We have a shortage of boxed DEF around here so the last two time I saw anything other than an empty shelf, I bought a box. The last two boxes were both Peak. First one was regular. Second one was the only box on the shelf and was the Platinum. Neither box, or the jug inside had any date code on it. The only number anywhere was the sku#. I am not worried as with the shortage, it is likely safe to assume the DEF is not old, but has anyone else encountered this? I know the manufacturers do not want us to easily know if DEF is old as the last thing they want is unsold inventory sitting in stores. I am used to the "hide the date" game they play by putting the code somewhere on the box that is not obvious and by using codes that require Julian date deciphering, subtracting a year, counting days, etc., etc. But these last two boxed are the first ones I have encountered with no number string anywhere on the box.
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No longer any Def Date Codes?
- Thread starter Will_T
- Start date
I still have the most recent box as I haven't used it yet. I just took a flashlight and examined every side of the box just to make sure the code wasn't stamped in black ink on a black part of the box or something like that. It isn't. There is no code anywhere. I just read somewhere else that this is a very recent thing with Peak. The most recently manufactured lots do not seem to always have dates on the box. The question is whether this was a manufacturing error or oversight or whether this will be the norm going forward.
Wonder why manufacturers would stop dating the DEF. With the importance of using good DEF in these new trucks, I would choose to buy only dated containers so I know what I am getting. At least at places like Walmart with high turnover and the current shortage, any DEF they have on the shelf is likely good. Eventually we will get back to fully stocked shelves and without dates we will have no way of knowing what we are getting. It will be interesting to see if I just got a couple of boxes of Peak brand that were not labeled or if undated containers continue to be sold.
Last time I got Walmart DEF (May) it was dated. The time before that not dated.
Last time I got any DEF , all they had was Peak and Peak Platinum. They all had (coded) dates on them.
Colorado...
Last time I got any DEF , all they had was Peak and Peak Platinum. They all had (coded) dates on them.
Colorado...
Interesting. So it is not just something that started recently if you had an undated box that long ago. Well, it may just be manufacturing error with the ink stamping at the plant or something. You would think they would catch it though rather than send out undated boxes. Even though DEF manufacturers have, for a long time, made it hard to figure out the date code, I had seen on some other site speculation that manufacturers were doing away with it all together. Hopefully that is not correct.
toyboy1980
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Out of curiousity, is there a reason why you guys do the boxed stuff instead of getting it out of the pump at a gas station/truck stop?
I'm not sure why everyone is worried about a date code, We buy 270 gallons at a time for our tractor and sometimes it is 2 years before the bulk tank is empty. Never had a problem with the def system in our tractor and its almost 10 years old now with def sitting all winter at least 5 months and no problem. It doesn't go bad fast like the manufacturer's tell you ,they just want to sell you more product.
Only a few spots around here with DEF pumps and they are out of the way for me, not where I get diesel. I have used them once when travelling and filling up at a truck stop. Convenient if you happen to be getting fuel when they also have DEF. I just grab a box when needed when I am out doing other shopping. Then just put it in at home at my convenience. Just easier and takes less time than making a special trip out of the way to get to a pump.
This is a hot topic with no hope of consensus I think. Many agree with that reasoning although a tractor is maybe (?) a simpler emissions system than these new trucks. Others think that most DEF system truck problems are the result of either running the DEF too low or using bad/old DEF. Both of those are easy to control and eliminate as potential problems, at least with a date code on the box. You may be correct, I sure don't know. But if I ever have an issue with my truck's DEF system, at least I can know I did not cause it by running the tank low or using old DEF.
toyboy1980
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Gotcha. I guess I am lucky in having 3 or 4 places with pump DEF within 5 minutes of my house.
According to my fuel and DEF supplier there is no reason to worry about the age if it is kept out of the sun and shaken up before poured in the vehicle if its in a box . And by the way i have been using the stuff out of our bulk def tank in my last three pickups with no issues so very doubtful the systems are much different in our trucks compared to our tractors. But to each his own, I'm just giving you my experience and what my fuel supplier tells me .
If it really bothers you you can get a DEF refractometer and check it, you can get one for $25
I wouldn't be too worried about it myself. It's not like if it was bad it is going to destroy your engine, it's just not going to be efficient at reducing the NOx in your SCR at the end of the tail pipe. I've known people that have run distilled water through them with no issue (yes the newer trucks supposedly check the quality of it). Yes it could throw a code but it's not like it's going to damage anything unless it is so old it has turned into a solid.
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I wouldn't be too worried about it myself. It's not like if it was bad it is going to destroy your engine, it's just not going to be efficient at reducing the NOx in your SCR at the end of the tail pipe. I've known people that have run distilled water through them with no issue (yes the newer trucks supposedly check the quality of it). Yes it could throw a code but it's not like it's going to damage anything unless it is so old it has turned into a solid.
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RTillery
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I just picked up a jug at Wally World yesterday here in Colorado. House brand and had an 8-31-21 date on it. They had about 10 jugs on the shelf. They seem to turn it over pretty quick. Checked it with my refractometer and it was right on the money. YMMV
H3LZSN1P3R
You're doing it wrong
No consumer pumps here just cardlocks
i dont think i have ever looked for a date i get mine from an autosupply shop at a fraction over cost
There are DEF dates on the Walmart here in the San Antonio area as well. On the subject of DEF...Is there any harm in storing an extra jug in my refrigerator in the shop? Condensation or other concerns? I tend to buy when I need it but it would be nice to buy one for extended travel.
Since both the undated boxes I had were Peak brand, maybe it is just Peak that is missing dates. Hope it is not a trend that goes to other brands. All the points in this thread that say there is no reason to worry about old DEF may be valid. But just like buying milk or other perishables, I like to see what I am buying. I rarely come across something outdated in the grocery store but it happens.
Interesting that people are finding Walmart brand available. The two Walmarts here have not had any the last couple of times I checked. And this summer buying in Logan Utah, I went to Walmart and they had no DEF of any brand, went to Lowes and bought their last box. Just a couple of weeks ago at the Walmart Superstore here, they had empty shelves, the only container being one box of the Peak Platinum which I bought and which was undated.