What DEF are you using....

[Jestercyco]

I have bought my def from the ford house since I bought the truck.
Jester

[AudiDudi]

I buy at Walmart and check it before adding it with a $20 refractometer from Amazon. I have seen jugs in Walmart were many had broken seals and many had white residue on the outside.

[lacamastraveler]

Originally Posted by primo20

FWIW I had a problem with my def system on my ram. Apparently the heater blew and the dealership said it had water in the def tank. They were not going to cover it under warranty unless I could prove I used mopar def. thankfully I had only been using it up to that point.

Thanks for the reply and additional information. But I am still wondering if anyone has had DEF problem with out-of-date DEF. Was yours within the "safe' date range?

[waybeck2018]

[QUOTE=primo20;2238745]

Originally Posted by Ejs4029

Interesting on the def gauge. I’m 99percent positive I don’t have the same gauge cluster in my 2019 3500 high country. I know I get a message that says low def x km remaining.

I’ll look later today. I really miss the DEF gauge in the ram. It was similar to a fuel gauge. Always knew how much I had left and knew 4 gallons filled from half.

This GM I top up every 2500 km. Just did it before the snow flew. I hate filling it under the hood! Lol

My F250 has a method in their information menu to check DEF levels. PIA to do that, but at least it is an option. I use Blue Def or the Oreilly Band Def. No issues with either and have 101 K miles now. O'Reilly is comparable to WM price and keeps me out of the Big Box ripoff! IMHO

[primo20]

So as thought here is the def gauge on my 2019 Chevy high country. I’m in Canada so possibly why it’s different than the example posted.

[primo20]

The def was still in the date range. I don’t believe it was a def issue. It sounded like a faulty heater they wanted to blame in non mopar def. that was he only point I was trying to make that if you have a warranty be wary of the dealer trying to make you think or require you to but the more expensive dealer branded DEF.

[Gm Mike]

Originally Posted by primo20

So as thought here is the def gauge on my 2019 Chevy high country. I’m in Canada so possibly why it’s different than the example posted.

I have a 2017 GM Duramax and it displays “OK” till you hit the 29% and it counts down in the percent mode from there. Would be nice if it counted down all the way as you have no idea when the percent mode will kick in.

[jd4010]

ISO standards for DEF: 32.5% urea and 67.5% deionized water

Because of the standard, there really is no better DEF brand than another. Get whatever you like, is cheapest, etc. As others have said, make sure if you purchase from a store, that it's in a sealed container.

[Jack350]

My Ford dealer fills the DEF as part of the oil change list of items. Only add Blue DEF when needed. Super Duty has at least two places that I know of to indicate DEF level.

[upflying]

Originally Posted by primo20

It’s possible it’s mostly water. But I don’t know. Urea I thought was the main ingredient.

I’d have to check my manual but I don’t recall it specifically requiring house brand DEf.

I just know I had serious issues with ram service when issues crept up and always tried to get me somewhere.

From wiki:

"Diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) is an aqueous urea solution made with 32.5% urea and 67.5% deionized water".

This might be why your Ram dealer found water in your def tank.

[wildcatter]

Originally Posted by upflying

The freshest def could be at the pumps at a truck stop.
.

I wouldn't bet on this statement, about three months ago I went to a SAPP Brothers to fill up on DEF, I had trouble getting to to start, I went back inside and reported that, the cashier said "yeah it doesn't get used that much", last time I bought DEF there.

[primo20]

Originally Posted by upflying

From wiki:

"Diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) is an aqueous urea solution made with 32.5% urea and 67.5% deionized water".

This might be why your Ram dealer found water in your def tank.

lol - quite possible! i just couldn't be bothered arguing with them any longer...

[primo20]

Originally Posted by Gm Mike

I have a 2017 GM Duramax and it displays “OK” till you hit the 29% and it counts down in the percent mode from there. Would be nice if it counted down all the way as you have no idea when the percent mode will kick in.

good to know - thanks.

I've only ever seen it say i was almost empty when i picked it up just prior to heading to FLA for a 2 week trip...took 2 4 gallon jugs in TN to fill now I'm in the "OK" range with a 4 gallon top up last month - which of course didn't take the entire jug.

[frank4711]

well .... Super Tech DEF Diesel Exhaust Fluid 2.5 gal $7.88 .... BLUEDEF Diesel Exhaust Fluid, 2.5 gal $12.45 ... Mopar Replacement DEF Diesel Exhaust Fluid 2.5 gal $25.99 ... if it is all the same choice is easy

[Daycruiser]

Originally Posted by primo20

FWIW I had a problem with my def system on my ram. Apparently the heater blew and the dealership said it had water in the def tank. They were not going to cover it under warranty unless I could prove I used mopar def. thankfully I had only been using it up to that point.

Now that I’m in a Chevy I’m using GM branded def to avoid any warranty issues. I only mention it in case other dealerships really believe their off brand def is superior to others.

The dealer was full of sh.... on this one. You hand them the warranty book and say show me where it says that I must use OEM DEF for warranty to be honored. It does not say that. Magnuson Moss Act addresses that crap.

[primo20]

Whole heartedly agree. But that act is not an option for us up in the great white north.

[Lins]

Originally Posted by primo20

Whole heartedly agree. But that act is not an option for us up in the great white north.

Correct, next time ask them to test the DEF in the tank in front of you if they tell you it’s because of bad DEF that you didn’t purchase from them.

[hrqueen]

We also had an issue with our new Ram 350 - warning that def was bad and engine would shut off in so many miles. Took it in - they also refused to cover the service under warranty. They drained & replaced. They also told us about another person that had major damage that would not be covered. I went back & forth with Dodge trying to get the bill covered and said it was not in the manual to use only Ram product. BUT they pointed out a spot it did say that & would not reimburse us. Glad there wasn't any worse damage. We had never had a truck that used def so we were just buying it wherever also.

So going forward we always get at the dealership & keep the receipts in case of a problem.

Otherwise truck has been great.

[Lins]

Originally Posted by hrqueen

We also had an issue with our new Ram 350 - warning that def was bad and engine would shut off in so many miles. Took it in - they also refused to cover the service under warranty. They drained & replaced. They also told us about another person that had major damage that would not be covered. I went back & forth with Dodge trying to get the bill covered and said it was not in the manual to use only Ram product. BUT they pointed out a spot it did say that & would not reimburse us. Glad there wasn't any worse damage. We had never had a truck that used def so we were just buying it wherever also.

So going forward we always get at the dealership & keep the receipts in case of a problem.

Otherwise truck has been great.

I’ve only seen where they ‘recommend’ Mopar DEF, they will never put ‘mandatory’ in the manual.

[DieselDrax]

That’s like them telling you that you have to use Mopar oil. They cannot do that unless they provide the product for free here in the US, that is the law. In Canada you’re on your own.