DEF Filling

[CharSolera]

I have a 2014 Solera 24S with the DEF tank under the hood on the passenger side. But at the truck stops where I've filled with fuel, the DEF dispenser is on the fuel pump and my fuel tank is on the driver side. Do you have any gadget / trick for filling the DEF without turning the rig around after you get fuel?

[Mikegjax]

Originally Posted by CharSolera

I have a 2014 Solera 24S with the DEF tank under the hood on the passenger side. But at the truck stops where I've filled with fuel, the DEF dispenser is on the fuel pump and my fuel tank is on the driver side. Do you have any gadget / trick for filling the DEF without turning the rig around after you get fuel?

How about carrying an empty Blue DEF jug along and transferring one to the other?

[Semperfi24]

Not sure about the cost at the pump versus retail, but you can buy jugs of blue def at places like walmart. Assuming the retail cost is similar to the pump cost, might be a good idea to just buy the blue def at a retailer. Then you could fuel your rig and fill the blue def at the same time. Otherwise your only options, as I see it, would be 1)fill a jug at the pump and then transfer it by hand, or 2)turn your rig around to get it closer to the pump.

If you were to choose option 1, buying it retail might be easier. You would be buying a jug already full of blue def, versus filling the jug yourself at the pump. Just a few thoughts. Seems like a foolish place to locate the blue def reservoir if you ask me. Hope it works out for you

[Torch]

The problem is DEF is alot cheaper at the pumps.

[Phinias]

A whole lot cheaper

[Flybob]

Some truck stop DEF pumps are equipped with a magnetic sensor that will not dispense DEF except into a vehicle DEF fill with the companion device. This is a protection mechanism to prevent DEF from being dispensed into incorrect fill port. There are aftermarket gizmos that will trick the pump into dispensing into a container.

[AquaMan]

I can buy a 2 1/2 gallon jug of DEF at Walmart for around $8.xx. Last I had checked, the DEF was around $2.70 at the pump. Not a huge savings, and not worth it to me to have to transfer from one container to another, or try and swing a 42' 5er around in a busy truck stop (most drivers don't like rv's the way it is). Now if you're buying in an auto parts store for $13-$15 a jug, then yes, find an alternative.

[mud yapster]

DEF is $11.79 at Walmart here for 2 1/2 gallon.
I think any fuel station that sells diesel should have a DEF pump. We are required to use it so they should be required to have it available at the pump not just in jugs.

[Mikegjax]

Most stations have been around longer than DEF has been a requirement so retrofitting would be difficult and expensive. Should they provide DEF pump; yes. Will they; NO. I find diesel is cheaper almost anywhere other than a truck stop. Walmart is my station of choice when available. Usually several cents a gallon cheaper than most and if you use a Walmart card it is another 5 cents a gallon off. If you by enough over time you get another $5.00 off your total fuel purchase. I use the Walmart card for fuel ONLY and never pay any interest.

[Beach Bums]

After about our first 1200 miles, I decided it was time to get some DEF (I may have missed it, but could not find the consumption rate of DEF). We purchased it at a truck stop and the set up is how you explained...opposite side of the fill.... The hose was plenty long to reach. At 1200 miles....we added ~.8 of a gallon... Still not clear on the consumption rate.

[wanderingbob]

Buy it at Wal-mart ! Saving 50 or sixty cents on 2 1/2 gallons does'nt make much sense to me !

[JLeising]

Originally Posted by Beach Bums

After about our first 1200 miles, I decided it was time to get some DEF (I may have missed it, but could not find the consumption rate of DEF). We purchased it at a truck stop and the set up is how you explained...opposite side of the fill.... The hose was plenty long to reach. At 1200 miles....we added ~.8 of a gallon... Still not clear on the consumption rate.

I believe our 2012 "S" uses about one gallon every 2000 +\- miles. I have them fill at the 10,000 mile oil change. I add a gallon 3000 miles later, then another gallon each 2000 miles until the next service. Avoids both DEF overflow when filling and the dreaded DEF warning light. I use one gallon jugs (refill at home from 2.5 gallon jugs; use the fill tube from the 2.5 gallon jug - fits the gallon jug perfectly). At one gallon per 2000 miles, cost is not significant.

[AquaMan]

I'm not certain on the consumption rate, because it does vary depending on towing conditions, but without towing, I think I get right around 1000 miles to a gallon. I just run it until I have about 200 miles left then add.

[mud yapster]

I use walmart for fuel also when I'm close to one. I still think if I'm required to put it in my truck they should be required to have a pump with it. I don't care what it cost them to retrofit their pumps. They didn't care what extra it cost me to retrofit my truck.

[elind]

I sometimes use a gallon of windshield washer per 1,000 miles, so why doesn't Walmart have pumps to dispense it?

[CharSolera]

Thank you, JLeising. Pouring a gallon of DEF is doable, where I'd be challenged to pour from the 2.5 gallon box. Beach Bum, it's good to know the hose on the truck stop pump reaches to the far side of the rig. Thanks to others for their speedy suggestions!

[gary ca]

A suggestion, when you are buying DEF from Walmart unscrew the cap, check the seal. If the seal is broken it was drained and returned to the store filled with water.
Yep, that happened to a friend, one container full of water. He caught it right after his purchase, just check.

[mud yapster]

Originally Posted by elind

I sometimes use a gallon of windshield washer per 1,000 miles, so why doesn't Walmart have pumps to dispense it?

But your not required to use it by law like DEF. If the DEF runs out in you truck you can't go anywhere. When you washer fluid runs out your vehicle doesn't shut down does it.

[elind]

Originally Posted by mud yapster

But your not required to use it by law like DEF. If the DEF runs out in you truck you can't go anywhere. When you washer fluid runs out your vehicle doesn't shut down does it.

It's no more an effort to top off DEF or window washer in between oil changed. I just prefer to do it at my pace without a line behind me waiting.

[RedLdr1]

Originally Posted by Beach Bums

Still not clear on the consumption rate.

While I was checking on our "W" at the M-B dealer I asked the Sprinter Service Manager about DEF consumption. He answer was to plan on using approximately 1 gallon per 1,000 miles.