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High DEF Usage - RAM Dealer says that cant help

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StrayCat

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Hi Guys, My 2022 RAM 2500 seems to drink DEF like crazy, My buddy next door uses half the DEF I use in his 3500 and he tows more than me . Here's the specifics

2022 RAM 2500 BigHorn
60% winter driving 40% summer driving. (Canada)
Id say 20% (maximum) of my driving Im towing a 3500 lb trailer
Y43 Recall was done for Particulate sensor and module (def usage was the same before and after the recall)
20,000 km and I've used 8 jugs of DEF (9 litres per jug). I believe thats 16 gallons of DEF over 20,000km
by my basic calculations I'm using ~4% of the volume of Diesel in DEF, everyone else I know here is using ~2%

I do run Howes Diesel fuel additive, in case that makes any difference

When I was in for my 20,000km service they said it seems alot, but since there were no error codes, there was no way to trouble shoot the usage problem

What say you guys ? does my RAM have a drinking problem ? is there anything that can be done about it ?
 
That's 9941 miles = 621 MPG DEF.

That's WAY better DEF mileage than I get, count your blessings.

The newer trucks are built to use 4-5% DEF/fuel. Less towing of course. Also more DEF = less EGR.

Y43 has zero to do with DEF.
 
StrayCat said:
Hi Guys, My 2022 RAM 2500 seems to drink DEF like crazy, My buddy next door uses half the DEF I use in his 3500 and he tows more than me . Here's the specifics

2022 RAM 2500 BigHorn
60% winter driving 40% summer driving. (Canada)
Id say 20% (maximum) of my driving Im towing a 3500 lb trailer
Y43 Recall was done for Particulate sensor and module (def usage was the same before and after the recall)
20,000 km and I've used 8 jugs of DEF (9 litres per jug). I believe thats 16 gallons of DEF over 20,000km
by my basic calculations I'm using ~4% of the volume of Diesel in DEF, everyone else I know here is using ~2%

I do run Howes Diesel fuel additive, in case that makes any difference

When I was in for my 20,000km service they said it seems alot, but since there were no error codes, there was no way to trouble shoot the usage problem

What say you guys ? does my RAM have a drinking problem ? is there anything that can be done about it ?
Click to expand...


Bear with the public math while I concert it to south of the border numbers.

20,000km = 12,427 miles
9 liters = 2.37 gallons (smaller than US jugs of DEF)

So 8 jugs = 18.96 gallons

12,427/18.96 = 655 mpg.

Two things, that’s less DEF than your average 19+ truck (I average 526 with 32% of my miles towing) and your neighbor likely is not getting over 1300 mpg DEF on a 19+.

If you’re calculating 4% DEF:Fuel that means you used 474 gallons of diesel in the same timeframe. Thats an average of 26.2 mpg diesel. That seems really high. 2.45% def:diesel is my average and that would put you at approx 16 mpg diesel, which is much more believable.

I think something is askew in your tracking.

Also, where is your tank level now? If you just added a jug before posting then that DEF hasn’t been used yet and your mpg DEF will be even higher.
 
Brutal_HO said:
That's 9941 miles = 621 MPG DEF.

That's WAY better DEF mileage than I get, count your blessings.

The newer trucks are built to use 4-5% DEF/fuel. Less towing of course. Also more DEF = less EGR.

Y43 has zero to do with DEF.
Click to expand...
Thats 20,000KM /1.6= 12,500 miles which still equals 625mpg of DEF which is good

Edit i guess me and AH64ID posted at the same time lol
 
AH64ID said:
Bear with the public math while I concert it to south of the border numbers.

20,000km = 12,427 miles
9 liters = 2.37 gallons (smaller than US jugs of DEF)

So 8 jugs = 18.96 gallons

12,427/18.96 = 655 mpg.

Two things, that’s less DEF than your average 19+ truck (I average 526 with 32% of my miles towing) and your neighbor likely is not getting over 1300 mpg DEF on a 19+.

If you’re calculating 4% DEF:Fuel that means you used 474 gallons of diesel in the same timeframe. Thats an average of 26.2 mpg diesel. That seems really high. 2.45% def:diesel is my average and that would put you at approx 16 mpg diesel, which is much more believable.

I think something is askew in your tracking.
Click to expand...
Our DEF jugs are 2.5gal same as a us jug. Unless he has been getting some odd ball sized jug
 
H3LZSN1P3R said:
Our DEF jugs are 2.5gal same as a us jug. Unless he has been getting some odd ball sized jug
Click to expand...

So that puts the numbers at 621 mpg DEF and 4% would be 24.8 mpg.

DEF mpg seems fine, truck average still seems very high.
 
New Gen trucks drink the **** outta the DEF, but I’m honestly here for it. Less EGR, and keeping the fluid moving through the header unit and injector is a good thing.
 
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AH64ID said:
So that puts the numbers at 621 mpg DEF and 4% would be 24.8 mpg.

DEF mpg seems fine, truck average still seems very high.
Click to expand...
Yea the numbers seem off a touch but if he just put a jug in vs the km read out he is going with that would make the fuel avg more reasonable
 
Cheers for the replies guys

My Def Gauge was full when I hit 20,000km on the truck

My fuel economy is 11 Litres per 100km on the highway (we don't do MPG here)
and I get 14 Litres per 100km in town

Most of my miles are highway but generally my fuel economy is really good, sure happy with that

Towing fuel economy is worse of Cours maybe 16-18 L/100km depending on the load

thats all calculated by km driven and litres pumped before and after the trips (not using the computer on the truck)

Just don't know why im using 4% and the neighbour is using 2%, both 2022 trucks, his is a 3500, mine a 2500
 
StrayCat said:
Cheers for the replies guys

My Def Gauge was full when I hit 20,000km on the truck

My fuel economy is 11 Litres per 100km on the highway (we don't do MPG here)
and I get 14 Litres per 100km in town

Most of my miles are highway but generally my fuel economy is really good, sure happy with that

Towing fuel economy is worse of Cours maybe 16-18 L/100km depending on the load

thats all calculated by km driven and litres pumped before and after the trips (not using the computer on the truck)

Just don't know why im using 4% and the neighbour is using 2%, both 2022 trucks, his is a 3500, mine a 2500
Click to expand...
You may not use MPG here but some of us still do lol i am also in Canada. Your neighbour is either lying or his truck is using way more EGR which is not a good thing
 
Ok, so if the DEF tank was full at 20K k and you’ve added 20 gallons that means you’ve burned ~15 gallons.

Thats double the DEF economy that most 19+ trucks get. Your neighbor is not getting double that, that would be 2500 mpg DEF and unheard of.

If you’ve used 15 gallons of DEF at 4% rate then that’s 33 mpg or 7L/100km

If you’ve averaged 13L/100km, still impressive at 18mpg, your DEF consumption rate is ~2.2% and more normal.

Something doesn’t add up with your numbers and/or math. Mostly the 4% consumption rate.
 
Ive used 72 litres of DEF = 19 US Gallons
Ive travelled 20,000 km
Mileage ranges from 11-18 L/100km depending on if im on highway, in town or towing

****** UPDATE ...OK... So just re did my calculations, and Im not sure how I ended up at 4% now.. you are correct --- Bad math or a faulty calculator on my end

Depending which L/100 km figures I use. I'm somewhere between 2.5 and 3.5%. (using round numbers). So I guess that makes sense. and considered normal/average

My neighbour is using 1.25-1.75% if he has only put 18 litres of DEF in over 10,000km (assuming the same fuel economy)

So it would seem I'm average and he is exceptional for some reason .

Mileage and % Calculations aside, are you guys using more than a full truck tank of DEF every 10,000km (6000 miles) ?
 
Last edited:
I would avg 2000-2500km per jug of DEF but thats also with a heavy foot mixed with towing
 
StrayCat said:
Im calculating litres of Diesel fuel burned over 20,000 km vs 72 litres of DEF used and I get 4%
Click to expand...

So you have only burned 1800 liters of fuel?

Thats an average of 9L/100km, or over a 26 mpg average.

Don’t buy it.
StrayCat said:
regardless of my fuel economy, 72 litres of DEF over 20,000km is still twice as much as dealer tells me it should be
Click to expand...

lol, your dealer doesn’t know what they are talking about. That’s 655 mpg DEF, and on the high side of a normal average for a 19+ truck. Nothing is wrong.

I get as low as 350 mpg towing and as high as 700 mph empty.

StrayCat said:
re my neighbour, he has only put 2 x 9litre jugs of DEFin over 10,000 km
Click to expand...

He’s missing a jug or two in there. 19+ trucks don’t get over 1200 mpg DEF. They get 1/2 that or less. If he truly is using that little something is wrong, and hopefully it’s not too much EGR.

All your numbers are perfectly normal, except the 4%.
 
no, I've burned more than 1800 litres, see above, my Math was way off on the 4%

Ive used 72 litres of DEF = 19 US Gallons
Ive travelled 20,000 km
Mileage ranges from 11-18 L/100km depending on if im on highway, in town or towing

If I got 11 L/100 km 100% of the time I'd have burned ~2200 litres (highway)
If I got 14 l/100 km 100 % of the time I'd have burned ~2800 litres (in town)
If I got 18L/100km 100% of the time I'd have burned ~3600 litres (Towing)

so if I pick 14L/100km average (which I see on my truck computer, not 100% accurate I know but unfortunately I didnt track this with real fuel & Km usage like I did with the 3 above) = 2.57% DEF Usage


So ....after all this...Ill call my DEF Usage 2.6% & Normal

Cheers for the feedback and Math lessons LOL
 
StrayCat said:
no, I've burned more than 1800 litres, see above, my Math was way off on the 4%

Ive used 72 litres of DEF = 19 US Gallons
Ive travelled 20,000 km
Mileage ranges from 11-18 L/100km depending on if im on highway, in town or towing

If I got 11 L/100 km 100% of the time I'd have burned ~2200 litres (highway)
If I got 14 l/100 km 100 % of the time I'd have burned ~2800 litres (in town)
If I got 18L/100km 100% of the time I'd have burned ~3600 litres (Towing)

so if I pick 14L/100km average (which I see on my truck computer, not 100% accurate I know but unfortunately I didnt track this with real fuel & Km usage like I did with the 3 above) = 2.57% DEF Usage


So ....after all this...Ill call my DEF Usage 2.6% & Normal

Cheers for the feedback and Math lessons LOL
Click to expand...

Gotcha, see your edited post now.

Everything seems normal. If you really want to track DEF consumption try to find a DEF pump to use and track it along with fuel use for more exact numbers.

You’d neighbor is likely forgetting or not telling the whole story.
 
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