How Much DEF Are You Using In Miles?

[Wiredawg]

Friends,

I'm double posting because of the TDR forum layout: I have a 4th Gen C&C truck and there is no Engine/Transmission section under 4th Gen, only 2007+ under 3rd Gen.

So that being said, I purchased my new 2017 Ram 5500 in Mar 2018 and have 10,035 miles on it. I maintain a fuel and maintenance log, but didn't think to add DEF use. I believe I'm using about a gallon every 1,000 miles. About 95% of my driving is towing 20.2KLb 5th wheel. How much DEF are you using in miles so I can gauge if I'm average, low, or high in DEF use.

Thanks for your input,

Ron

 

[Deleted member 995608]

I have to add DEF about every 6k miles

 

[Learjet]

I recorded it once on a long trip out west to be 550 miles on a gallon of DEF all towing a high profile 12,000 lbs 5'ver. Average for me mixed driving seems to be about 1000 MPG/DEF like you have seen.

This was measured by topping it off with Pump DEF, resetting my Trip B mileage, running it down until the low DEF light came on and Topping it off again at the pump....I did this Two times...then the fun was over

 

[Cummins12V98]

This is what I had recorded at 24,661 miles with 10k of that towing. I used 48.768 gallons of DEF for a average of 505 mpg.

This is towing a combined 33K.

 

[gsbrockman]

Since I’m in McPherson, KS and all of my receipts are home, I cannot say exactly. I’ll review my last couple of bulk DEF receipts when I get home. I always record the idle hours, drive hours, and odometer reading on my DEF and fuel receipts.

 

[Red Knight]

Just shy of 5 gal. in 7500 miles. 75% towing 15k trailer.

 

[Wiredawg]

I need to do a correction: I'm using 2.5 gallons every 1,000 miles not one gallon; so using a gallon every 400 miles. Now that I'm tracking, I'll report better numbers. The C&Cs are certified clean idle, not sure if that equates to stricter emissions in order to accomplish this. I recall on our long trip thinking I was using more DEF than I thought I would be. Anyway, just wanted to point out my original error in WAGing my usage. Cheers, Ron

 

[JackFate]

Friends,

I'm double posting because of the TDR forum layout: I have a 4th Gen C&C truck and there is no Engine/Transmission section under 4th Gen, only 2007+ under 3rd Gen.

So that being said, I purchased my new 2017 Ram 5500 in Mar 2018 and have 10,035 miles on it. I maintain a fuel and maintenance log, but didn't think to add DEF use. I believe I'm using about a gallon every 1,000 miles. About 95% of my driving is towing 20.2KLb 5th wheel. How much DEF are you using in miles so I can gauge if I'm average, low, or high in DEF use.

Thanks for your input,

Ron

Not pulling as much as you. But when towing 9000# with 2000# + in truck about 300-350 miles per gallon of def . Def consumption is directly related to your mpg. If I’m not towing I’m not using hardly any def . The faster you go the more you use.

 

[gsbrockman]

I need to do a correction: I'm using 2.5 gallons every 1,000 miles not one gallon; so using a gallon every 400 miles. Now that I'm tracking, I'll report better numbers. The C&Cs are certified clean idle, not sure if that equates to stricter emissions in order to accomplish this. I recall on our long trip thinking I was using more DEF than I thought I would be. Anyway, just wanted to point out my original error in WAGing my usage. Cheers, Ron

How can you ACCURATELY track DEF usage by adding DEF fluid 2.5 gallons at a time?

 

[Hoefler]

How can you ACCURATELY track DEF usage by adding DEF fluid 2.5 gallons at a time?

I reset my "B" trip odometer every time I refill the DEF. I wait until the "Low DEF" light comes on, fill with 5 gallons of DEF and reset. I get detween 1800-2200 miles per 5 gallon pulling my 6500 pound trialer for work here in the Ozark mountains, when I hook up the 17,000 pound fifth wheel, I usualy get between 900-1200 miles to 5 gallon.

 

[Cummins12V98]

How can you ACCURATELY track DEF usage by adding DEF fluid 2.5 gallons at a time?

Not hard at all over a longer period of time if you want AVERAGE use. Agree if you want specific towing/non towing numbers.

 

[Wiredawg]

I calculate 2.5 gal as this is half full for me. Mine holds 9 gallons, and half is 2.5 gallons. So, I will calculate how many miles 2.5 gallons get me, then divide the number of miles by 2.5 to give me the miles per gallon. Since this is my first DEF truck, I asked my friend in the Ram service department the best way to manage it... he said never let it get below half full. Been doing that, but seeing that I have 6.5 gallons left in the tank, maybe I'll run the tank lower. That makes sense. Just like I never go below 1/4 tank on the fuel. Yep, gonna change my DEF process. I just added 2.5 gallons, and reset my B trip meter. Cheers, Ron

 

[gsbrockman]

Well.....I certainly don’t agree with your RAM service guy as to only letting it go down to 1/2 tank, then refilling.

With my 2014 RAM 3500, I ran it down to the initial warning every time, and oftentimes, ran it down to the 200-mile to de-rate message. This basically ensures that there is minimal “old” DEF in the tank. I’ve never had any DEF issues through 362k miles, when I bought the 2018 4500. I have also done likewise with the 4500, with no problems through 54,674 miles. The 2014 had no more than 11 2.5 gallon jugs, the rest was bulk at the pump. The 4500 has had straight bulk from the pump, minus what was dispensed at time of delivery to me.

It just makes better sense (to me) to use as much of the “old” DEF as possible THEN refill with the newest, freshest DEF.

 

[Wiredawg]

Copy, I'm open to change... I'll let er go to the warning light now. I believe the TDR article on DEF mentioned that with bulk DEF at the pump, there's always old mixed in, unless they go dry. I purchased at pump once on our last trip... Flying J RV island was closed. Thanks, Ron

 

[Learjet]

the one thing the pops into mind is the DEF pump...is it good for the pump to run that low. I have often read that for the in tank fuel pump that it is not good....would that apply to the DEF pump?

 

[gsbrockman]

the one thing the pops into mind is the DEF pump...is it good for the pump to run that low. I have often read that the for the in tank fuel pump that it is not good....would that apply to the DEF pump?

Citing back to my 2014 3500 ownership days.....I’ll say running the DEF fluid low as I described above had no negative affects on my DEF pump.

 

[PilotDude]

Until I did the delete, I was adding 2.5 gal approximately every 3500 miles. Usually the gauge was showing just a little over 1/2 full. I never tow anything, just 3000-4000 hwy miles a month with some off road mixed in.

 

[JET]

Combination tow (about 10 %), highway, and daily commute, I have added 20 2.5 gallon jugs of DEF in 77929 miles, so that is about 1558 miles per gallon.

 

[OldeBob]

Greg, I have watched your travels off & on for 3 or 4 years, and I have learned a lot from your experiences that you share. Thanks! Now if ya don't mind, I got a personal question to ask of you.. I know that you put a bazillion miles on your previous truck and I watched as you described some maintenance tips that you had learned along the way. Now I see that you are running a new 4500 doing virtually the same type of hauling as before. How does the 4500 compare to the 3500 in comfort, drivability, handling, fuel econ, and on and on? Just wonderin' ? Thanxz for your reply...
Olde Bob

 

[Cummins12V98]

Greg, I have watched your travels off & on for 3 or 4 years, and I have learned a lot from your experiences that you share. Thanks! Now if ya don't mind, I got a personal question to ask of you.. I know that you put a bazillion miles on your previous truck and I watched as you described some maintenance tips that you had learned along the way. Now I see that you are running a new 4500 doing virtually the same type of hauling as before. How does the 4500 compare to the 3500 in comfort, drivability, handling, fuel econ, and on and on? Just wonderin' ? Thanxz for your reply...
Olde Bob

I can answer part of the question, he is happy a "Pig in I TRIED TO BY-PASS THE CUSSING FILTER" with his 4.10's.