What happens when you run out of DEF

[Powder Extreme]

Question for Joe Donnelly or another tech.



I have 2700 miles on a new 13 dually Aisin, just got the warning light and refill def soon message. Still 400 miles from home. My Duramax goes to 55 mph for a few key starts then to 5 mph. My Audi just flat won't restart (that one hurts), what will the Ram do? Maybe I looked in wrong places, but I can't find anything.



Thanks!

 

[BILLUA]

I really am not trying come off like a jerk but, that question is answered in your owners manual available online if you don't have it. Congrats on the truck!

http://www.ramtrucks.com/en/owners/manuals/

 

[Powder Extreme]

As stated I am driving down the road 400 miles from home. Don't have access to a computer to view the cd the truck came with. Didnt expect to run out @ 2700 miles of light use when my Duramax will go 6000 miles of heavy use on a tank.

 

[BILLUA]

Ok sir. Right from the 2013 Diesel Supplement.

Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) Warning Messages
Your vehicle will begin displaying warning messages when the DEF level reaches a driving range of approxi- mately 350 miles (563 km). If the following warning message sequence is ignored, your vehicle may be lim- ited to a maximum speed of 5 MPH (8 km/H) unless DEF is added.
• DEF Low Refill Soon - This message will display when the low level is reached, during vehicle start up, and with increased frequency during vehicle opera- tion. It will be accompanied by a single chime. Ap- proximately 5 gallons (19 Liters) of DEF is required to refill the tank when this message is initially displayed. on pickup applications, and approximately 7 gallons (28 Liters) are required on chassis-cab applications.
• Speed Limited to 5 MPH in XXX mi Refill DEF - This message will continuously display if the “DEF Low Refill Soon” message is ignored, and the frequency of occurance of the chime will increase unless up to 2 gallons (7. 5 Liters) of DEF is added to the tank.
• 5 MPH Max Speed on Restart, Long Idle or Refuel Refill DEF - This message will continuously display when the counter reaches zero, and will be accompa- nied by a periodic chime.

 

[Powder Extreme]

Thank you very much, won't worry about it till I get the mileage countdown.

 

[BILLUA]

You are welcome! Have a good trip.

 

[MelvinPierce]

Thank you very much, won't worry about it till I get the mileage countdown.

Why not stop in the next town, and get either a gallon or a 2. 5 gal jug, and dump it in? Then no need to worry at all!

 

[MelvinPierce]

Available almost everywhere.

 

[Powder Extreme]

And here is what that oh so helpful message looks like, nice job programmers! LOL.

 

[Powder Extreme]

Sometimes in Montana it's not as simple as stopping down the road. Remember we just got 'tricity and indoor plumbin' a few years back.

 

[mwilson]

Sometimes in Montana it's not as simple as stopping down the road. Remember we just got 'tricity and indoor plumbin' a few years back.

Were you cycling the key or are you in motion?



Noticed the oil temp gauge on high and the speed beside your cruise symbol is 80mph... ... .

 

[MelvinPierce]

Sometimes in Montana it's not as simple as stopping down the road. Remember we just got 'tricity and indoor plumbin' a few years back.

I live in SW ND, so not so far from you.

 

[Powder Extreme]

Were you cycling the key or are you in motion?

Noticed the oil temp gauge on high and the speed beside your cruise symbol is 80mph... ... .

Driving down the highway, oil temp always runs right around 220 - 225 (reading the digital display). I didn't really think that was high at all. I've never worried till it gets in the 250-275 range and even then still not much to worry about considering its synthetic. Mechanics correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[mwilson]

Driving down the highway, oil temp always runs right around 220 - 225 (reading the digital display). I didn't really think that was high at all. I've never worried till it gets in the 250-275 range and even then still not much to worry about considering its synthetic. Mechanics correct me if I'm wrong.

It is making me wonder between the messed up message and the pegged gauge that maybe you got a cluster issue goin' on.



Just a thought... .



Mike.

 

[Powder Extreme]

I guess I don't see the pegged gauge?
The oil temp is slightly above the center line which is around 220 degrees. That's not out of line for a truck that had been driven for a few hundred miles at 80. The oil reaches 212 after 20 miles.

 

[mwilson]

I guess I don't see the pegged gauge?

The oil temp is slightly above the center line which is around 220 degrees. That's not out of line for a truck that had been driven for a few hundred miles at 80. The oil reaches 212 after 20 miles.

My bad, in the photo last night I saw the red line and it appeared to be the gauge needle. Looking at it again I see that the needle is white and is about halfway.



It is almost like one of those fool your eye brain teasers... ...



Mike.

 

[rscurtis]

You're not the only one- at first glance I also thought the red line was the needle.

 

[Powder Extreme]

Ah! That makes sense! Ya at quick glance with the red being lit up, it does look like its maxed out. The cluster leave a little to be desired, but its still the best one I've seen so far. I just wish they had chosen different colors for some parts. Like the blue avg mpg when showing the big current mpg gauge, and the grey numbers that show boost and hp of exhaust brake being applied, both are really hard to read in certain light. I wish they were the standard white like the other numbers. Oh well, can't have it all.