DEF tank only lasted ~2,800 miles per computer

[AEsco48]

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)

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[FutureOdin]

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.

 

[Steven_B]

I just hit 3k miles and currently just under 50% on the def tank after it being completely full when new. I drive all highways 70 miles a day including a 1400 ft pass. So maybe that has to do with the low consumption compared to others?

 

[CrazyCooter]

I do believe the DEF level sensor is not really an accurate incicator. The computer only knows if its below 1/3 or over 2/3? Everywhere in between is a computer calculated guess. When mine was new it showed full, but I got almost 2.5 gal box into it before leaving on a 2600 mile trip. I have been averaging 800-900 miles per gal of DEF used.

 

[John in the Woods]

My experience is about the same. Had about 3/4 or a tank when I left the dealer, and needed to add 2.5 gallons more around 3500 miles and again at 6500. It's pretty cheap, so I'm not that worried about it, and I'll take the average 22 mpgs (24 on highway) on 35s and a lift and call it a win.

 

[CerOf]

What others said, mine used more in the first few thousand miles. I had to refill mine around 2500 it seems. I’m almost 6k miles now and have a third left.

A heavy foot and/or hauling weight seems to use more. Speed limits here are 75 and you get run over if doing less than 80. Higher speed seems to mean more def usage.

 

[TheSolarWizard]

at 3500 miles mine is just below a 1/4 tank per gauge. I’ve found it recently for 7.50 for 2.5 gallons so that cost is a non factor to me

 

[BEERviper]

I had the same thing happen, around 3,900 miles I got the warning "500 miles blah blah". The gauge showed a good 1/3 remaining DEF so I let it ride for a while. Got it all the way down to "120 Miles engine will not start" and the gauge was in the red.

I'm also in Denver driving at 5k altitude.

In the end I went about 700 miles after first seeing the "500 Mile" warning but still nowhere near 10k miles.

Like others said, the DEF isn't very expensive. Sam's Club has Blue DEF and I've also seen it at Home Depot where it's below $11 if you buy 3.

 

[AEsco48]

Thx everyone.
Just wanted to make sure i was not having an issue.

Im going to go buy more DEF and fill the tank all the way up... and not at $20 for a jug of 2.5 gal at an Ouray gas station jajajaj

 

[Oil_Burner]

I used 5 gallons of DEF in 5100 miles. Average MPG is somewhere near over the vehicle life.

 

[AEsco48]

3.5 tanks (Factory full plus filled it up 2.5 times) worth of DEF in 8,000 miles!

 

[TheSolarWizard]

3.5 tanks (Factory full plus filled it up 2.5 times) worth of DEF in 8,000 miles!

9600 miles for me. 1/2 tank remaining.
Full from dealer plus Ive added two boxes.
consumption has slowed a bit IMO. 22.8 mpg on 39s

 

[AEsco48]

9600 miles for me. 1/2 tank remaining.
Full from dealer plus Ive added two boxes.
consumption has slowed a bit IMO. 22.8 mpg on 39s

So im 1,600 miles less than you and have consumed 17.85 gal, you have used 7.5 gallons (assuming 2.5 gallon boxes)... I wonder to what extend living in Denver (5,000ft affects consumption).

I took the Jeep in for an oil change and told them about the consumption vs the supposed 10,000 miles per tank of DEF... They plugged the jeep into he computer and get no warnings or anything.

I guess thats another reference point, oil life should be 10,000 miles and it lasted 8,000
8,000 vs 10,000 mi expected oil (80% of expected)
8,0000 vs 45,000 mi exprected DEF (17% of expected)

 

[A 2]

At 2600 miles I decided to add a 2.5 gal jug. I had no warnings,. My gauge said I was at 1/4 tank. When I added, I’m at 3/4 full. isnt the DEF tank 5 gallons? If so,, I think the gauge is pretty accurate. Not happy about the consumption rate though.

 

[BuckeyeButch]

I'm at 4500 mi and at 1/4 DEF started with 3/4 DEF upon delivery.

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