DEF Quality and shelf life

[ChrisOlson]

Good morning .
As I am new to the DEF trucks . I am curious as to some of DEF issues. Am I to assume that there is different qualities of DEF it was my intention to only buy DEF at the Dodge dealer. I went to purchase DEF at the dodge dealer and they were out! I went to NAPA and valvoline brand of DEF was available so I bought 2 containers of 2.5 gallon DEF for the price of one 2.5 gallon from the dodge dealer. Is the valvoline brand a good brand of DEF?
I don't want to have bad DEF issues with the dealer!
Any comments welcomed
Thank you
Chris

 

[jgillott]

I'm new to it also with my new van. From what I've read here over the years and also over on other diesel sites is that keeping the DEF fresh is more important that a specific brand. Most of the guys I know are buying Blue DEF or similar brand off the shelf at the parts store when needed and are having no issues.

I'm sure that someone with more experience will chime in with more information.

 

[Dutch & Di]

We have used DEF for a little less than 2 years and have not had a problem in our 2014 now 2015 Ram 3500. We usually buy it at Wal*Mart as they sell tons of it so hopefully it hasn't been sitting too long. Yesterday at a shell station in Ohio, they had DEF at the truck pumps. We don't normally use the pumps because of the big head nozzle but this one had a small DEF nozzle. Since they had only been open for a week, we'll assume it was fresh. It is much cheaper if you can get it at a pump but sometimes it is just easier to buy it in the 2.5 gallon containers. We also stay away from dealerships because of price but if we need it, we get it where we find it. Hugs, Di

 

[Cummins12V98]

I have used the DEF Blue from Walmart without any problem. Used two 2.5 gallon containers in 4,000 miles.

 

[Newsa]

DEF that is ISO certified and meets API standards is pretty much all the same. Valvoline, Gumout, Peak, AdBlue, VW, Mopar, Mercedes, etc.

All DEF detetiorates with time and faster in hot climates, and faster when exposed to sunlight. I live in hot Miami, Fl, so I put in small amounts at a time.... especially in the hot summer months. I have put in up to 2.5 gallons at a time. But lately (since it's the height of summer) I put in just one gallon.

Def that puts the word "Blue" in their name claim higher stability of DEF. But I don’t believe it. It is still 67.5% water and 32.5% urea. They don't list any stabilizers to help their DEF decay any slower. And there are no proven stabilizers that I'm aware of. DEF has a shelf life of 2 years at 70-75 F. Storing it colder and in a dark area can increase that life to 3 years.
Hot temps can decrease def life to less than a year. Shelf life includes the time it sits on the store shelf. So you will see 2 for 1 deals on stuff that has been sitting in the store more than a year.

VW and Mercedes sell 1/2 gallon quantities. I was tempted to buy those and store them in the freezer for a few months while putting one in the def tank of the truck. But they were expensive, so I bought a gallon at the local auto supply store.

Peak used to put date codes on their DEF. But they stopped doing that I think, because I couldn't find date codes this past year.

I like to run my gauge down to empty before adding DEF. I used to be obsessive about DEF quality, not any more. Don't spend alot of time and energy worrying about it because there is a DEF quality sensor in your truck. And if the sensor detects slightly lower quality DEF, it will just spray more into the exhaust stream.
However, that only works to a point. If it is extremely low quality def, you will get error messages and a warning about limiting your speed to 5 mph until you get it fixed.

The def gauge is not linear. When my tank is 1/2 full, the needle says full.

Enjoy your trucks!

 

[Bug Out]

I had some issues here in Phoenix early on with DEF. Summers here are average 105+ and asphalt probably running higher. So my DEF is exposed to 100+ degree's day, 80-90 at night most of all summer. After getting a CEL for poor DEF quality, myself and another board member determined it would be in my best interests to run 1/2 tank max during summer time. I don't add DEF till its almost out. The shelf life for DEF here is short exposed to this heat.

As far as DEF quality, I try my best to go to Flying J/Pilot and buy it at the pumps for $2.79 a gallon. Never had a issue with that DEF yet.

 

[kthaxton]

Heck, I started using the Walmart brand DEF without issue.

 

[Bug Out]

Kthaxton, is it cheaper then the stuff they have been stocking?

 

[kthaxton]

I am not sure which "stuff" your are referring to, but here, Walmart sells Peak Blue DEF for about $12 for 2.5 gallons. The Super-Tech is about $9.

 

[Bug Out]

I have been buying the Peak blue but just recently seen Wally has his own brand. Have not bought it yet.

 

[JCleary]

I'm afraid of DEF at the pump. I was at the dealer yesterday, and he showed me pics of an Ecodiesel he has in the shop. Evidently the guy purchased DEF at the pump at a truck stop in Georgia. Once he got back to CA he started having CEL's. Turns out the DEF crystallized in the pump and injector. The remaining DEF in the tank was tested at 35% urea, so Ram wouldn't warranty it. It's costing the guy over $3000 to replace the DEF filters, pump and injector, just for trying to save a couple bucks on DEF.

My DEF tank was almost empty on Monday. I added 2.5 gallons of Valvoline and my gauge shows 3/4. I'm going to add the other bottle today.

 

[Newsa]

I'm afraid of DEF at the pump. I was at the dealer yesterday, and he showed me pics of an Ecodiesel he has in the shop. Evidently the guy purchased DEF at the pump at a truck stop in Georgia. Once he got back to CA he started having CEL's. Turns out the DEF crystallized in the pump and injector. The remaining DEF in the tank was tested at 35% urea, so Ram wouldn't warranty it. It's costing the guy over $3000 to replace the DEF filters, pump and injector, just for trying to save a couple bucks on DEF.

My DEF tank was almost empty on Monday. I added 2.5 gallons of Valvoline and my gauge shows 3/4. I'm going to add the other bottle today.

Wow. I wonder if the truck stop threw some solid urea in the tank to counteract def degradation? Def will dissolve all the way to 48% solution. But it could recrystalize if it gets cooled down (going over the mountains). And once a microscopic crystal forms, other crystals will build off of that. I wonder how different crystalized DEF is than frozen def when considering injector & pump?

 

[gsbrockman]

I'm afraid of DEF at the pump. I was at the dealer yesterday, and he showed me pics of an Ecodiesel he has in the shop. Evidently the guy purchased DEF at the pump at a truck stop in Georgia. Once he got back to CA he started having CEL's. Turns out the DEF crystallized in the pump and injector. The remaining DEF in the tank was tested at 35% urea, so Ram wouldn't warranty it. It's costing the guy over $3000 to replace the DEF filters, pump and injector, just for trying to save a couple bucks on DEF.

My DEF tank was almost empty on Monday. I added 2.5 gallons of Valvoline and my gauge shows 3/4. I'm going to add the other bottle today.

Must have been a fluke of poor quality DEF then. I've logged over 156 gallons of DEF through my 2014, and only about 12.5 gallons of that was purchased in 2.5 gallon containers. If it were me, I'd contact the DEF retailer and start an insurance claim with the retailer's wholesaler before I'd pay out of pocket.

 

[Bug Out]

The only truck pumps I have bought DEF are from Pilot/Flying J. So far so good.

 

[Newsa]

The only truck pumps I have bought DEF are from Pilot/Flying J. So far so good.

I've had good luck with Loves in the Southeast US. Ironically, even in the Atlanta area.

 

[BIGNASTY]

Don't and wouldn't have a truck that needs the Peee but one of the farm tractors needs it. We bought a 275 gallon tote put a hand crank pump in it after the powered one took a XXXX on us and its been filled without any refills for over a year. The Fuel delivery people said to keep it out of sunlight and it stays good. We've not had any problems with it so he must know what he's talking about. Went to Calif not long ago and went to the Fuel rack and refinery that I picked up fuel at they use the same size totes with covers made of the same material that flatbed tarps are made of Very Thick to keep the DEF out of sunlight.

Thank God I don't need that crap in my Dodge

 

[gsbrockman]

Thank God I don't need that crap in my Dodge

#ad

 

[kthaxton]

Don't and wouldn't have a truck that needs the Peee but one of the farm tractors needs it. We bought a 275 gallon tote put a hand crank pump in it after the powered one took a XXXX on us and its been filled without any refills for over a year. The Fuel delivery people said to keep it out of sunlight and it stays good. We've not had any problems with it so he must know what he's talking about. Went to Calif not long ago and went to the Fuel rack and refinery that I picked up fuel at they use the same size totes with covers made of the same material that flatbed tarps are made of Very Thick to keep the DEF out of sunlight.

Thank God I don't need that crap in my Dodge

Compared to the previous emission system, the current system is much better.

 

[Newsa]

Compared to the previous emission system, the current system is much better.

Unless you delete an older one. I like my truck with DEF after treatment. And when someone accuses me of driving something that hurts the environment, I show them how clean my tailpipe is and tell them it gets better fuel mileage than their fj cruiser (unloaded)

 

[BIGNASTY]

All fine and dandy until its off warranty and YOU HAVE TO PAY to fix it :-laf