Consensus DPF or DEF

[Shadrach]

Please share your thoughts on the 2010-2012 with the DPF vs the 2013+ with DEF. Some people like one version and hate the other and visa vera. I know DEF can freeze up, but it also thaws.

I remember the local Dodge salespeople trying to tell us back in 2012 " you better get the last of the 2012 before you are stuck with the Urea next year" Wonder what they told people in 2013??

David

 

[Beast2B]

It's not either/or, as the 13+ still have a DPF. Stock for stock the DEF trucks get better mpg. lots of tuning options now that EFI Live is available, too!

 

[SnoKing]

Wonder what they told people in 2013??

David

Get the Aisin! Snoking

 

[EDankievitch]

Had a non DEF 2012 nice truck bad MPG's and always had a lot of fuel in the oil. Would scream for an oil change every 1800-2200 miles of mixed 600 miles a week use. Now have a DEF equepted 2013 AWESOME mpg's (yesterdays run from Longisland to Cape May and back averaging 60 mph for the 475 mile trip delivered 23.7 for the tank. The 2012's best trip ever on the same trip was 17.9. It's easy on the oil only wanting a change every 14,000 miles. I change it at 10,000 miles. OIl comes out with no fuel in it. Does DEF freeze yup it sure does but aside from a bad sensor telling the computer that the tank heater wasn't needed. blowing the DEF pump fuse and tripping a lack of DEF code. New sensor and all is good. even below 0 all was good. My say unless your going for a non emmissions truck then go for a 2013 or newer. the older non DEF system really sucks.

 

[wyosteve]

I have a 2012 and it has been problem free for 42k miles. Oil changes run between 5000 and 6500 miles which is the same as on my 04.5 Yes, fuel mileage is lower than the newer ones, but I also have 3.73 rear end which the newer ones don't to my knowledge. I don't think you can go wrong with either year range. They just both have different needs and limitations.

 

[RustyJC]

.....the older non DEF system really sucks.

Your experience/opinion, perhaps, but not one universally shared. Our truck serves our purposes just fine, thanks, and has returned 17 MPG running empty at 75 MPH on I-10, and that's a dually with 4.10 gears. Same mileage as my 2002 4.10-equipped ETH/DEE 3500 dually. Most of our truck's service is towing a heavy 5th wheel, and I routinely have the oil changed at around 5K miles (normally before beginning a long trip) - I've never seen the EVIC change oil message since I've owned the truck, and as a preferred customer at my dealership, my dealer charges less for Saturday AM drop-in oil changes using Shell Rotella and Mopar filters than I can do them myself.

And the DPF didn't go away with the introduction of DEF - the NOx adsorber did.

Rusty

 

[DonFitzwater]

My 2010 was a decent truck but drank fuel and was constantly in the shop for tailpipe related CEL's. The new 2014 I've got has been in for a few software updates and a couple of random things like bad shocks but that's about it. The mileage comparison is NO COMPARISON! The 2014 is getting high teens in city/winter driving where the 10 was getting 9ish. Highway mileage is low 20's vs 16 tops for the 2010.

The 2014 has done well all the way down to -52 and yes, the def system will throw a cel when the tank is frozen solid and tell you to see dealer for def service but it runs fine and the light will go out once it's thawed.

 

[Jim W]

David;

I have a 2008 6.7L Ram 6.7L and I love the engine but hate the emission system that has been added on; hence the Smarty S67 on my truck.

If I was in the market right now I would not hesitate at all in buying a DEF equipped truck with the DPF in the exhaust system and leaving the truck emission equipment stock. I believe and have read were these are providing excellent service and slightly improved fuel mileage when towing over trucks equipped with just the DPF. Another feature is the extended oil change interval with the Def trucks over the just equipped DPF trucks.

Just my $0.02

Jim W.

 

[AH64ID]

I never agreed with Ram waiting on DEF, it's a much better setup than a DPF without DEF.

As Beast pointed out all 6.7's have a DPF, but only the 13+ have DEF too.

 

[Shadrach]

It's not either/or, as the 13+ still have a DPF....

Sorry didn't mean to confuse anyone but I think you all knew what I meant any way. Thanks.

 

[EDankievitch]

Yes the 2013's and newer have a DPF however it is located closer to the engine where it get's more heat and will light off more often on it's own with out having to going into a Re-gen cycle. Thus saving fuel and the engine's lube oil. DPF's are a fact of life but setting them up so they work with out having to dump more fuel into them as the new trucks are set up just makes sense. I'll take my 20-24 Mpg bobtail on the highway and the extra cost (a gal of DEF for every thousand miles driven) of DEF and my 14,000 mile oil changes any day over the older system that the 2012 had. The first year that I had the 13 my savings on lube oil and fuel alone was over $3k over the 12 real numbers. Even with the extra cost of having to buy DEF.

 

[SnoKing]

Yes the 2013's and newer have a DPF however it is located closer to the engine where it get's more heat and will light off more often on it's own with out having to going into a Re-gen cycle. Thus saving fuel and the engine's lube oil. DPF's are a fact of life but setting them up so they work with out having to dump more fuel into them as the new trucks are set up just makes sense. I'll take my 20-24 Mpg bobtail on the highway and the extra cost (a gal of DEF for every thousand miles driven) of DEF and my 14,000 mile oil changes any day over the older system that the 2012 had. The first year that I had the 13 my savings on lube oil and fuel alone was over $3k over the 12 real numbers. Even with the extra cost of having to buy DEF.

"SpynTec Free wheel hubs"

How much did these help with mileage? SNOKING

 

[Shadrach]

My Dyna Tracs hubs are mainly for 2wd low purposes. It would take a lots of miles to repay with fuel savings. You also "have to" repack the bearings so more maintenance but the good news is you "can" repack them and not have them seize up like a stock hub.
David

 

[RUSSELL5000]

Shadrach,

I have a 2012. Everything has been just great with the truck other than a tire pressure sensor on one wheel. I only use my truck on the highway - most of the time pulling something (boat, Boy Scout trailer, or Travel Trailer). I change the oil every six months because I get to the time limit before the mile limit. No EVIC messages, no noticeable fuel dilution of the oil.

The first thing I did after buying my truck and discovering the TDR was go to the CMEP gathering in 2013. I know you only asked about the emissions system, but I think if you look at all of the changes to the truck as a whole beginning in 2013 then I think most would agree that the newer model years have many significant improvements.

 

[EDankievitch]

On this truck the 2013, The spyntec hubs helped about 1 mpg I've run into a few people that have the 2014's that have the central axle disconnect and they are getting the same MPG's that I get week in and week out.

 

[gk9382]

I have a 2012 that I have had more issues with the DPF system and EGR/ EGR cooler issues then it is worth. Issues started at 60,000 and I am closing in on 100,000. I have had it in the dealer at least every two months because of some kind of engine light all related to this DPF system, I have friends that run DEF and have not had any problems. next truck will have DEF

 

[2014 Ram]

Im deleting the EGR/DEF/DPF on my 2014....Not for performance, just to get that junk off my truck and let it breathe like a diesel should.

 

[gtwitch]

2014 Ram, Let us know the delete goes and who's products you choose to use. My hunting partner has a 10 vintage 3500 and the DPF is a real problem at and around hunting camp where we use it to go many short trips for about a week in cold weather and we are over 20 miles from a road where you can get the pickup to speeds where the DPF will light off and regen so the truck can go into limp home and becomes a problem. This just means that some of the crew needs to go 4o miles into town every other night to get more beer!!! That does mot happen if there happens to be a heavy snowfall or some other reason. No one has been able to tell us how to force a Regen Cycle out in the woods!! This a great item that the engineers at DC failed to address!!

gtwitch in wyoming

 

[AH64ID]

2014 Ram, Let us know the delete goes and who's products you choose to use. My hunting partner has a 10 vintage 3500 and the DPF is a real problem at and around hunting camp where we use it to go many short trips for about a week in cold weather and we are over 20 miles from a road where you can get the pickup to speeds where the DPF will light off and regen so the truck can go into limp home and becomes a problem. This just means that some of the crew needs to go 4o miles into town every other night to get more beer!!! That does mot happen if there happens to be a heavy snowfall or some other reason. No one has been able to tell us how to force a Regen Cycle out in the woods!! This a great item that the engineers at DC failed to address!!

gtwitch in wyoming

Tell him to read up on Net Zero and Net Reduction. The 2010 will go into regen at hunting camp if you let it.

It was addressed by the end of MY08 so only un-flashed 07.5 and early 08's are really effected by that style use.

 

[2014 Ram]

Im either going with Ryan Milliken or Kory Willis tune...both are EFI live tunes, and I think those 2 are the best...Just got off the phone with both of them. Ordering kit on Monday, and will have it deleted next week...Will post a follow up once done...I think the 10 and 14 models are different beast though