Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
RV Trip Planning Discussions

Join iRV2 Today

Mission Statement: Supporting thoughtful exchange of knowledge, values and experience among RV enthusiasts.
Reply
  This discussion is proudly sponsored by:
Please support our sponsors and let them know you heard about their products on iRV2
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 08-27-2014, 09:36 PM   #1
Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 73
DEF question

I see that lots of folks complain about the need to put DEF in their vehicles. Why ? What is it I am not understanding about it ? It does not seem to be expensive , and I don't believe you have to add it often .
jim81147 is offline   Reply With Quote
Join the #1 RV Forum Today - It's Totally Free!

iRV2.com RV Community - Are you about to start a new improvement on your RV or need some help with some maintenance? Do you need advice on what products to buy? Or maybe you can give others some advice? No matter where you fit in you'll find that iRV2 is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!

You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with other RV owners, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create an RV blog, send private messages and so much, much more!

Old 08-27-2014, 10:05 PM   #2
Registered User
 
Outdoors RV Owners Club
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: La Verne, Calif
Posts: 3,649
DEF is about 12$ for 2.5 gal at Wallmart or most auto stores. I use 1 gal every 1000 miles not towing and 1 gal in 500 towing. Truck holds 5.5 gal. It's a non issue with me. My tailpipe is still clean inside. I put out cleaner air than China sends us.
Highway 4x4 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-28-2014, 08:05 AM   #3
Senior Member
 
algolfer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Cameron Park, California
Posts: 156
I think what most people complain about the DEF is the fill location. On many coaches the fill is located on the passenger side. Unfortunately, pumps at truck stops only have the pumps on the driver side and the hose will not reach the passenger side. I and many others carry containers and fill these at the truck stops. When we get to our locations we transfer from the containers to the coach. DEF at truck stops runs between $2.69 - $2.79 per gallon. It would be so much easier if the manufacturers placed the fill on the driver side.
algolfer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-29-2014, 12:49 PM   #4
Senior Member
 
TDI-Minnie's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 1,781
DEF is not much of an issue. DPF and/or EGR are.
They add significant cost to buy and maintain, reduce efficiency and increase engine wear as well as exhaust gas temps.

With DEF, you may still have an EGR. Read about the effects on cylinders as soot is sucked back into the engine. Might as well throw out the air filter (not really).
__________________
Manny & Larissa
2013 Winnebago 2301BH-Red
2012 Ram 2500 Megacab HO CTD
TDI-Minnie is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-29-2014, 12:59 PM   #5
Senior Member
 
Statgeek's Avatar
 
Fleetwood Owners Club
Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 1,579
Send a message via AIM to Statgeek Send a message via MSN to Statgeek Send a message via Yahoo to Statgeek
Personally, I think people like to complain about anything that appears like "government oversight" and/or an "infringement on how it used to be."

I agree that the DEF fill location is on the wrong side of my coach, and that's annoying. But I love that my DP exhaust doesn't stink!! And I like knowing that I am being a little gentler on Monther Nature too. :-)
__________________
2013 Fleetwood Discovery 40G, Cummins ISL,Freightliner Chassis, Allison 3000.
2017 Ford F150 Lariat toad w/
Blue Ox Aventa tow bar and M&G Braking System
Statgeek is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-29-2014, 06:08 PM   #6
Senior Member
 
wingedone's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 190
Quote:
Originally Posted by Statgeek View Post
Personally, I think people like to complain about anything that appears like "government oversight" and/or an "infringement on how it used to be."

I agree that the DEF fill location is on the wrong side of my coach, and that's annoying. But I love that my DP exhaust doesn't stink!! And I like knowing that I am being a little gentler on Monther Nature too. :-)
+1

And my DEF is easy to reach.
__________________
2013 F350 6.7 DRW SC Lariat
2011 Brookstone 354TS
Swivelwheel 58DW w/1993 GL1500SE
wingedone is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-29-2014, 08:09 PM   #7
Registered User
 
Outdoors RV Owners Club
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: La Verne, Calif
Posts: 3,649
That's why you buy a Ram. The DEF filler is right next to the fuel filler. DEF is here to stay.
Highway 4x4 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-30-2014, 05:00 AM   #8
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Huntsville, AL/Helen, GA
Posts: 1,566
DEF filler necks by the diesel fuel filler neck scares me. How many times have you caught yourself thinking about something else at a fuel pump, and almost pumping gasoline into your diesel tank?

The penalty for putting DEF into the diesel tank will be complete replacement of every part in your fuel system, and it's a $12K cab off job. And some insurance companies are picking up the tab.

I just think the DEF filler needs to be completely away from the diesel filler--and it is on some trucks.
Bamaman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-30-2014, 11:39 AM   #9
Registered User
 
Outdoors RV Owners Club
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: La Verne, Calif
Posts: 3,649
Really?? If you put DEF in the fuel tank even though they are next to each other, they do look different, well, you need to re-think your ownership of a diesel. Under the hood there are several things to fill wrong. If the DEF filler is under the hood you might put DEF in the brakes, radiator, windshield washer. If your kid or wife does it for you, all bets are off.
Highway 4x4 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-31-2014, 06:54 AM   #10
Senior Member
 
TDI-Minnie's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 1,781
Quote:
Originally Posted by Statgeek View Post
Personally, I think people like to complain about anything that appears like "government oversight" and/or an "infringement on how it used to be."

I agree that the DEF fill location is on the wrong side of my coach, and that's annoying. But I love that my DP exhaust doesn't stink!! And I like knowing that I am being a little gentler on Monther Nature too. :-)
My position on the politics of it is not quite that strong, but even on my 13 year old gas car, the VAST majority of repair costs and all Check Engine Lights have been a function of emissions system issues. Cost to own over ten years would have been thousands less.

I like to preserve the environment and don't want to stink anything up with my diesel either, but it all comes at a significant price to you, the owner. Specifically, any Tier 4 emssions will add 5-10% to the purchase price, add hundreds of pounds of weight, reduce fuel economy (how's that good for the environment?), and shorten engine life due to higher exhaust gas temps and introducing particulates to the intake cycle via an EGR. Not to mention the raw fuel that gets dumped into a DPF for regeneration, if you have one. The EPA looks the other way when that happens.
Add to all this the fact that a regular mechanic can't work on them anymore without some very expensive diagnostic equipment, and guess who ultimately pays for that... you and me.

It is a catch 22 because I like to promote diesels to my friends as a good option for their cars, trucks, and agricultural/lawn equipment. No one wants an "old", sticky vehicle.
__________________
Manny & Larissa
2013 Winnebago 2301BH-Red
2012 Ram 2500 Megacab HO CTD
TDI-Minnie is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-31-2014, 12:16 PM   #11
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Spicewood, Tx
Posts: 708
Quote:
Originally Posted by Highway 4x4 View Post
Really?? If you put DEF in the fuel tank even though they are next to each other, they do look different, well, you need to re-think your ownership of a diesel.
Do owners that have accidentally pumped gas rather than diesel have to reconsider as well?


Quote:
Originally Posted by Highway 4x4 View Post
Under the hood there are several things to fill wrong. If the DEF filler is under the hood you might put DEF in the brakes, radiator, windshield washer. If your kid or wife does it for you, all bets are off.
True, but all of those mistakes combined will not equal the cost of replacing the entire fuel system, as required, if DEF is put into the fuel tank.

From another angle that most will never consider, NOT having the DEF filler next to the fuel filler is a plus in the aftermarket world. Existing service bodies, ambulance bodies, hauler beds, etc are not set up for the larger dual filler cutout in the body and may lack the space for two fill hoses. When I bought my new truck it was with the full intention of moving the utility body from the '03 to the new truck and I didn't even think about DEF filler location as part of the decision on brand or model. Fortunately it didn't become a problem.
__________________
Larry Day, Texas Baptist Men volunteer
'13 Silverado LT 3500HD D/A CCSB 2wd, custom RKI bed
'19 Starcraft Telluride 292RLS
dayle1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply



Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Sprinter 3500 oil and DEF Manual specs confusion Jembo Sprinter Chassis Forum 8 07-01-2014 12:57 PM
DEF Question donie Forest River Owners Forum 9 05-04-2014 09:15 AM
DEF (Diesel Exhaust Fluid) Question BamBoom Newmar Owner's Forum 5 03-26-2014 12:10 AM
Where to buy DEF - cheap. danleininger Class A Motorhome Discussions 23 03-14-2014 06:46 PM
2014 Dutch Star DEF Question jimfryar Newmar Owner's Forum 25 12-16-2013 05:44 PM

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 07:44 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.