Love message from my truck "Service DEF system See dealer"......

[Bug Out]

Talked to the dealer. he said "usually" when that message come up its the injector at the exhuast pipe. But since mine went off, not to worry but if it goes off again, to come in.

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

I have run Blue DEF from Peak (2.5 gallon jug) and Flying J at the pump. No problems. I wouldn't worry a lot about the system. Use good DEF, don't expect it to last long at 140 degree pavement temperature, don't run the tank all the way dry. OTOH, if the DEF is getting a little "old" do run the tank down near empty before refilling. Once again, here is Chrysler's guidance for DEF lifetime:
According to Chrysler TSB 25-006-13:
Temperature Estimated Useful Life
32°F (0°C) Indefinite
50°F (10°C) 75 Years
68°F (20°C) 11 Years
86°F (30°C) 23 Months
95°F (35°C) 10 Months
104°F (40°C) 4 Months
122°F (50°C) 1 Month
140°F (60°C) 1 Week

 

[tmcIlwain]

I have run Blue DEF from Peak (2.5 gallon jug) and Flying J at the pump. No problems. I wouldn't worry a lot about the system. Use good DEF, don't expect it to last long at 140 degree pavement temperature, don't run the tank all the way dry. OTOH, if the DEF is getting a little "old" do run the tank down near empty before refilling. Once again, here is Chrysler's guidance for DEF lifetime:
According to Chrysler TSB 25-006-13:
Temperature Estimated Useful Life
32°F (0°C) Indefinite
50°F (10°C) 75 Years
68°F (20°C) 11 Years
86°F (30°C) 23 Months
95°F (35°C) 10 Months
104°F (40°C) 4 Months
122°F (50°C) 1 Month
140°F (60°C) 1 Week

Good advice on fluid still in the tank, but I would suspect that new Blue DEF from Peak, in a sealed container would last for a very long time, since it is in an air tight container (stored out of direct sun). My guess is that oxygen (fresh air) plus heat is the enemy here. This is one reason I prefer the extra cost of packaged Peak DEF.
Comments?

 

[tony1461571]

That's the way I'm leaning. Joe I know you have connections with Dodge They have made the filler opening smaller, making it harder to fit the semi pump nozzles in the filler. Any recommended ways to fill up there and not have it overflow Boy, it's nice to be back on here. In just a short time have learned so much about my new truck, And feeling better about having a 2014 Ram even more.

 

[MattandLana]

I see you are in PI. Are you in the Navy or just live there?

Hi Dan, was that to me? Nah, not in the military. I'm an Aussie civilian living in Perth, Western Australia. The truck is going to be converted to right hand drive in Manila, then shipped on to here. Here's a teaser post I put up elsewhere about that process.

 

[Bob4x4]

Good advice on fluid still in the tank, but I would suspect that new Blue DEF from Peak, in a sealed container would last for a very long time, since it is in an air tight container (stored out of direct sun). My guess is that oxygen (fresh air) plus heat is the enemy here. This is one reason I prefer the extra cost of packaged Peak DEF.
Comments?

[II]t is[/I] the heat that shortens the life check the pkg date when you buy it

 

[Bug Out]

It burns a good amount when towing the 5th wheel.(almost 25K gcvw) I figure when I get back from n/cal it should be close to empty. Then only 1/2 tanks during summer like sag2 was saying last year because of the "warm" summers here in Phoenix....

Maybe in the future they will install drain plugs in the def tanks.

 

[jacknife]

The Def sold at truck stops is the freshest you can get . Buy at tbe pump cheaper and better because it is replaced frequently. It is a solid proven system .much better then just egr. Double oil change intervals because of less soot , cooler running motors because less egr. Better fuel milage the regens are further apart and def is used instead of diesel in the regen and no Dpf filter cleaning at 67000.

 

[Bob4x4]

Def is not used to regen instead of fuel

 

[DAN V]

Def is not used to regen instead of fuel

Dis you mean DEF is now used to regen instead of fuel?

 

[Wingate]

The temperature and sunlight degradation is the main reason you should only purchase DEF when you have the capacity to pour it all into the tank. It does NOT survive well riding around in the back of a truck.
Have been running DEF since early 2010 on my F550 Ford. Its one of the few things on the Ford that has been relatively problem free. In N.E. Texas DEF at the pump is just starting to show up, but for my needs, im just purchasing the 2.5gal.

 

[jacknife]

Def

Good advice on fluid still in the tank, but I would suspect that new Blue DEF from Peak, in a sealed container would last for a very long time, since it is in an air tight container (stored out of direct sun). My guess is that oxygen (fresh air) plus heat is the enemy here. This is one reason I prefer the extra cost of packaged Peak DEF.
Comments?

According to a Tdr Article which l don't have with me but read it 3 times to make sure l was reading what it said on the new 2014 that def was being used on the regen cycle to save on fuel. When l get home I will reference the issue. I know that the cover had a hd 2500 on it.

 

[Bob4x4]

According to a Tdr Article which l don't have with me but read it 3 times to make sure l was reading what it said on the new 2014 that def was being used on the regen cycle to save on fuel. When l get home I will reference the issue. I know that the cover had a hd 2500 on it.

the programing for trucks using def is a bit different.DEF is injected into the exhaust stream-it cools and converts the exhaust composition at the molecular level into a harmless composition

 

[MattandLana]

I thought DEF was for NOx. The sequence, I think, is: hot burn kills soot but makes NOx; DEF helps kill NOx, thus allowing hotter burns (ie less use of EGR), which means less soot, hence less need for active regens which use fuel. So yes DEF (indirectly) reduces fuel use, even though you're right that DEF does not (directly) affect soot. But I may b wrong.

 

[photowrite]

Snip... This is what I read, I have no personal knowledge of this other than my 2014 4 x 4 is getting 26 mpg plus indicated.

Wow, your indicated mpg is fantastic for a 4x4, what speeds? What is your true mpg when you do the math?

I'll be happy if/when I can top 20 mpg with my 4WD that's will arrive soon, first DEF diesel for me.

 

[Motschman]

I made 21 mpg the other day, driving 65 mostly highway. I'm getting ready for another big trip I'm going to try a tank top off then drive 100-200 miles and top it off again to see what I get leaving as many variables out of it.

 

[photowrite]

Nice. Many are not but I'm willing to drive 65-ish when practical to reach 20+mpg.

 

[Bob4x4]

I thought DEF was for NOx. The sequence, I think, is: hot burn kills soot but makes NOx; DEF helps kill NOx, thus allowing hotter burns (ie less use of EGR), which means less soot, hence less need for active regens which use fuel. So yes DEF (indirectly) reduces fuel use, even though you're right that DEF does not (directly) affect soot. But I may b wrong.

Nox is directly addressed by egr,def breaks down bad chemistry in the exhaust to make what come out the t/pipe healthy. A little history- I worked on a single 12 valve(97 3500) with 3 different owners.Turned it up twice for 2 different owners,the last owner was an emissions lab.For them I put it back to stock.they added stainless steel exhaust and did there experiments with ammonia injection.They had great results ..... years later we have urea injection-a bit safer to handle with the same results

 

[jus2shy]

Nox is directly addressed by egr,def breaks down bad chemistry in the exhaust to make what come out the t/pipe healthy. A little history- I worked on a single 12 valve(97 3500) with 3 different owners.Turned it up twice for 2 different owners,the last owner was an emissions lab.For them I put it back to stock.they added stainless steel exhaust and did there experiments with ammonia injection.They had great results ..... years later we have urea injection-a bit safer to handle with the same results

DEF is for breaking down the NOx. EGR on SCR equipped vehicles is then tuned to reduce particulate generation, lengthening the time between regens. EGR flow rates drop from a pre-SCR dosing rate of roughly 35% duty cycle down to around 10 to 15% duty cycle (when SCR is equipped). Very large reduction. The old "Bluetec" emissions package on the RAMs had to balance the combustion of the motor in order to regenerate the Lean NOx catalyst and the DPF trap. With SCR, you no longer have to balance the combustion for the the Lean NOx catalyst, only for particulate generation. That's why our owner's manual also doesn't have an EGR cleaning maintenance item in the owner's manual anymore, far less particulate matter generated because of revised EGR tuning.

 

[American Adventurist]

I had this alert come on near Big Bear last night. I turned the truck off and restarted and it cleared the message.