Heated DEF Tank

[DGamelin]

I thought I had read some where the the DEF tanks were heated with engine coolant for winter temps. I see mine (2015) isn't and I didn't see wires that look heavy enough for an electric heater. What am I missing?

 

[Newsa]

There is an electric DEF heater. But some say it is low wattage and doesn't thaw def fast. Might be that way by design because it's a small tank and people like to run less than half full def tanks.

Sort of like those low wattage heated tow mirrors that are useless in cold weather.

 

[sag2]

The ols Chassis Cabs used coolant to thaw the DEF, but the new trucks use electric heat inside the tank. Think heat tape like you might wrap a pipe with.

 

[gsbrockman]

But some say it is low wattage and doesn't thaw def fast. Might be that way by design because it's a small tank and people like to run less than half full def tanks.

If frozen, it thaws it fast enough upon starting to be able to supply an amount of DEF to keep the emissions operating correctly. Not sure where the "people like to run less than half full def tanks" statement originates, but I've filled mine to the neck (in my '13 and '14) with bulk DEF in the winter time with ZERO ill effects and ZERO DEF related CEL's.

 

[Ozymandias]

Dont worry about it, Trucks in Europe run with DEF since 10 years now, it's a proven technology and really only new to Americans.

 

[Newsa]

If frozen, it thaws it fast enough upon starting to be able to supply an amount of DEF to keep the emissions operating correctly. Not sure where the "people like to run less than half full def tanks" statement originates, but I've filled mine to the neck (in my '13 and '14) with bulk DEF in the winter time with ZERO ill effects and ZERO DEF related CEL's.

https://www.turbodieselregister.com/threads/250941-Another-frozen-DEF-tank-Solutions

 

[Mingoglia]

If frozen, it thaws it fast enough upon starting to be able to supply an amount of DEF to keep the emissions operating correctly. Not sure where the "people like to run less than half full def tanks" statement originates, but I've filled mine to the neck (in my '13 and '14) with bulk DEF in the winter time with ZERO ill effects and ZERO DEF related CEL's.

The owners manual (at least for my '15), says to add 2.5 gallon jug at 1/2 full indicated, and NOT top it off in the winter. This allows enough room for it to freeze without breaking stuff when it expands.

 

[Newsa]

The owners manual (at least for my '15), says to add 2.5 gallon jug at 1/2 full indicated, and NOT top it off in the winter. This allows enough room for it to freeze without breaking stuff when it expands.

I'm glad they corrected that for 2015. My 2013 manual (diesel supplement) assumes I have the C&C 9 gallon DEf tank and tells me to add 4 gallons when the Guage reads 50%.

The diesel supplement doesn't say which model it's for. They may have given me the wrong one.

It warns against "topping off".

 

[Mingoglia]

I'm glad they corrected that for 2015. My 2013 manual (diesel supplement) assumes I have the C&C 9 gallon DEf tank and tells me to add 4 gallons when the Guage reads 50%.

The diesel supplement doesn't say which model it's for. They may have given me the wrong one.

It warns against "topping off".

Interesting. I could see that as being a problem for all the trucks in the cold climates, particularly the very cold climates. I'm surprised they didn't send out a TSB or something clarifying this.

 

[Mingoglia]

I have the opposite issue in AZ. I'm keeping my tank under half full because it's hot as holy hell here and I'm afraid of the DEF going bad in between "fills". LOL

 

[gsbrockman]

The owners manual (at least for my '15), says to add 2.5 gallon jug at 1/2 full indicated, and NOT top it off in the winter. This allows enough room for it to freeze without breaking stuff when it expands.

Page three of eight..... https://www.cumminsfiltration.com/pdfs/product_lit/americas_brochures/MB10033.pdf

Q. Does DEF expand when frozen?
A. Yes, DEF expands by approximately 7% when frozen. DEF packaging and tanks are designed to allow
for expansion.

 

[DonFitzwater]

System works as designed. -50 and a cold soak over night caused a warning of "service def system soon" to pop up but driving it for a few hours thawed the tank and the system warning was cleared automatically. Th big reason NOT to top the tank off in cooler temps is because the neck will freeze full of def and won't thaw as it's not heated, only the tank is. Once the neck is frozen.......you'll play hell getting def in unless you get it thawed out.

 

[Mingoglia]

System works as designed. -50 and a cold soak over night caused a warning of "service def system soon" to pop up but driving it for a few hours thawed the tank and the system warning was cleared automatically. Th big reason NOT to top the tank off in cooler temps is because the neck will freeze full of def and won't thaw as it's not heated, only the tank is. Once the neck is frozen.......you'll play hell getting def in unless you get it thawed out.

So what happens if you live in -50 and you don't have a consecutive "few hours" worth of drive time? I would think most people, excluding those whose professions require long drive times, likely don't drive long enough to de-thaw things. I suppose those people should just run gassers for daily transportation.

On a side note, I went to North Dakota on business this past winter and when I landed it was -12 with a windchill around -30. I absolutely had no frame of reference in life to prepare me for just how cold that really was. You folks who live (and especially WORK) in areas where it hits -50 must have man parts that literally clank when you walk.

 

[rashwor]

i absolutely had no frame of reference in life to prepare me for just how cold that really was. You folks who live (and especially work) in areas where it hits -50 must have man parts that literally clank when you walk.

roflmao!!!!! :-laf :-laf :-laf :-laf :-laf :-laf :-laf

 

[DGamelin]

I thought I had colder ones but can't find them. I think have seen up to -40 on that truck but the camera wouldn't work.

 

[moparguy]

Wintered in North North Dakota last year with a 2014 2500, had on issues with DEF....but when I cranked the truck it usually went 50 miles plus prior to shut down, if it shut down that day.

 

[DonFitzwater]

The trucks will run normally with a frozen DEF system. Mine has been frozen and just gives you the warning. The truck runs flawlessly.

 

[DGamelin]

I haven't heard of any problems yet but I been concerned. My truck sits out side and I leave wen it is -20 and drive for hours before my first stop. I figured the DEF system would allow the truck to run until it thawed out.

 

[2013megacab]

The owners manual (at least for my '15), says to add 2.5 gallon jug at 1/2 full indicated, and NOT top it off in the winter. This allows enough room for it to freeze without breaking stuff when it expands.

I put 2.5 gallons in mine when it was down to 1/4 and the gauge read full when I was done. There is another thread on here about the gauge being non-linear.

Al

 

[Mingoglia]

I put 2.5 gallons in mine when it was down to 1/4 and the gauge read full when I was done. There is another thread on here about the gauge being non-linear.

Al

Yeah, it stays on "Full" a long time. I'm just repeating what's in the manual. Here in AZ, I've waited until well into the red to add a jug since it's been around 115 degrees here. Figure it's best to use as much as possible before adding the new stuff since the longevity of DEF is greatly diminished at high temperatures.