DEF tank only lasted ~2,800 miles per computer

[Escape.idiocracy]

I've been keeping my DEF tank on the low side and only filling for an extended trip since our weather is 105-113 right now thinking that cant be good for the life of the fluid. I store the fluid in my shop bathroom so if stays between 60-85 for the most part during storage.

Still about 800 miles per gallon unless towing then she drinks a lot more.

What’s your highway/city ratio? Lots of short trips? Or more longer highway stretches?

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[CrazyCooter]

What’s your highway/city ratio? Lots of short trips? Or more longer highway stretches?

29k miles in 15mo mostly long trips involving long off road outings. We just did a 3200 mile trip with 1200 of that high speed off road.

Did a 4200 mile trip last year towing an RV combined with daily 2-500 mile side trips.

I try not to drive it to work since my commute is 4.5 miles round trip.

 

[@californiajeeping]

I've been keeping my DEF tank on the low side and only filling for an extended trip since our weather is 105-113 right now thinking that cant be good for the life of the fluid. I store the fluid in my shop bathroom so if stays between 60-85 for the most part during storage.

Still about 800 miles per gallon unless towing then she drinks a lot more.

You actually want to keep it topped up. It can only crystalize when in contact with air/drying and keeping a low tank allows it to splash up on the bladder and dry.

Keep it as full as possible.

 

[CrazyCooter]

You actually want to keep it topped up. It can only crystalize when in contact with air/drying and keeping a low tank allows it to splash up on the bladder and dry.

Keep it as full as possible.

That theory makes sense. We do however have temps well over 110° here and the truck gets used very little for a month or more at a time, so was thinking the storage at high temps was a bad thing too.

 

[ParatusExpeditions]

Storage at high temp is bad as well. Storage of this thing is bad, period. Most annoying fluid ?

 

[Cracked_Windshield]

Hello my Rubicon Diesel has 2,800 miles on it and at 2,357 on the odometer i get the message that in 500 miles the engine will not start. I clicked ok while driving and 10 seconds later while I scrolled to the saved message screen, not even a mile down the road, it was already at 480 left.

Added 2.5 gal of DEF the following, ODM was at 2,796 nd was telling me i could drive 100 miles (which in my case really would not be 100 miles).

I added 2.5 gal, DEF tank capacity is 5.1 gal, so this means there was still around 1/4 tank left/1.25 gal... Which should be a lot more than 100 miles! Maybe there is something wrong with the level sensor??


I recall reading the tank should last at least 10,000 miles/between oil changes.

Im 100% sure when i bough the Jeep with 11 miles it showed the DEF tank was full...

Is something wrong? The Jeep has been driven 2,400 of those miles in Denver (5,000ft altitude), or higher. A portion of those on easy trails, no towing (my Cayenne diesel used more DEF when a trailer was connected, even if it was a empty 1,400lb AL trailer, but no where near this much)

I’m in the camp that believes the DEF gauge is totally inaccurate.

Today mine was reading slightly less than a quarter. Keep in mind that this is supposed to be a 5.2 gallon tank. I verified this at the dealership.

I added 2.4 gallons (a little bit leaked), but the gauge went all the way up to 100%.

A previous bad experience was I was below the “shutting off soon” mileage and tried to add two 2.5 gallon containers. The tank began overflowing before I even got half of the second container in it.

There’s no way that thing is reading correctly, in my opinion and experience.

 

[Sandevino]

Having torn the tank apart in my 1500 it's a radar type sensor that's finicky when low and when filled too high. I try to keep it between half and 7/8's full.

 

[Cracked_Windshield]

Having torn the tank apart in my 1500 it's a radar type sensor that's finicky when low and when filled too high. I try to keep it between half and 7/8's full.

I’m going to go with adding 2.5 gallons when it reads 20%.

That seems like a good safe point.

From here on out, I’m also going to remove the Peak DEF container from the carton before using. The last two have both leaked. I’ll probably also drape a disposable shop rag on the fender.

 

[Rusty PW]

When mine reads about 1/4 tank. I add 2.5 gals. Unless I'm taking a trip. Then I will fill it up.

 

[Cracked_Windshield]

When mine reads about 1/4 tank. I add 2.5 gals. Unless I'm taking a trip. Then I will fill it up.

But that’s the problem: There doesn’t seem to be a reliable reading for how much you can add without running that toxic stuff down the side of the fender.

I’m short and old, lol. It’s a pain in the neck holding that heavy container at chest level and trying to stand back a bit so my clothes and shoes don’t get splattered if it starts leaking.

That’s why it seems like a better option to remove the container from the carton and use the carton as a catchment container for the leaks. Which, quite frankly, seem unavoidable.

I’ve seen people mention buying DEF from a pump at a truck stop. Does that have a shutoff similar to pumping diesel fuel?

 

[Sandevino]

But that’s the problem: There doesn’t seem to be a reliable reading for how much you can add without running that toxic stuff down the side of the fender.

I prefer to go to Buc-ees, Loves or Pilot / Flying J and fill the DEF tank at the DEF pump. Pump a bit, let the level adjust, pump some more and stop when I’m about 7/8th full.

No spills and a bit cheaper.

 

[Iowafarm]

I think this is fairly common, that DEF usage is fairly high at the beginning, but will start to level out as it's driven more.

I didn't receive a full DEF tank when I purchased mine, and I had to refill mine around 4,000 miles I think.

My experience with def 2 pickups, 3 semis, 6 tractors and multiple combines is that the computer will use def vastly different depending temperature and how hard the engine runs.

 

[Iowafarm]

But that’s the problem: There doesn’t seem to be a reliable reading for how much you can add without running that toxic stuff down the side of the fender.

I’m short and old, lol. It’s a pain in the neck holding that heavy container at chest level and trying to stand back a bit so my clothes and shoes don’t get splattered if it starts leaking.

That’s why it seems like a better option to remove the container from the carton and use the carton as a catchment container for the leaks. Which, quite frankly, seem unavoidable.

I’ve seen people mention buying DEF from a pump at a truck stop. Does that have a shutoff similar to pumping diesel fuel?

Go to larger fuel stations when you can and buy def at the pump when you can. Way easier and convenient not sure if it is cheaper or not. I use a 250 gallon def tank with pump at my shop and it is very reasonably priced that way.

 

[Iowafarm]

Storage at high temp is bad as well. Storage of this thing is bad, period. Most annoying fluid ?

I think th storage of def should be one of the least thought about things. Fill it up and forget about it. There are far more likely things to go wrong with these finicky tier 4 engines. They will work great until they don't and when that happens deal with it then.

 

[Sank]

I’m in the camp that believes the DEF gauge is totally inaccurate.

...

I added 2.4 gallons (a little bit leaked), but the gauge went all the way up to 100%.

...

There’s no way that thing is reading correctly, in my opinion and experience.

Same. Last week, showed 40% full. Went up a steep off angle incline (>30 pitch and >15 roll) and I'm pretty sure (but not sure) that's why/when my gauge suddenly went red and started reading ~300 miles left to no start. Put a single 2.5 gal box in and I was back up to like 85 or 90 percent.

So I think also that the gauge is really finicky. Exactly what you want in a gizmo that has the power to completely disable the vehicle.

There must be a gauge level spoofer out there to keep for trail emergencies when this thing fails at the worst time?

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