DEF Usage

[Brocky]

My 2014 only has 7800 miles on it (1800 towing) but I have just added the 6th 2.5 gal container of DEF to it.. This figures out to about 500 miles per gallon of DEF!! I feel this is TOO MUCH!!! Thank God it is a C&C with a 9 gal tank.. What kind of DEF mileage are some of you others getting??

 

[sluper]

Not anywhere near the amount you are using. When I picked mine up it had just over 1/2 tank. I added DEF just over 2-K, the gauge has not dropped in the few hundred miles since adding DEF. I understand that the trucks will use more when towing but that does not seem to apply in your case.

 

[Kirwin]

I get 650 to 750 MPG DEF. If that helps. >90% towing 13K trailer. 3 tanks DEF so far. Ken Irwin

 

[garrettg84]

I've hit 2200 miles and my DEF gauge still reads over half a tank.

 

[NC Ram 3500]

I'm probably close to 800 miles per gal of DEF empty. Mixed but mostly hwy.

 

[DonFitzwater]

I've used something in the neighborhood of 14 gallons in 11k miles. I've added a total of 11 gallons of DEF and the gauge registered 2/3's of a tank when I bought it and I ran it until the light came on the first time before I filled it back up (so I'm guesstimating about three gallons in the tank when I bought the truck).

My driving is varied with a good mix of heavy and light towing as well as city and highway driving.

 

[zmos]

I'm going to start tracking with the fuelly program and app, in the notes section. I'll post here. I roughly added 2.5 gallons at 1000 miles and now at 4200 miles its about to the 2.5 (half'ish tank) low again.

 

[TimBrunett]

I filled up DEF at 500 miles and have not added since that time. It stayed on the full mark up to 3900 miles and then started a slow fall.
Here's a gauge pic today at 4547 miles. I don't have any mileage figures yet but it looks Ok so far.

 

[Hoefler]

On a 2300 mile trip to Florida and my consumption was 300 mile per gallon. 40' fifth wheel, approx. 16k, cruising at 70mph.

 

[gsbrockman]

My 2014 only has 7800 miles on it (1800 towing) but I have just added the 6th 2.5 gal container of DEF to it.. This figures out to about 500 miles per gallon of DEF!! I feel this is TOO MUCH!!! Thank God it is a C&C with a 9 gal tank.. What kind of DEF mileage are some of you others getting??

One cannot accurately determine DEF usage by tossing in 2.5 gal boxes periodically. The DEF gauge is not linear, and there's a reserve in the tank. The only way to determine correct MPG's of DEF is to fill it all the way up, drive it until it you get a warning light, then refill with bulk def at the pump (it's all about accumulated miles and actual gallons purchased at the pump).

https://www.turbodieselregister.com/threads/249114-2014-Ram-DEF-question?highlight=DEF+gauge+warning

 

[Brocky]

Everybody

Thanks for your answers..It seem we are over the place between 300 and 800 MPG..Will do the bulk fill up procedure and keep some better records..

Second question is if I still find it too high do I take it to the Dodge dealer or Cummins shop??

 

[rskeans]

According to a Cummins site DEF usage should be approx 1:50. 1 gal DEF to 50 gal fuel. So if your mpg decreases to 10 mpg, then you will use 1 gal DEF in 500 miles. The key thing is to know your fuel mpg's first then you can estimate your DEF consumption.

 

[Brocky]

Thanks for that ratio figure..I am getting between 15 & 16 MPG locally empty and got 11 MPG overall on a 1100 mile tow trip thru the hills of NC & VA running 65-70 MPH. Will have to go back over my figures. Roughly 6000 miles divided by 15.5 gives me 387 gal plus 100 towing equals 487 gal at 1:50 should be 9.75 gal DEF and I have used 15..so I am still sort of on the low side.. Think I will run the old girl a ways further and keep better records and figure again.

 

[CThomsen]

I have 37000 miles on my 13 now. Probably 25% towing horse trailer or 5er. I'm getting 1000 miles per gallon of def.

 

[EDankievitch]

My 13 will use about a gal per 1000 miles unloaded and between 450-550 miles per gal when towing.

 

[SSchang]

Just got back from a 2650 mile trip to Florida & back with my new 2015 3500. Filled the DEF before I left, & used wife's measuring cup to fill it when we got back (shhhh!). Not hauling anything, running 75-80 mph most of the time. Averaged 980 mpg DEF.