def

[skorski]

Has anyone pumped def into the diesel tank? Well I did today . Truck won't run towed to the dealer after the tank was pumped out Water in fuel light won't go out an service electrical throttle light won't go out More info to follow in the am.

 

[mwilson]

I don't want to be a downer but if you do that on a Detroit Diesel common rail it trashes everything in the fuel system. No warranty on that either.

Injectors, high pressure pump, etc. all toast.

You ran it after making the mistake I assume?

 

[mwilson]

This was the truck in your signature?

 

[Gonzo 1066]

This is a tough deal for you, I fear the placement of DEF fill next to the fuel fill will cost quite a few owners big money..

 

[LHarper]

Has anyone pumped def into the diesel tank? Well I did today . Truck won't run towed to the dealer after the tank was pumped out Water in fuel light won't go out an service electrical throttle light won't go out More info to follow in the am.

How long did you run the engine before you realized what happened? A local tire store did the same thing and it was a $10,000 bill. Sure hope you get off better. We can not be too careful on the fillings of these trucks. I do not let anyone put a nozzle in my truck except for me. I then double check myself each time. Sorry to hear of your situation.

 

[terb]

This was the truck in your signature?

Good Question, did he put it in his 05 or did he buy a new truck that uses DEF??

 

[mwilson]

I think that he must have a new truck, I don't have an electronic throttle light on the '06. (That I've ever noticed anyways, my '08 Town & Country does have the light)

Not going to be pretty either way....

 

[PMcCall]

OUCH, sorry man, bad news. Good luck on that. post what they say needs to be done. You can at least be sure they arent screwing you too bad... a lot of good guys on here that are very smart

 

[firefighter_2000]

One of our 2012 Chevy 3500 Express Duramax ambulances had the same thing happen. Cost 10k in repairs. Sorry to hear about that.

 

[jacknife]

That is one bad deal.

 

[Wingate]

this is why I choose to use DEF from a 2.5 gallon container. I know its more expensive, but Im ALWAYS busy, even when Im fueling my truck... I dont want one temporary lapse in paying attention to cost me 10K.
to the OP, dont feel to bad, you arent the only one. I spent almost 5 minutes the other day standing by the wifes Mazda fuel nozzle in hand, griping about how stupid her car was since the nozzle didnt fit in the fuel tank opening...... only to find out I had the diesel nozzle in my hand!!! really glad SHE didnt see that or I would never hear the end of it!

 

[wyosteve]

My guess is that he did it to his '05 at a truck stop where DEF is in a 'pump' similar to a fuel delivery pump.

 

[Newsa]

I had a nightmare that I misread the pump and put gasoline in the cummins tank.

I was glad when I woke up.

 

[skorski]

Well you are right it was the 14. Pulled up to the pump and without thinking put the def in the diesel tank and woke up after a gallen was in. Started the truck, drove to the counter to pay, took off and drove half a mile. the water in fuel light came on and it quit. Drained the filter and would not start. Walked to the truck stop where they had pump and pumprd out the tank,added 24 galens of fuel. Took a while but it started. Drove home 15 miles and it quit in the driveway. Towed to dealer. Dealer drained filter again, started it several time and drained again. They sugested I drive the truck and keep draining the filter I said you keep it and drain the filter. Got a call late this afternoon. They are going to drop the tank, flush it out , they think the filter housing is full of crystals and the pump may be trash. So far they estimate around $2500.00 No telling what else may be clogged.

 

[woodynorman]

Well you are right it was the 14. Pulled up to the pump and without thinking put the def in the diesel tank and woke up after a gallen was in. Started the truck, drove to the counter to pay, took off and drove half a mile.

Ouch. You mean you knew you put DEF in the fuel tank?, but you started it anyway?

 

[mwilson]

Wow, if you had left it right at the pump and not even turned the key on it would have simply been a tow and a fuel tank removal / drain scenario.

I am sorry that this happened to you but it may drive the point home to some members. The truck does not burn any DEF fluid. It is injected into the exhaust system after the turbo into the DPF/SCR. A point that confuses some truck drivers even.

 

[Shadrach]

DEF is 2/3 water. David

 

[mwilson]

If for some reason DEF or Gasoline gets pumped into your tank, DO NOT attempt to start. Don't even turn the ignition on. If you don't engage the electric fuel pump the damage in minimal at that point. As I said a tow and a fuel tank removal / drain and flush will cure the issue. Push or tow the thing away from the pump and call a wrecker. For what's at stake there is no other way to handle it in my opinion.
I saved a guy with an '06 CTD in Calais Maine one day that pumped his almost empty fuel tank full of gasoline, actually his wife got a grip on what I was saying to do way before he did. She threw me the keys........

 

[grabinov]

Yikes. Sorry! I once put gas in my diesel tank - same as another post-er mentioned. I relized it as it was filling, while I was on the phone, and probably thinking about yet another thing. I had it towed to the dealer without ever starting it, had the tank drained, etc. $650.00!

On a related subject, this DEF is a pain in the butt. I just finished about 4,000 miles of towing a big 5th wheel (Los Angeles; Mammoth, CA; Monterey, CA; Los Angeles; Zion National Park; Park City, UT; Jackson, WY; Bozeman, MT and back to LA). And that's on a truck that had 325 miles on it when I started. I have put in 4.5 gallons of DEF from jugs, and 1.3 gallons from a pump. Contrary to what I've been told, the DEF pump DID NOT shut off, and sprayed DEF all over the place. That was 3 days ago and I'm STILL washing to get the crystals off of everything. They just keep re-appearing!

The gauge seems to be all but useless other than on empty or full. Both times when the truck was reading near empty I put in DEF from a jug (2 gallons once, then 2.5) and the needle went to near full. Then with the needle at half I put the pump nozzle in and got to about 1.3 gallons before the big splash. And again the needle went to full.

Couldn't they have put the DEF filler somewhere else and given us a real gas cap and a real fuel filler neck?

I'm glad I don't drive this way all the time (4,000 miles per month) because the DEF thing would drive me nuts.

 

[S.Morris]

Ya they could have put it up under passenger side windshield like GM did, but doubt you would like that better

If you fill from 2gal jugs (best way to ensure quality) it will take two full jugs when low warning comes on. That should last you 4K towing miles and repeat.
I think they made the fuel filler like that so you couldn't put it in fuel tank.......from a jug anyway