DEF fluid in fuel tank-Ely,Nevada

[dblake]

Hi guys. I’m posting this for a guy stuck in Ely, Nevada. He put DEF fluid in his diesel tank and drove it until it died. He changed filters but it won’t start. He’s sitting in front of the Love’s truck stop and the local mechanic quoted him $12,000 for a complete swap of EVERYTHING in his fuel system. Is there anybody near Ely that could help him out even with just some advice? He’s not a member yet but seems like a great guy in a tough spot. Thanks guys. I’ve included a foto of his rig.

 

[CVR222NV]

I checked with my Ely contact and this is what he said: "I hear nothing good about mechanics in Ely." I'm checking another source.

 

[CVR222NV]

Got the same response but to try KRM Auto for doing good work but expensive and take too long. Might want to look into a tow to Las Vegas or Elko.

 

[BarryG]

Not that this helps but I know a guy who did the same thing with his Ecodiesel. Same story from his local dealer, replace the entire fuel system tank to injectors. They would not warranty the work otherwise and iirc the cost was in the $10k+ range.

 

[DavidC]

That is one EXPENSIVE uh oh. Guess he did not know to not start it, just tow to have tank flushed out.

 

[dblake]

Thanks guys. So it sounds like maybe 12K isn’t a completely crazy number then. I only know the guy by internet since we both have the same kind of camper. I feel really sorry for him since he’s 78 and full timing. He says this may make him sell his rig and downsize to a van so if there’s anybody that needs a nice rig with a wrecked fuel system tell them to contact this guy.
https://www.facebook.com/gaston.belanger.9406

 

[BigPapa]

I do feel for the guy, really, I do, but I just don't understand how people do this. It's like these people leaving their kids in a hot car, I just don't understand. Now, that said, my father is 77 and he's starting to show signs of not remembering and being confused about things, so I do understand this situation, somewhat.

When we first got new buses that take DEF, we had a couple of drivers put diesel in the DEF tank, not good either, but better than DEF in the fuel tank. Anyway, what we ended up doing was putting locks on the DEF tank door where the driver can't open it and telling them that they are to bring the bus to the shop to get DEF, they ARE NOT to put DEF in their bus under any circumstances. We have since not had any problems with it.

And, $12K to replace the fuel system is probably about right for retail at a dealer.

 

[Timd32]

Just curious, and having read a few of these, and not having a truck that uses DEF.... anyone have a pic of the fill ports? Are they right next to each other?

Only DEF truck I have used was a cabover rental, it was pretty impossible to confuse the 2, as the location was much different, so cant be that kind of set up.

Wonder if car insurance would cover this, would have to ask my carrier at some point, or look at my binder at some point?

 

[BarryG]

Dont know what this guy has but my 17 they are right next to each other behind the fuel door. The def port is significantly smaller than the fuel port. You would have to try pretty darn hard to get fuel in the def tank but would be easy to dump def in the fuel tank. I purchased an aluminum cap for each of them that says def or diesel like the ones here
https://www.genosgarage.com/category/fuel-caps

 

[12LaramieHO]

Hi guys. I’m posting this for a guy stuck in Ely, Nevada. He put DEF fluid in his diesel tank and drove it until it died. He changed filters but it won’t start. He’s sitting in front of the Love’s truck stop and the local mechanic quoted him $12,000 for a complete swap of EVERYTHING in his fuel system. Is there anybody near Ely that could help him out even with just some advice? He’s not a member yet but seems like a great guy in a tough spot. Thanks guys. I’ve included a foto of his rig.

Thanks guys. So it sounds like maybe 12K isn’t a completely crazy number then. I only know the guy by internet since we both have the same kind of camper. I feel really sorry for him since he’s 78 and full timing. He says this may make him sell his rig and downsize to a van so if there’s anybody that needs a nice rig with a wrecked fuel system tell them to contact this guy.
https://www.facebook.com/gaston.belanger.9406

DBlake,

S**T happens, period. Doesn't matter what the cause.
Now this poor guy is in one hell of a jam. I can't help but to feel his pain and stress in this situation......
NOW that said, I've seen other posts along the same lines.....
It looks like that is fairly a new CTD and hopefully there is GOOD to GREAT FULL COVERAGE INSURANCE ON IT!
Have him call his insurance company and inquire, ALL they can say is NO which doesn't change anything, but they may say owners mistake like say leaving the SUNROOF open during a downpour AND IT JUST MAY BE COVERED!

COMPREHENSIVE may just cover something like this!

Hopefully ALL is not lost and maybe the insurance will come through
I will keep my fingers crossed for this guy and him in my thoughts.
Let us know what the outcome is.
~Chad

 

[Wiredawg]

DBlake,

S**T happens, period. Doesn't matter what the cause.
Now this poor guy is in one hell of a jam. I can't help but to feel his pain and stress in this situation......
NOW that said, I've seen other posts along the same lines.....
It looks like that is fairly a new CTD and hopefully there is GOOD to GREAT FULL COVERAGE INSURANCE ON IT!
Have him call his insurance company and inquire, ALL they can say is NO which doesn't change anything, but they may say owners mistake like say leaving the SUNROOF open during a downpour AND IT JUST MAY BE COVERED!

COMPREHENSIVE may just cover something like this!

Hopefully ALL is not lost and maybe the insurance will come through
I will keep my fingers crossed for this guy and him in my thoughts.
Let us know what the outcome is.
~Chad

Chad,
I've been reading this since posted and think your idea is best answer to his problem. I'm sad for them. Nothing too much else to say.

Best wishes to them!

Ron

 

[dblake]

His insurance won’t cover this. Just thought I’d try to see if he had any other options rather than spending 12K. I guess consensus is he’s screwed. I once saw a guy put gas in his diesel. Blew smoke bad when he started it. He immediately shut it down and got towed. I always wondered what that mistake cost him. Never knew DEF fluid in your fuel system was like having your truck pass kidney stones.
https://www.dieselworldmag.com/ford...yR9nzgUthiswaZcnOWP_vHcDddzbjz2bVs0seApwzGCAM

 

[sag2]

My hunting buddy filled his 7.3 Ford with DEF (I'm sure he looked at the price and said, I'll use the cheaper diesel) and made it to the on ramp before it quit. They had the tank drained, removed and dried, flushed the lines and system, new filter, and filled with fresh fuel. Has run a few thousand miles since with no problems.
He has nothing to loose. Do the same and worst case it won't start or won't run correctly. If that happens the fuel system is clean and then you start replacing parts.

 

[DavidC]

My hunting buddy filled his 7.3 Ford with DEF (I'm sure he looked at the price and said, I'll use the cheaper diesel) and made it to the on ramp before it quit. They had the tank drained, removed and dried, flushed the lines and system, new filter, and filled with fresh fuel. Has run a few thousand miles since with no problems.
He has nothing to loose. Do the same and worst case it won't start or won't run correctly. If that happens the fuel system is clean and then you start replacing parts.

I would definately try that before laying out 12k.

 

[dblake]

This is the guy stuck in Ely.
https://northern-lite.com/uncategorized/hitting-the-road-with-gaston-belanger/

 

[Ozymandias]

First he needs a shop that is willing to even work on the truck, focus on this.
Afterwards we can see what has to be really replaced or just cleaned.
Maybe he just has to drain the fuel system entirely, fill up with diesel and it runs, without any other parts spent.

Maybe an ordinary small workshop, owner operated would be the best bet now.
Every RAM Dealer will only do the full 12K Job or nothing.

His warranty is already gone if he has been to a dealer, it is in the record now.

 

[MarkEagleUSA]

Do we know how much DEF went in the tank and how much fuel was in it to begin with?

 

[dblake]

He says his diesel was full. He put just shy of 2
gallons DEF in the wrong hole, realized his mistake but decided it wasn’t much and drove off. Truck started to run bad on the way back to camp so he changed filters. He was able to return to town before it quit running. So yeah, he basically did the worst thing you could do. I drive a non DEF truck and had no idea how bad of a screwup this was.

 

[sag2]

It doesn't really matter. He ran it till it stopped so we know we have DEF through the system. It still needs to be drained, cleaned out, filters changed, and new fuel to determine if there is any damage. The longer he waits the more chance the parts are going to corrode

 

[Regcabguy]

I do feel for the guy, really, I do, but I just don't understand how people do this. It's like these people leaving their kids in a hot car, I just don't understand. Now, that said, my father is 77 and he's starting to show signs of not remembering and being confused about things, so I do understand this situation, somewhat.

When we first got new buses that take DEF, we had a couple of drivers put diesel in the DEF tank, not good either, but better than DEF in the fuel tank. Anyway, what we ended up doing was putting locks on the DEF tank door where the driver can't open it and telling them that they are to bring the bus to the shop to get DEF, they ARE NOT to put DEF in their bus under any circumstances. We have since not had any problems with it.

And, $12K to replace the fuel system is probably about right for retail at a dealer.

Where I worked you had to go into the mechanic's bay for a refill. Too many guys screwing up.