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M2D · 01-28-2015, 08:16 AM

Our F350 diesel dually is new. WE are on our first long trip with the truck pulling our 35 foot fifth wheel.

Our truck is so new that we are not yet up to the first oil change at 5,000 miles. We did the break in mileage as instructed before towing and for the first recommended miles while towing.

Our DEF warning came on. Our manual says that the truck uses more DEF when you are towing. We had been fueling at truck stops while towing but were at a regular gas station with just the truck to buy diesel. DH bought two one gallon containers of DEF and poured them into the tank. The warning did not reset but I looked online and saw that others have said that it can take a while for the warning to reset or it may need a bit more DEF to reset it. Somehow or other we had the idea that the DEF tank held 2 and 1/2 gallons.

We got to Jensen Beach and DH decided to talk to the local Ford dealer as the warning was doing a countdown as to how many more miles we could drive without adding DEF. It was acting as though we had never put any into the tank.

The dealer put it on the computer and was informed that the DEF tank is 7 and 1/2 gallons. You need to fill it at least halfway to reset the warning.

Now if we had refilled at a truck stop the pump would have made it obvious that the tank is 7 and 1/2 gallons large. The Ford dealership had several diesels for sale but did not know off the top of their heads about this. It was smart of them to test it out on the computer as it could have been a bad sensor. DH was told that if you buy the DEF containers from Ford their spout will respond to the tank being full and stop pouring just in case you are afraid off overfilling.

Live and Learn,

M2D

M2D · 01-28-2015, 08:53 AM

Want to add that we are very happy with our truck so far. The tow haul and the exhaust brake worked well in hilly situations. We came across on 84 from the Boston, MA area to 81 and then 77 and 26 to 95 to arrive in Jensen Beach FL.

M2D

jesilvas · 01-28-2015, 09:29 AM

Good info, but what truck is this? You said F350 dually, but does it have a short or long pickup bed, or is it a cab and chassis truck (C&C)?

M2D · 01-28-2015, 01:27 PM

It is a long bed with crew cab.

M2D

SmokeyWren · 01-28-2015, 05:47 PM

Ford stopped selling the shorty dually pickup several years ago. And the shortest chassis cab SuperDuty is longer than a longbed dually pickup with the same cab.

Bamaman · 01-31-2015, 05:15 PM

You should be very careful anytime you add fuel or DEF to your truck. On a Ford, the filler necks are next to each other.

If you ever put any DEF into your diesel tank, it will set up hard--like a rock. It's about a $12K job to pull the cab and replace every fuel line, fuel pump, HPOP and injectors.

It's just so easy to get talking or just not paying attention around a fuel pump--and not pay attention to what you're doing.

mo5er · 01-31-2015, 06:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bamaman

You should be very careful anytime you add fuel or DEF to your truck. On a Ford, the filler necks are next to each other.

If you ever put any DEF into your diesel tank, it will set up hard--like a rock. It's about a $12K job to pull the cab and replace every fuel line, fuel pump, HPOP and injectors.

It's just so easy to get talking or just not paying attention around a fuel pump--and not pay attention to what you're doing.

Guess I'm liking the DEF filler under the hood on the Chevy

Gordon Dewald · 01-31-2015, 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mo5er

Guess I'm liking the DEF filler under the hood on the Chevy

Can never win. I am annoyed that I have to move the coach to fill the DEF tank. Have to be careful as I have had a couple semis follow me as I moved forward thinking I was done filling. Now I leave the door to the DEF compartment open so they know I am not going far.

Opening the hood to put in DEF at a truck stop would require you to fill the DEF first or back up as the DEF is generally the first pump. PITA to have to move.