Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 05-07-2020, 08:03 PM   #1
Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2020
Posts: 93
Excessive DEF fluid use in 2020 Silverado 3500

I recently took a 2,000 mile round trip. 500 miles into the trip light comes on and says I have 900 miles left on def, at 1,0000 miles light comes on and says I have 200 miles left. The check engine light came on before I got home. OnStar ran a diagnostic and found a injector problem. My 2012 Silverado 3500 could go 5,000 miles before needing def. Truck is in the shop now. I’m calling GM customer support tomorrow. Has anyone else had this problem
travlinon is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-07-2020, 08:27 PM   #2
Senior Member
 
B and B's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 10,833
Send a message via AIM to B and B
My neighbour had new injectors installed. They dumped it and bought a Ford after a year. He had a 2018.
B and B is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-08-2020, 04:20 PM   #3
Senior Member
 
Lins's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Yellowknife
Posts: 1,162
DEF or fuel injector? It’s a bit early to see if many 2020 owners are having the same problem. Some 2019+ Rams had excessive DEF usage and there’s an update for it. Relax, it’s under warranty.
__________________
2007 Rockwood 2701SS
2017 Ram 2500 Granite Crystal SAP Laramie 6.7L
2014 Triumph Bonneville. NH Togas, tuned
1953 GMC 9314
1982 GoldWing Interstate
Lins is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-09-2020, 05:42 AM   #4
DSS
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2018
Posts: 31
I feel your pain. I have a 2019 Chevy 3500 w/ Duramax and it uses a lot more than the 2015 that I had before this one. With the 2015 I could pull our 42’ Cedar Creek 2000 miles and put on another 4000 miles and never have to add DEF. With our 2019 we pulled the Cedar Creek 1700 mile and get a low DEF warning and dumped in 5 gallons of DEF and it still wasn’t full. I have talked to others with the similar problem. 2 dealers have looked at it and have said that it’s a different motor and it uses more DEF. If feel that this is not right, but don’t know what else I can do. 2015 got over 1200 mpg of DEF, 2019 gets 338 mpg in my same trip from Wisconsin to Arizona in combined driving with and without trailer.
DSS is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-09-2020, 06:37 AM   #5
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Dayton Ohio
Posts: 3,567
Our Ram Diesel, 2016, virtually burns no def driving without the fifth wheel. Likely 1000 miles per gallon.

However, towing a #15,000 fifth wheel it burns a gallon per 200 miles.

Def at truck stops is inexpensive and convenient.
tomkatb is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-09-2020, 01:38 PM   #6
Senior Member
 
primo20's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Canada
Posts: 463
My 19 Silverado 3500 had a recall for excessive regens. Def usage seems to have normalized similar to my 17 ram. But it was using lots before the reflash without towing.
__________________
2023 Rockwood 2911BS | 2023 Silverado 3500 SRW Duramax
primo20 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-09-2020, 02:03 PM   #7
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2017
Posts: 15
I had the same problem while heading to California. Started putting diesel additive in every fill up and my def usage dropped 75 %
E John Fedor is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-09-2020, 02:11 PM   #8
Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: West Des Moines, IA
Posts: 48
Quote:
Originally Posted by E John Fedor View Post
I had the same problem while heading to California. Started putting diesel additive in every fill up and my def usage dropped 75 %
Just curious. Why do you suppose putting diesel additive in every fill up reduced your DEF usage by 75%? What kind / brand of diesel additive are you using?

My 2020 GMC 3500 diesel barely uses DEF when I'm NOT PULLING our 19,000 lb Riverstone. But,.... when I am PULLING the 5th Wheel is uses a LOT of DEF! Our friends who have a 2018 RAM with the Cummins Diesel say the same thing. "Sips" DEF when NOT pulling. "Gulps" DEF when pulling. Wonder why?
__________________
Greg W. Johnson
West Des Moines, IA
2020 Riverstone 39RKFB
2022 GMC 3500 HD Denali Dually
GWJohnson is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-09-2020, 03:52 PM   #9
Senior Member
 
CaptnJohn's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Eastern NC
Posts: 3,963
Neighbors had the same problem with a 2019 GMC 3500. 3 weeks at the dealer waiting on parts and all is fine now.
__________________
2022 Montana 3855 BR
2019 F350 6.7 4X4 LB Dually
Edgewater 205 EX 150 Yamaha
CaptnJohn is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-09-2020, 03:57 PM   #10
Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: West Des Moines, IA
Posts: 48
Quote:
Originally Posted by CaptnJohn View Post
Neighbors had the same problem with a 2019 GMC 3500. 3 weeks at the dealer waiting on parts and all is fine now.
So you know "what parts" were involved, what was the cause and what was fixed? Thanks.
__________________
Greg W. Johnson
West Des Moines, IA
2020 Riverstone 39RKFB
2022 GMC 3500 HD Denali Dually
GWJohnson is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-09-2020, 04:17 PM   #11
Senior Member
 
Rockinh's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Sodus, NY
Posts: 190
def

Quote:
Originally Posted by tomkatb View Post
Our Ram Diesel, 2016, virtually burns no def driving without the fifth wheel. Likely 1000 miles per gallon.

However, towing a #15,000 fifth wheel it burns a gallon per 200 miles.

Def at truck stops is inexpensive and convenient.
X2 on the Ram, we get very close to the same distance for def.
__________________

RockinH Bill
2019 Silverback 37RTH
2014 Shadow LQ 3 horse select
2015 Ram Laramie DRW
2012 Kaw Concours
Rockinh is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-09-2020, 08:27 PM   #12
Senior Member
 
Bluepill's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Pensacola, FL
Posts: 1,645
Just a thought:

Maybe the US Truck Makers are afraid of the EPA doing a Dieselgate job on them (like VW) and changed the metering profile for more DEF at higher engine loads.
__________________
2019 Coachmen Freedom Express 192RBS
2015 T12RBST Flagstaff Hardside

Disclaimer: The actual value of my "Two Cents" of advice varies just like a bitcoin.
Bluepill is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-09-2020, 11:48 PM   #13
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2017
Posts: 15
I pull a Riverstone 34 sle with a Ford F 350 and I surmise that the diesel fuel out west is maybe a lower grade and does not burn as clean as in the more populated areas of the states! So when I started using more fuel additive my def usage went down. Like everyone else, my def usage goes down when not pulling.
E John Fedor is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-10-2020, 06:02 AM   #14
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 1,022
Keep in mind that DEF usage is proportional to fuel usage. I have never done the math to be able to give numbers, but I DO know my DEF usage goes up significantly when I'm towing. Also, I was shocked to find my new 2018 3500 was doing regens every 260 miles compared to my 2014 that did regens every 500 miles or so. I've been told that the latest DMax generation was programmed to do shorter duration regens more frequently. Don't know if that's true. I recently got a recall notice relating to regens and DEF usage but don't know if the reflash will change things. I'm in the Keys working, and the nearest Chevy dealer is 60 miles away. A visit to the dealer will have to wait a bit.
Springerdad is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-10-2020, 07:01 AM   #15
Senior Member
 
Oaklevel's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Virginia
Posts: 9,740
Wow after listening to you people I will hang on to my pre DEF diesel.


__________________

2005 Dodge 3500 Cummins
2017 Wildwood Lodge 4092 BFL
1966 Mustang GT
1986 Mustang SVO
Lillie Spoiled Rotten Boxer Mix
Oaklevel is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-10-2020, 09:00 AM   #16
Senior Member
 
Lins's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Yellowknife
Posts: 1,162
Quote:
Originally Posted by Oaklevel View Post
Wow after listening to you people I will hang on to my pre DEF diesel.


This forum just makes things sound complicated. Cummins says DEF use is about 2% of fuel consumed, so obviously you will use more while towing. I do not use nearly as much pulling as others are stating on here. We’ll leave home on a full DEF tank and need to put one 2.5 gallon jug in on an ~8,000km trip. The tank will be low-ish when we get home. DEF is also available almost anywhere and you get plenty of warnings (note: plural) as it gets too low, at least on the Ram. I personally like the clean exhaust smell - I get enough diesel exhaust smell working around helicopters everyday.
__________________
2007 Rockwood 2701SS
2017 Ram 2500 Granite Crystal SAP Laramie 6.7L
2014 Triumph Bonneville. NH Togas, tuned
1953 GMC 9314
1982 GoldWing Interstate
Lins is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-10-2020, 09:21 AM   #17
2013 GEORGETOWN 351 DS
 
RELHUB's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 102
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lins View Post
DEF or fuel injector? It’s a bit early to see if many 2020 owners are having the same problem. Some 2019+ Rams had excessive DEF usage and there’s an update for it. Relax, it’s under warranty.

It is very sad they have managed to take a great product (Diesel Engines) and make them junk. I will never purchase any new Diesel powered vehicles.
__________________
GRV
We love to Roam
2013 Georgetown 351 DSF
2017 Honda Civic
RELHUB is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-10-2020, 09:58 AM   #18
Senior Member
 
DieselDrax's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Monticello, IL
Posts: 1,696
Quote:
Originally Posted by primo20 View Post
My 19 Silverado 3500 had a recall for excessive regens. Def usage seems to have normalized similar to my 17 ram. But it was using lots before the reflash without towing.

Regens and DEF consumption are unrelated as DEF isn’t needed for regens, sounds like the update may have had multiple fixes or changes with it but whatever the case glad it helped.
__________________
2017 GMC Canyon - CCLB, 4x4, 2.8L Duramax, ARE Z-series shell
2013 Shamrock 21SS
DieselDrax is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-10-2020, 10:04 AM   #19
Senior Member
 
Lins's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Yellowknife
Posts: 1,162
Quote:
Originally Posted by DieselDrax View Post
Regens and DEF consumption are unrelated as DEF isn’t needed for regens, sounds like the update may have had multiple fixes or changes with it but whatever the case glad it helped.
Two separate systems but DEF usage should increase if the engine is using more fuel to perform a regen.
__________________
2007 Rockwood 2701SS
2017 Ram 2500 Granite Crystal SAP Laramie 6.7L
2014 Triumph Bonneville. NH Togas, tuned
1953 GMC 9314
1982 GoldWing Interstate
Lins is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-10-2020, 10:15 AM   #20
Senior Member
 
DieselDrax's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Monticello, IL
Posts: 1,696
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lins View Post
Two separate systems but DEF usage should increase if the engine is using more fuel to perform a regen.

Not really because regens on GMs use a fuel injector in the exhaust to raise EGTs. DEF/SCR is used to reduce NOx that is created under high cylinder temps and pressures. Injecting fuel into the exhaust for regens doesn’t create the same condition, as such there shouldn’t be an increase in DEF consumption during regens.

It’s not just pure fuel consumption that determines DEF consumption. The exhaust will have NOx sensors that measure NOx before and after the SCR system to know if it’s working right and how much DEF is needed, much like O2 sensors are used to make sure gas engines aren’t running too rich or lean and to make sure the cat is working properly.
__________________
2017 GMC Canyon - CCLB, 4x4, 2.8L Duramax, ARE Z-series shell
2013 Shamrock 21SS
DieselDrax is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
3500, 500

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Forest River, Inc. or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:15 AM.