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Old 04-02-2015, 02:48 PM   #1
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DEF tank and Mark "Twain"?

To all Solera owners or any with DEF tanks...

1) Does anyone know if there is a tank depth gauge available for the DEF tanks?
I have the larger of the two (Solera 2011-holds around 8 gals...) but still want
to keep check on it BEFORE those pesky codes start flashing on a trip.

2) Or, could we simply make one (a la dipstick but what material that would not contaminate the DEF?) and "gauge" it after the next DEF fill-up?

3) Or, should I devise one as in #2 above for both sized Solera tanks, and then market it for one heck of a markup to all of you out there in CG-land?

Suggestions? -PB

PD: Mark twain was also the Mississippi moniker for the second depth marking signifying 2 fathoms down in the river(or 12 ft. which was generally
safe for the river boats to traverse. Since our great Samuel Clemens had a love affair with that river and steamboats...well, you know the rest of the story! ;]
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Old 04-02-2015, 06:16 PM   #2
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I saw a bus the other day that had a DEF Gage, might check with an auto part store or truck stop as all new Diesels have to have the Fluid.
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Old 04-03-2015, 10:05 AM   #3
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I saw a bus the other day that had a DEF Gage, might check with an auto part store or truck stop as all new Diesels have to have the Fluid.
Thnx HK...interesting thought...will call and see. I was also "thinking" (uh oh...) after checking the windshield washer fluid tank on one of our vehicles which has a very deep tank, btw...about 1 foot deep and maybe about the same depth as my DEF tank? The gauge is attached to the cap, is a non-contaminating plastic with holes in it with which to measure depth ...kinda like a
straight version of a kids soap bubble wand with many holes. Anyway might
check with the dealer to see what that costs w/o the tank (yeah, right!) or go
hit my local junk yard to see. Maybe problem solved on the cheap and just as good?

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Old 04-03-2015, 10:49 AM   #4
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Just figure about 1 gallon DEF used per thousand miles and you'll be pretty close on the conservative side. On a recent 3,000 mile trip, I used 1.75 gallons.

Like someone once said, "If you can't count heads, count feet, divide by two and you won't be too far off."
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Old 04-03-2015, 12:05 PM   #5
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Before i knew about DEF (dealer never mentioned it) i was on my way to Durango Co. when a message came on and said 700 till def runs out'or something.So i thinking WTH found a shop, charged 30 $18.00 a gal. I thought how can you have a tank with a fluid that will run out and no way to know how much you have in that tank?
Side note. Napa has it on sale for $4.29 a gal.
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Old 04-03-2015, 12:16 PM   #6
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We have a DEF diesel truck, 2011. We pull a Sabre 5th Wheel, 33RETS. The first time out with the truck a warning came on that we have about another 200 miles before the truck will shut off because we need to add DEF!! My husband keeps a note book in the truck at what mileage he put it in, which he just did. This message goes on and on ticking down the mileage. We call ON STAR - explain problem, the young girl who answered the phone had no clue what we were talking about. Had someone call us back that still had no clue - THANK GOD WE HAVE "ON STAR", NOT!!!! But she did make an appointment at a Chevy Dealer in St. Augustine, FL, our next stop. They needed to put the new code in the computer!!!!! What we were asking ourselves was why doesn't ON STAR during the diagnostic check we get every month on computer - tell us we need to go in and have new codes put in the computer!! UNBELIEVEABLE. And this still happens once in a while that we need to go in to have the new codes put in the computer. Will they ever get it right - who knows.
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Old 04-03-2015, 12:31 PM   #7
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We have a DEF diesel truck, 2011. We pull a Sabre 5th Wheel, 33RETS. The first time out with the truck a warning came on that we have about another 200 miles before the truck will shut off because we need to add DEF!! My husband keeps a note book in the truck at what mileage he put it in, which he just did. This message goes on and on ticking down the mileage. We call ON STAR - explain problem, the young girl who answered the phone had no clue what we were talking about. Had someone call us back that still had no clue - THANK GOD WE HAVE "ON STAR", NOT!!!! But she did make an appointment at a Chevy Dealer in St. Augustine, FL, our next stop. They needed to put the new code in the computer!!!!! What we were asking ourselves was why doesn't ON STAR during the diagnostic check we get every month on computer - tell us we need to go in and have new codes put in the computer!! UNBELIEVEABLE. And this still happens once in a while that we need to go in to have the new codes put in the computer. Will they ever get it right - who knows.
I don't understand this "new codes put in the computer" thing. I have the same truck and when the warning comes on you add DEF fluid.
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Old 04-03-2015, 01:16 PM   #8
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My DEF goes 5 gal's for 5,000 miles. Works great for me that allows me to fill and do oil change at same time. I never go by the factory oil change code. They want you to go nearly 10,000 miles per change on my f350.
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Old 04-03-2015, 05:17 PM   #9
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We just added DEF, it doesn't need to be added!!! They have to change out the old "code" to the "new code"! That has been going on with us for the last couple of years. That is because the 2011 trucks got the brand new GM Diesel - it has these little bugs going on.
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Old 04-03-2015, 05:26 PM   #10
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I'm thinking about making my own DEF myself. All I need is some water and to drink a six pack of beer.
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Old 04-03-2015, 05:46 PM   #11
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We just added DEF, it doesn't need to be added!!! They have to change out the old "code" to the "new code"! That has been going on with us for the last couple of years. That is because the 2011 trucks got the brand new GM Diesel - it has these little bugs going on.
Funny my same 2011 2500hd has no issues with codes.
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Old 04-03-2015, 05:52 PM   #12
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The injection rate is about 3% +/- so, keep track of your gallons of fuel purchased and do the math. 10 gals needs about 38 oz of DEF fluid and so on.
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Old 04-03-2015, 05:57 PM   #13
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I traded for a 2012 GMC 2500HD diesel in Oct '14.....I have been told by a couple dealer service centers not to "top off" the DEF tank...let it run down to the warning, which I understand means there is still about 2 gal left, and then fill it back up to full. I haven't understood the reasoning in that. Does anyone know?
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Old 04-03-2015, 06:00 PM   #14
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Can't make that assuption on all vehicles, as each mfg's tank has a different capacity.
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Old 04-03-2015, 06:15 PM   #15
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jtown. How do you know when it is full?
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Old 04-03-2015, 06:44 PM   #16
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Can't make that assuption on all vehicles, as each mfg's tank has a different capacity.

According to my owner's manual for my GMC I have a 5 gal tank and you get your first warning at about 2 gal.
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Old 04-03-2015, 06:49 PM   #17
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jtown. How do you know when it is full?

My dealer said my tank was full when I traded for the truck...I've never done anything with it other than I know by looking under the hood where the reservoir is at.....so if I found myself having to fill it up, I'd fill until that reservoir is full.
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Old 04-03-2015, 06:53 PM   #18
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jtown. Your lucky. All mine has is a tube you use to fill it up. That requires a funnel plus it is not vented so when it is full it pukes it out.
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Old 04-03-2015, 07:12 PM   #19
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jtown. Your lucky. All mine has is a tube you use to fill it up. That requires a funnel plus it is not vented so when it is full it pukes it out.
Lovely
That shows you how close I looked(only have had my head under the hood twice)....LOL!!!...just went out and looked again and my GMC doesn't have anything other that what you have on your Chevrolet...a tube....I guess what I saw was the funnel shaped boot that surrounds the fill tube and thought that was some kind of a reservoir....my dealer service center has me spoiled...I depend on them to take care of everything.
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Old 04-03-2015, 07:41 PM   #20
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According to my owner's manual for my GMC I have a 5 gal tank and you get your first warning at about 2 gal.
Exactly my point, this is a Solera discussion, and the MB Sprinter chassis has a much smaller reservoir post '11 model year. I believe its some where around 3 1/2 gals. Just sayin'
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