't do that)

What should I be getting?

 

[Regcabguy]

Thanks for this info Joseph. Without wanting to completely hijack the thread, the shelf life vs us temperature is interesting. In our Australian outback the summer shade temp will exceed 40 degrees C every day for weeks on end. Even under the truck, tank temps will reach more than that. So my question is: what if anything happens when the DEF in the truck 'goes bad' due to heat?

Matt,
Australia's insisting on DEF technology?
I was hoping you guys would be supplied with 6.7's or 5.9's without all the junk.

 

[gsbrockman]

It may not have been filled all the at the dealership. (No, they wouldn't do that)

What should I be getting?

I've re-filled my DEF 10 times in the '13......I've ranged anywhere from a low of 554 miles per gallon of DEF to 1173 miles per gallon of DEF.

 

[JLandry]

What should I be getting?

Tim,

On average, your truck should consume about 1 gallon of DEF for every 50 gallons of diesel burned.

That works out as follows:

At 20 mpg, 1 gallon of DEF should last 1000 miles.
At 15 mpg, 1 gallon of DEF should last 750 miles.
At 10 mpg, 1 gallon of DEF should last 500 miles.
At 5 mpg, 1 gallon of DEF should last 250 miles.

Best regards,

John L.

 

[TimBrunett]

Thanks John L

My DEF tank obviously wasn't filled up full until I did it. I'll average it again next fill up and remember the 50 to 1.

Tim B

 

[JLandry]

I'll average it again next fill up and remember the 50 to 1.

Tim,

Be aware the DEF tank level sensor and gauge aren't something to be relied upon for any degree of accuracy. According to the Chrysler Warranty Rep at one of the technical presentations at 20th annual May Madness, the DEF tank uses a no-contact level sensor (probably ultrasonic) which doesn't even begin to provide a useful signal until the level in the DEF tank drops significantly.

Based on getting 10 mpg fuel economy when towing (our truck actually does better than that, but it's a nice number for planning) and the average 2% (50:1) DEF consumption rule, I just remember that I'll need to add a 2-1/2 gallon jug of DEF to the tank every 1250 miles or so. I've found this to be roughly accurate and I use it for deciding how much spare DEF jugs to carry on trips.

Best regards,

John L.

 

[MattandLana]

Matt,
Australia's insisting on DEF technology?
I was hoping you guys would be supplied with 6.7's or 5.9's without all the junk.

Haha! We don't even get the Rams. Or the Effies. We had to buy the truck in the USA and ship it to Oz, getting it converted to RHD along the way. See my teaser post here. Currently somewhere mid-Pacific.

DEF is in use here though on heavy trucks.

 

[Too Tall]

Tim,

Be aware the DEF tank level sensor and gauge aren't something to be relied upon for any degree of accuracy. According to the Chrysler Warranty Rep at one of the technical presentations at 20th annual May Madness, the DEF tank uses a no-contact level sensor (probably ultrasonic) which doesn't even begin to provide a useful signal until the level in the DEF tank drops significantly.

Based on getting 10 mpg fuel economy when towing (our truck actually does better than that, but it's a nice number for planning) and the average 2% (50:1) DEF consumption rule, I just remember that I'll need to add a 2-1/2 gallon jug of DEF to the tank every 1250 miles or so. I've found this to be roughly accurate and I use it for deciding how much spare DEF jugs to carry on trips.

Best regards,

John L.

Thanks for that, I noticed that exact thing. I've been thru 2 tanks and it looks like it's stuck on full. I'm wondering if the gauge is broke.

 

[JLandry]

I'm wondering if the gauge is broke.

Doubtful.

It seems like almost all new owners wonder this in the beginning.

Give it time... and lots of miles.

John L.

 

[JLandry]

hello ....
i really like this forum.

Hello and welcome aboard.

John L.

 

[TimBrunett]

Tim,

Be aware the DEF tank level sensor and gauge aren't something to be relied upon for any degree of accuracy. According to the Chrysler Warranty Rep at one of the technical presentations at 20th annual May Madness, the DEF tank uses a no-contact level sensor (probably ultrasonic) which doesn't even begin to provide a useful signal until the level in the DEF tank drops significantly.

Based on getting 10 mpg fuel economy when towing (our truck actually does better than that, but it's a nice number for planning) and the average 2% (50:1) DEF consumption rule, I just remember that I'll need to add a 2-1/2 gallon jug of DEF to the tank every 1250 miles or so. I've found this to be roughly accurate and I use it for deciding how much spare DEF jugs to carry on trips.

Best regards,

John L.

John L

Thanks. The gauge was down a little so its probably working. I won't do a fill up for awhile but at least now I know the tank is actually full and I can do a mileage check that will be accurate in a couple thousand miles. Darn good idea to carry a few gallons on board too. Thanks for the numbers.

Tim B

 

[Too Tall]

Does anyone know if the pumps at the truck stops have an comments about being ISO#$%$$## certified that's specified by Ram manual? It is injected upstream of the particulate filter so the wrong stuff could have an effect? Just thinking? I would think it's all the same.

 

[gsbrockman]

DEF is.........................DEF. I've refilled my '13 at the pumps over 10 times without any issues.

 

[Too Tall]

Yea, so now all I have to do is travel when it's 68 degrees and I should be good.

 

[MattandLana]

Yea, so now all I have to do is travel when it's 68 degrees and I should be good.

Haha! 'sright - future trucks will come without airconditioning or heating because it will always be so mild out when we're driving ...