New to Diesel Guy concerned about DEF usage in a new 2022 2500 RAM

[tchur1]

This DEF thing is going to be a whole new bucket of worms for me. Current truck is 2001 Cummins, 2023 here in about 3 weeks. Hopefully learning curve is flat?

Current truck is my first diesel with emissions. It’s not that hard, don’t idle the truck for extended periods, fill your DEF tank when it gets to 1/4 and try and work it decently well.

 

[H3LZSN1P3R]

This DEF thing is going to be a whole new bucket of worms for me. Current truck is 2001 Cummins, 2023 here in about 3 weeks. Hopefully learning curve is flat?

For most people its easy dump a jug in when the gauge gets low just like you do for fuel. Most people have no issue with the emissions.

 

[Pressure_welder]

If youre down south where it dosent get cold, you should be fine! dump the sludge in and go just as sniper said. I fill up at cardlock truck stops for the business so just pop the nozzle in while i am filling diesel tanks. Not sure how much truth is in it, but ive been told the cardlock/truck stop def is generally always fresh due to the high useage by semis. Def has a shelf life of i believe 6 months, so if youre buying the jugs make sure its within date! and potentially staying within that date for the time it'll be in your tank. I was warned during my emissions issues that def quality is HUGE on these 21+ trucks. Aparently the computer can detect when the juice has gone sour, and rather than choking it down it'll just throw you into de-rate and make you drain tank/re-fill. Sniper also makes another good point, you only hear about all the people that have issues never the ones that are happy. since 2012 ive had 6 emissions equipped/def trucks and until this one have never had an issue. Having said that all 6 of those were deleted within 20,000km. FYI if you live in a cold climate, keep the tank at half for the winter, tank heater isnt capable of thawing the entire tank and if the ultrasonic sensor cant get a reading quick enough it'll also throw you into de-rate. De-rate is fun.

 

[H3LZSN1P3R]

If youre down south where it dosent get cold, you should be fine! dump the sludge in and go just as sniper said. I fill up at cardlock truck stops for the business so just pop the nozzle in while i am filling diesel tanks. Not sure how much truth is in it, but ive been told the cardlock/truck stop def is generally always fresh due to the high useage by semis. Def has a shelf life of i believe 6 months, so if youre buying the jugs make sure its within date! and potentially staying within that date for the time it'll be in your tank. I was warned during my emissions issues that def quality is HUGE on these 21+ trucks. Aparently the computer can detect when the juice has gone sour, and rather than choking it down it'll just throw you into de-rate and make you drain tank/re-fill. Sniper also makes another good point, you only hear about all the people that have issues never the ones that are happy. since 2012 ive had 6 emissions equipped/def trucks and until this one have never had an issue. Having said that all 6 of those were deleted within 20,000km. FYI if you live in a cold climate, keep the tank at half for the winter, tank heater isnt capable of thawing the entire tank and if the ultrasonic sensor cant get a reading quick enough it'll also throw you into de-rate. De-rate is fun.

DEF shelf life is 1-2 years depending on how its stored so as long as there is not a pile of dust on it no need to look at the date

 

[Ronstar]

I bought 3 boxes about 7-8 months ago when it was rumored a DEF shortage was looming….. never occurred. I did not know there was an expiration date? I dont see one on the box…….? After coffee I’ll put my cheaters on and go look again!

 

[Brutal_HO]

I bought 3 boxes about 7-8 months ago when it was rumored a DEF shortage was looming….. never occurred. I did not know there was an expiration date? I dont see one on the box…….? After coffee I’ll put my cheaters on and go look again!

Same here. I have 4 2.5 gal jugs myself and don't go through that much with the low miles I put on. My stock lives in a cool basement in Colorado in the dark most of the time so I'm not worried about it going bad.

 

[flan]

Every time I walk into my local Lowe’s home center I see the same pallet of def right inside the contractor entrance, very dusty and sun faded. I hate to be the unknowing diesel owner that comes along and grabs a cube because his light just came on.

 

[JimKIII]

How so? Your hemi is not getting better millage thats for sure…

For me it's not having to worry about the diesel or DEF problems I read about on this form - problems that seem to increase with each passing year since 2018. I realize there is a much higher percentage of complaints on a forum like this, but enough that I'm glad I don't have a diesel. Since I don't tow much I don't need a diesel anyway. Just my 2 cents.

 

[jebruns]

From a Ford document:


So I wouldn't stockpile much of it if you live in a warm area. I always have just one on standby. Not like it's hard to find. If I'm going for a long tow, I'll buy an extra.

 

[Redfour5]

Hi Guys, just got my first diesel 3 weeks ago. And I think my truck is using alot of DEF

I've done ~1400 km (~870 miles) so far in my new truck
So far ive used about 6.5 - 7 litres of DEF (1.7 to 1.8 Gallons)

for fuel economy / consumption - Im averaging about 13 Litres per 100km (21-22 MPG)

No towing, mostly highway driving

is this considered normal DEF usage or excessive DEF usage ?

do I need to visit the dealer ?

I have read that it should be 2-3% of fuel used. I believe I'm in excess of that (I'm closer to 3.6% of fuel used , if my math is correct)
I have also read that it should be about 2 Gal /800 miles (which seems more than 2 or 3%), Im at 2 Gal / 836 miles

Couldn't be any worse than a friends van in the early 70's. But it was oil and at least you could lift the engine cover in the mdidle of the front and pour oil right into the engine while driving. Now that was well thought out engineering.

 

[jak]

Sounds about right. I believe the 22's without the DPF sensors are programmed to use more DEF to make up for the lack of the sensor. Or at least that's what I've read. My 22 2500 seems to go through DEF a little faster than my 18 2500 did. Hopefully when they finally get those sensors in stock and installed, that will bring the DEF usage down a bit.

What sensor? Is this another recall? Thanks

 

[AH64ID]

I noticed the same from my ‘18 to ‘22. My ‘22 more DEF thirsty.

Same, 140% more DEF than my ‘18.

The 22 is getting ~350 mpg DEF towing and ~700 mpg DEF empty. 506 mpg DEF average.

Sounds about right. I believe the 22's without the DPF sensors are programmed to use more DEF to make up for the lack of the sensor. Or at least that's what I've read. My 22 2500 seems to go through DEF a little faster than my 18 2500 did. Hopefully when they finally get those sensors in stock and installed, that will bring the DEF usage down a bit.

I have read that, but the reported DEF economy on the 22’s doesn’t seem to be any different than the 19-21’s.

 

[Brutal_HO]

Shamelessly stolen from cumminsforum; credit to gsbrockman, a hotshot hauler and all around super nice guy (I bought some fuel filters from him for a steal). I believe this is his 22 4500 CC and he tows at max GCWR almost always.

I believe he added it was approx 100MPG worse than his 18.

Some statistics regarding DEF consumption pre-Y43 recall....

• 88,612 miles
• 268.839 gallons of DEF consumed
• $1,046.96
• $0.011815 cost per mile
• $11.815 cost per 1,000 miles
• lifetime average DEF mpg was 329.61

 

[AH64ID]

Shamelessly stolen from cumminsforum; credit to gsbrockman, a hotshot hauler and all around super nice guy (I bought some fuel filters from him for a steal). I believe this is his 22 4500 CC and he tows at max GCWR almost always.

I believe he added it was approx 100MPG worse than his 18.

Some statistics regarding DEF consumption pre-Y43 recall....

• 88,612 miles
• 268.839 gallons of DEF consumed
• $1,046.96
• $0.011815 cost per mile
• $11.815 cost per 1,000 miles
• lifetime average DEF mpg was 329.61

Yes it burns quite a bit DEF more than his 18 did.

The had the sensor recall done last week, but hasn’t put enough miles on his truck since the install to see if it makes a difference.

It’s a 5500 with 4.44’s. The 18 was a 4500 with 4.10’s. He’s getting better bobtail fuel economy with the 5500.

His 18 averaged right around 402 mpg DEF.

 

[jebruns]

What sensor? Is this another recall? Thanks

I'm pretty sure most or all 22 Cummins trucks were affected by this. I was sent this by the dealer I ordered my 22 from. Apparently the sensors are starting to come in, but only being put on 4500/5500's for now.

 

[Thisnthat]

my 22 burns more DEF for sure than my 16 3500

as far as buying DEF from truck stops, I will every now and then, but I've also noticed that a lot of truck stops have a large tank "out back" behind the building sitting in the sun. I was filling up one day and my DEF light was already on so I figured why not. While I was filling the truck up with DEF, I noticed their DEF tank....promptly stopped.

Like others have said, imagine their turnover rate on their DEF tanks is pretty quick but I've started to only buy DEF from the bigger truck stops or just go with a jug or two.

 

[flan]

my 22 burns more DEF for sure than my 16 3500

as far as buying DEF from truck stops, I will every now and then, but I've also noticed that a lot of truck stops have a large tank "out back" behind the building sitting in the sun. I was filling up one day and my DEF light was already on so I figured why not. While I was filling the truck up with DEF, I noticed their DEF tank....promptly stopped.

Like others have said, imagine their turnover rate on their DEF tanks is pretty quick but I've started to only buy DEF from the bigger truck stops or just go with a jug or two.

The outdoor above grade tanks I have seen are all either insulated very well or are in a metal type structure.

 

[ppine]

Relax. Just don't buy it ahead of time and let it sit around.

 

[Thisnthat]

The outdoor above grade tanks I have seen are all either insulated very well or are in a metal type structure.

This one was just the bare bones tank...could see the fluid level plain as day. Maybe that station is an exception from the others that sell it at the pump....just thought it was odd to be storing a fluid that is susceptible to sunlight/heat out in the open like that. Then again I don't see how a lot of other stations store it as I generally get my diesel at stations that don't sell DEF since the truck stops usually are significantly higher on their diesel

 

[ppine]

Maybe I am too relaxed. New at using DEF. I bought some at Costco and used it immediately. My mileage on a 2022 diesel went from 20.4 to 18.8 and it may be still dropping.
Does DEF expire sitting around in a warehouse. No date on the box, just a batch number.