DEF feedback
04-01-2019 | 05:58 PM
#1
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 2,120
Likes: 8
From: Evergreen Park Il
DEF feedback
OK I am X2 years into my first experience with DEF trucks, and I have a few things that have been bugging me. I thought I would throw it out here and see what everyone else is experiencing. I am running a 2016 Ram that has about 28K on it right now.
1) I was told that DEF consumption would decrease as the truck got more miles one it? Doesn't seem to be happening in fact seems to be using more DEF
2) Does towing increase the consumption, it seems like it to me?
3) Does the temp effect the consumption, it seems like it on the colder days 32 and below. Even in the sub zero it seems to get even worse
4) Is the a difference between brands of DEF , IE: can you use less of a higher cost brand. I use the KLEEN def from Farm & Fleet.
5) So far I have had no adverse effects from the stuff from Farm & Fleet, but should I be worried about long term effects?
6) I think I heard somewhere that the gage on the Ram isn't all that accurate, shows full but really is not.
I was just looking for feedback, thanx in advance.
PS the truck is still under warranty so I am not looking for advice on the DEF deletion.
1) I was told that DEF consumption would decrease as the truck got more miles one it? Doesn't seem to be happening in fact seems to be using more DEF
2) Does towing increase the consumption, it seems like it to me?
3) Does the temp effect the consumption, it seems like it on the colder days 32 and below. Even in the sub zero it seems to get even worse
4) Is the a difference between brands of DEF , IE: can you use less of a higher cost brand. I use the KLEEN def from Farm & Fleet.
5) So far I have had no adverse effects from the stuff from Farm & Fleet, but should I be worried about long term effects?
6) I think I heard somewhere that the gage on the Ram isn't all that accurate, shows full but really is not.
I was just looking for feedback, thanx in advance.
PS the truck is still under warranty so I am not looking for advice on the DEF deletion.
04-07-2019 | 08:03 AM
#2
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 262
Likes: 4
From: marquette, mi
My wife drives a 2016 ram/Cummins/2500, currently have around 42k on it. It does feel as if it is slowing on the consumption the last 10k miles.
I do notice when towing it likes to burn it up pretty good when working. Between our 38fountain and our 40 gooseneck car trailer the truck has had a lot of time working hard enough to notice the difference. I compare the DEF gage to the fuel gage on our boat and our 73&76 Chevy trucks..... they stay full for ever....suddenly drop to half or 5/8 tank, they stay there a bit, but when you hit a 1/4 tank means find it on next available place. If I know I’m going to be towing and I’m at a 1/4 tank of DEF, I top it off before I leave the driveway, cause it goes quick.
I didn’t have any issues or complaints with the DEF until this winter (our 3rd winter with the truck) The ram never gelled were my ford 7.3 gelled 3 times on me since we got the ram. This winter we got a cold snap that was 15-20 below for a few weeks in a row. Got a call from wife, ram couldn’t pull it’s self and every warning light etc was going off. I figured it gelled until I got it home, message center was claiming “service exhaust system required”. I did the typical post gelling service and ran fine that night.....till the next morn...wash,.rinse,repeat, etc for the next 4 days 🤬 every morning, truck went into limp mode, service exhaust system required, WTF! Finally got another project mobile enough to leave the garage to bring the ram in, let it sit in our heated shop for three days and it’s been fine since. I did a little research and apparently DEF freezes at +15 degrees, so they have def heaters built into the tank.
Thanks a lot EPA/deq wtf ever govt agency who’s brilliant idea this was! I can’t wait till your latest greatest world saving hippie greeney granola crunching idea leaves your wife and kid sitting on side the road when it’s 20 below zero 5 mornings in a row!
(sorry for the rant) anyway most I can think is the DEF froze somewhere in the exhaust particulate filter/ cats/DEF system and restricted the exhaust. It would be open enough to warm up in the morning or drive home in the afternoon, but once 8miles down the road @6am the cold air flowing around everything would freeze it to the point it couldn’t breath. I’m no diesel engineer or mechanic, but that’s all I can think
FWIW, my POS rot box 7.3 superduty, didn’t have any issues this winter, we fuel at the same truck stop, I use fuel treatment in both trucks, and we run grille covers in both.
Soon as it’s out of warranty the DEF is gone, I’ve even contemplated taking the risk of affecting the warranty. If it happens again next winter I’ll take that chance. Between what it cost me in fuel filters, time left leaving work to bail her out, hooking frozen tow straps and flat towing a cold truck home, just to freeze while swapping filters in the driveway every night, MY Temp gage about had it
I do notice when towing it likes to burn it up pretty good when working. Between our 38fountain and our 40 gooseneck car trailer the truck has had a lot of time working hard enough to notice the difference. I compare the DEF gage to the fuel gage on our boat and our 73&76 Chevy trucks..... they stay full for ever....suddenly drop to half or 5/8 tank, they stay there a bit, but when you hit a 1/4 tank means find it on next available place. If I know I’m going to be towing and I’m at a 1/4 tank of DEF, I top it off before I leave the driveway, cause it goes quick.
I didn’t have any issues or complaints with the DEF until this winter (our 3rd winter with the truck) The ram never gelled were my ford 7.3 gelled 3 times on me since we got the ram. This winter we got a cold snap that was 15-20 below for a few weeks in a row. Got a call from wife, ram couldn’t pull it’s self and every warning light etc was going off. I figured it gelled until I got it home, message center was claiming “service exhaust system required”. I did the typical post gelling service and ran fine that night.....till the next morn...wash,.rinse,repeat, etc for the next 4 days 🤬 every morning, truck went into limp mode, service exhaust system required, WTF! Finally got another project mobile enough to leave the garage to bring the ram in, let it sit in our heated shop for three days and it’s been fine since. I did a little research and apparently DEF freezes at +15 degrees, so they have def heaters built into the tank.
Thanks a lot EPA/deq wtf ever govt agency who’s brilliant idea this was! I can’t wait till your latest greatest world saving hippie greeney granola crunching idea leaves your wife and kid sitting on side the road when it’s 20 below zero 5 mornings in a row!
(sorry for the rant) anyway most I can think is the DEF froze somewhere in the exhaust particulate filter/ cats/DEF system and restricted the exhaust. It would be open enough to warm up in the morning or drive home in the afternoon, but once 8miles down the road @6am the cold air flowing around everything would freeze it to the point it couldn’t breath. I’m no diesel engineer or mechanic, but that’s all I can think
FWIW, my POS rot box 7.3 superduty, didn’t have any issues this winter, we fuel at the same truck stop, I use fuel treatment in both trucks, and we run grille covers in both.
Soon as it’s out of warranty the DEF is gone, I’ve even contemplated taking the risk of affecting the warranty. If it happens again next winter I’ll take that chance. Between what it cost me in fuel filters, time left leaving work to bail her out, hooking frozen tow straps and flat towing a cold truck home, just to freeze while swapping filters in the driveway every night, MY Temp gage about had it
Last edited by halfgassed; 04-07-2019 at 08:10 AM.
