DEF Fluid Brand Preference

[1965Dennis]

With deleting the system not an option at this time, what is the brand of fluid preferred? I just came across a good deal on a 2016 GMC 2500 with Duramax. Owners manual calls for GM fluid, but I did a search online and none of the local parts houses carry it.

[jass1660]

Only two plants in the whole US that make DEF...

[lorenzo]

It doesn’t matter,  it's all the same

[Hot Plug]

I put Motorcraft in my " 6 in a row " truck never ran better 😎 

 

             HP

[Dirt_Floor_Poor]

I get what DEF we need, which isn’t much, from John Deere. 

[bitty]

I only have one Def reliant machine, one too many afaic 

[highcotton]

I use whatever NAPA has on sale. Might be Blue Def, might be NAPA, or Valvoline. 

[vtfireman85]

All I ever see here at all is Blue DEF

[Big Bud guy]

We get our Def from A&I in 300 gal tote.

[cm228]

At work we used to use Cummins Fleetguard def. Now we’re not allowed to use the stuff in stock anymore. We have to buy it with our fuel cards. So I go to the truck side of the truck stop and get it from the pump. It’s been working in our 3500,4500,5500 rams and larger Pete boom trucks

Matt

[jeeper61]

The only problems I have heard of is old stock causing issues with the system

So best to purchase from a place the sells a  high volume of the product 

[mader656]

Whatever town pump has in the bulk pump... ive bought 4.5 gallon in jugs in 2 years now...

[oldscoutdiesel]

I bought a double container (2 x 2.5 gallons) last Spring to use in my '15 Ram and put one in the basement where it's cool.  Didn't need it until last week. The empty container says to store it out of sunlight between 12 and 86 degrees F.  With the basement staying cool and fairly constant all year long I thought it was the best place to not have to worry.

[Dasnake]

Question here, I missed the def boat with my early '07 5.9. But what exactly does it do? And if you do a delete does that entail losing the def needs? And with the full exhaust system on new deezul engines and the need to do regen is it the filters that are for the exhaust that load up and need cleaning. I also understand if you run out of def there are certain shutdowns built in, like small amount of engine starts or going into limp mode.

[SDman]

Its kind of like saying what "brand" of #2 diesel fuel is best.....when it all pretty much comes from the same refinery.

DEF is supposed to all be manufactured to the same spec,...67.5% deionized water and 32.5% liquid urea.  Most newer DEF systems use a quality sensor in the tank so that if that ratio varies very far(about 5% either way), your DEF system will give you warning messages.

As far as shelf life, DEF should easily last 2-3 years if stored properly....out of direct sunlight while stored at room temperature. Properly stored DEF will have a better shelf life than today's diesel fuel or gasoline. My only unusual recommendation is that for those of us in the cold northern climates that deal with seasonal machinery that sits outside in the wintertime(like a combine, for example) is to fully drain the DEF tank before wintertime or else you might get to deal with crystallized DEF next spring.

[Farmall 1466]

3 hours ago, Dasnake said:

But what exactly does it do? And if you do a delete does that entail losing the def needs? And with the full exhaust system on new deezul engines and the need to do regen is it the filters that are for the exhaust that load up and need cleaning. I also understand if you run out of def there are certain shutdowns built in, like small amount of engine starts or going into limp mode.

1. It turns NOx into nitrogen and water.

2. Def delete actually means changing software in your car/tractor etc so it doesnt know its created need for def anymore. So yes, you will not need it anymore.

3. The filters that need regen are the particulate filters. They regen when filed with sooth.

4. Yes, when you run out of def, you either go into limp mode or won't be able to use the machine altogether. My dad his car will just stop when running out of def, not even limp mode. Don't ask how we know...

[SDman]

Diesel engines that run DEF/SCR-only emissions systems generally do not run any regeneration. Current CNH/FPT engines are this way. Diesels that use EGR/DPF emissions systems use regeneration. 

[Diesel Doctor]

Remove the DEF system and you will never trade that vehicle into a dealer.

[lorenzo]

10 hours ago, jeeper61 said:

The only problems I have heard of is old stock causing issues with the system

So best to purchase from a place the sells a  high volume of the product 

It does have a somewhat short shelf life depending on how old it is when you get it.

[cobfly]

4 hours ago, Diesel Doctor said:

Remove the DEF system and you will never trade that vehicle into a dealer.

Doesn't seem to bother dealers in SE Idaho.

[cm228]

I question all the "shelf life" recommendations on DEF.  I work for the Cummins distributor in Harrisburg PA.  A several years ago my service truck was getting some work and I had to drive our spare truck. At the time I believe that truck hadn't moved in over a year. I drove it long enough to have to refill the DEF tank (it was nearly full) any way I did not have any DEF related issues with it, and that's sitting out in all the summer heat which is supposedly the death nell for def.  That truck regularly sat for long periods and it had no issues with DEF.

Matt

[Big Bud guy]

1 hour ago, cm228 said:

I question all the "shelf life" recommendations on DEF.  I work for the Cummins distributor in Harrisburg PA.  A several years ago my service truck was getting some work and I had to drive our spare truck. At the time I believe that truck hadn't moved in over a year. I drove it long enough to have to refill the DEF tank (it was nearly full) any way I did not have any DEF related issues with it, and that's sitting out in all the summer heat which is supposedly the death nell for def.  That truck regularly sat for long periods and it had no issues with DEF.

Matt

Our combines, spreader, and swather go a year between use.  Never had an issue 

[Farmall 1466]

On 10/25/2022 at 2:06 PM, SDman said:

Diesel engines that run DEF/SCR-only emissions systems generally do not run any regeneration. Current CNH/FPT engines are this way. Diesels that use EGR/DPF emissions systems use regeneration. 

Do SCR systems not have a DPF? Than sooth emissions would be way too high to pass emissions tests right?

And EGR/DPF systems do make use of SCR too right? Virtually all new tractors consume AdBlue I think and otherwise NOx emissions would be too high?

So what is the difference?

[bitty]

How much per gallon is Def currently? I saw a pile of 55 barrels sell at auction yesterday for around $200 per barrel plus 5% buyers penalty and 6% tax

[U-C]

none