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Old 09-01-2016, 10:19 PM   #1
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How much DEF does your diesel use?

I have a 2016 F350 SRW 4x4 and tow a 34' fiver. I topped off the DEF tank before leaving on a short trip last week. Trip was about 300 miles round trip. So, today I decided to top off the def tank again. It wouldnt hold a teacup full, which surprised me. My previous 2011 6.7 would have used a half gallon to a gallon on a 300 mile towing trip. Anyone have a clue or do the newer trucks use a lot less def? It just rolled over 10K miles this week.
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Old 09-01-2016, 10:33 PM   #2
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I have a 2015 F250. Same engine as you and I will guess as to how much I've used. I have about 17000 miles on the truck and I bet I've not used much more than 10 gallons. The truck only holds 5 gallons and the warning will not come on until the tank is less than half full.

I'm just guessing because I usually top off at truck stops when I'm towing since they have bulk DEF. I don't recall doing it more than about 5 times since I've owned the truck. Does not use much is the bottom line...
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Old 09-01-2016, 11:04 PM   #3
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I have a 2014 duramax srw 4x4 and tow a 40' full profile fiver. I think I get about 4000-5000 miles out of a jug of blue definitely.
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Old 09-01-2016, 11:33 PM   #4
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Zero DEF!

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Old 09-01-2016, 11:59 PM   #5
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Interesting topic since I pick up my 2016 F350 XLT on Saturday.
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Old 09-02-2016, 12:12 AM   #6
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Interesting topic since I pick up my 2016 F350 XLT on Saturday.
You will love your truck. Some folks make a big deal about DEF but I hardly ever think about it. In the scheme of things it is not a top priority of cost.

When I pull,my 5ver I usually fuel at Pilot since they give me 3 cents discount on diesel (no biggie) but they accept my credit card without having to go inside to cashier. They have bulk DEF at the pump also. Diesel pumps at 20 gal/min so know how much you need and back off the speed when you start approaching your need. Truckers don't mind either and actually if it is busy they will get behind you because they know you will not be there long..lol...
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Old 09-02-2016, 02:02 AM   #7
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The newer trucks typically burn more DEF when loading and are burning more fuel.

My Ram 6.7 burns about 2.5 gallons for every 3000 kms which is almost always 50/50 towing and unloaded.

The Dodge has a gauge which doesn't move the first 2ish gallons used as well. I don't recall what Ford has and I know GM has none.


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Old 09-02-2016, 06:46 AM   #8
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Have a 2016 Chevy 2500 with the duramax. I am currently on a 8K mile trip pulling my Stealth at about 9K pounds. I am burning about 3 gallons every 4K miles.

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Old 09-02-2016, 07:08 AM   #9
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I'm at 19500 km, now and have filled the tank twice now so ten gallons, other than being a pain in the b to fill I'm happy.
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Old 09-02-2016, 07:26 AM   #10
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I put in almost 4 gallons in 2800 miles (50/50 towing) but I am questioning whether the tank was full when I purchased the truck in June. I do not have a gauge and my warning light never came on.
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Old 09-02-2016, 07:58 AM   #11
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I have a 2011 F250. I can tow 1800 miles and still have DEF left ( less than half a tank).

Not towing I can go a really long time/distance.
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Old 09-02-2016, 10:12 AM   #12
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How much DEF does your diesel use?

Quote:
Originally Posted by another_newfie View Post
Interesting topic since I pick up my 2016 F350 XLT on Saturday.

I got my '16 F350 XLT a month ago, but am currently on my first real trip with it. Towed the camper (6000 pound loaded minilite) 1200 km's into the mountains. I sure love how the combination of tow haul and exhaust brake help control the speeds on the descent. The last five miles into Radium is a reported 8% grade. Once I tapped the brakes twice and it downshifted it held 50 km/hr the whole way down without touching the brakes. Campers in front of me brakes the entire way down

I can't really say how much DEF it uses. I have 3000 km on the odometer and haven't hit the half tank warning light yet, over half of those kms were towing. I did buy the ford prepaid maintenance to 100,000 km package (not sure if I should have, but to late now) and that package includes all wear items, DEF, oil and tranny fluid changes, wipers and washer fluid and brakes.
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Old 09-02-2016, 10:18 AM   #13
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Old 09-02-2016, 11:44 AM   #14
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Its not alot... I used 3 gallons of DEF when we took the 5er from the Chicago area to Pigeon Forge, TN.

I have owned the truck now about 9,000 miles and I have only put 5.5 gallons of DEF in in total
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Old 09-02-2016, 12:20 PM   #15
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Is a diesel engine better if it uses more DEF? Maybe not

The DEF is used to take the NOX out of the exhaust. The NOX is an oxide of nitrogen, which means it comes from burning the air, and that requires a very high combustion temperature. But, you get the very high combustion temperature when the engine runs lean. When the engine runs lean, it uses less fuel. Thus, there is a case to be made that using a lot of DEF means that your engine is burning fuel more efficiently.

To take it to the other extreme, an alternative to using DEF is Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR). Cummins has a white paper explaining that they considered it but found they couldn't get good fuel mileage with it. Of course, with EGR, they use no DEF. So, Cummins uses DEF to get better fuel mileage.

Similarly, in the Volkswagen emissions defeat scandal, they have considered using more EGR and stuff like that, and fuel mileage will collapse. They can't afford to retrofit a DEF solution.

I'd have to look at my records, but my Cummins ISB 6.7 seems to use about 6 gallons of DEF for 2000 miles, but it gets fantastic fuel mileage – 10 mpg (US gallons) at 65 mph with a diesel pusher motorhome.

My biggest hassle with DEF is that there is a roof very close to my DEF tank, which makes it very hard to put it in from the jugs. I have to keep an eye out for bulk DEF dealers. Unfortunately, that means a lot of Flying J or Pilot, where the fuel is expensive.

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Old 09-02-2016, 12:33 PM   #16
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My 2013 Ram uses a gallon per 750 miles while towing my 5th wheel.. daily driving maybe half that.. Only a 4 gallon tank. I never fill it unless I plan on taking a long trip.
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Old 09-02-2016, 12:39 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Davidg View Post
I have a 2016 F350 SRW 4x4 and tow a 34' fiver. I topped off the DEF tank before leaving on a short trip last week. Trip was about 300 miles round trip. So, today I decided to top off the def tank again. It wouldnt hold a teacup full, which surprised me. My previous 2011 6.7 would have used a half gallon to a gallon on a 300 mile towing trip. Anyone have a clue or do the newer trucks use a lot less def? It just rolled over 10K miles this week.
My 2011 F250 6.7 with 45K has consistently gotten about 7,000 miles on a full tank of D.E.F. while Not towing our 5th wheel. While towing, it will use about one gallon for every 600 miles
Are you resetting the D.T.E. calculation when towing?
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Old 09-02-2016, 12:42 PM   #18
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My 2015 GMC uses about 1.5 gallons per 1300 miles when pulling the trailer. Haven't been able to figure out what it uses when not towing - but not much.
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Old 09-02-2016, 12:59 PM   #19
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Dealer filled DEF tank at delivery, currently at 5K miles and I've still got half of an eight gallon tank left.
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Old 09-02-2016, 01:51 PM   #20
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I picked up my first diesel last weekend. A 2016 Chevy Silverado 2500HD. When I left the dealer the DEF fluid level said "OK". By the time I got home (400 miles later) it said 28%. Not being familiar with DEF usage, I called the service dept on Monday and asked if this was normal. They told me the factory delivers the truck to the dealer with only a partial tank of DEF (supposedly because of the expiration date issue). He said the pre-delivery inspection calls for the tank to be topped off, but since I took delivery on a Saturday when the service dept was closed, someone dropped the ball and didn't top off the tank. He told me to go to the nearest GM dealer and fill up the tank and send him the bill. Moral of the story, if taking delivery of a new diesel, ask if the tank was topped off. With a Chevy, "OK" on the fluid level doesn't mean full. I'm guessing it will say OK until it gets to 50% or less and then will start showing % left.
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