Walmart DEF

[jerry davis]

Originally Posted by wagonmaster2

How do those testers work? Are you able to check the DEF in the store without removing the seal?

Of course not. You buy the jugs and take them home and test them prior to use. The chance of getting a bad jug is remote. Testing is just good insurance for us paranoid folk.

[blahargoue]

I am not knocking Walmart's Super Tech DEF. I have successfully used that product for a couple of years. That is until 3 months ago. I added 5 gallons of Super Tech (containers were sealed) to my 8 gallon DEF tank on my pick up. 15 miles later I threw a code that SCR system was below efficiency standards.

My research indicated that it was likely caused by weak DEF. I drained the DEF tank and refilled with 5 gallons of Peak (local NAPA store had on sale). I reset the code with my scan tool and 7000 miles later the trouble code has not returned.

Moral to the story. Learn to read the date codes on the containers. DEF starts to loose strength after about 6 months. DEF is required to consist of 32.5% pharmaceutical grade urea and 67.5% de-ionized water. If the mixture degrades to less than 25% urea, most truck will throw a code.

Lesson 2. Get a tester like others have said.

[FLJOE]

Originally Posted by blahargoue

I am not knocking Walmart's Super Tech DEF. I have successfully used that product for a couple of years. That is until 3 months ago. I added 5 gallons of Super Tech (containers were sealed) to my 8 gallon DEF tank on my pick up. 15 miles later I threw a code that SCR system was below efficiency standards.

My research indicated that it was likely caused by weak DEF. I drained the DEF tank and refilled with 5 gallons of Peak (local NAPA store had on sale). I reset the code with my scan tool and 7000 miles later the trouble code has not returned.

Moral to the story. Learn to read the date codes on the containers. DEF starts to loose strength after about 6 months. DEF is required to consist of 32.5% pharmaceutical grade urea and 67.5% de-ionized water. If the mixture degrades to less than 25% urea, most truck will throw a code.

Lesson 2. Get a tester like others have said.

……..or......just purchase fresh bulk DEF when you fuel up at the truck stop in the first place. Just pointing out a cheaper, more convenient option.

[grindstone01]

Originally Posted by FLJOE

……..or......just purchase fresh bulk DEF when you fuel up at the truck stop in the first place. Just pointing out a cheaper, more convenient option.

How do you determine the date on the bulk DEF?

[Milford 47]

Used DEF since we had to

Never a problem and back when it wasn't readily available at every store or station we carried spare jugs in the tool box

Usually once per year we took the battle worn jug out and used it

At that point probably 1.5 years old stored in the tool compartment

Sealed jugs aren't going to change the percentage of pure water versus urea

It is extremely water soluble and sealed with no way for evaporation or condensation nothing changes

Lots of urban legends out there

[PanJH]

Originally Posted by Milford 47

Used DEF since we had to

Never a problem and back when it wasn't readily available at every store or station we carried spare jugs in the tool box

Usually once per year we took the battle worn jug out and used it

At that point probably 1.5 years old stored in the tool compartment

Sealed jugs aren't going to change the percentage of pure water versus urea

It is extremely water soluble and sealed with no way for evaporation or condensation nothing changes

Lots of urban legends out there

Every DEF manufacturer/retailer claims a shelf life of 1-2 years. Cummins also says the same ( see below) so I guess they all have been sucked in by your urban legend. If you really want to delve into it, get a copy of ISO 22241-3 as referenced by Cummins....


Q. What is the shelf life of DEF?
A. The shelf life of DEF is a function of ambient storage temperature. DEF will degrade over time
depending on temperature and exposure to sun light. Expectations for shelf life as defined by ISO Spec
22241-3 are the minimum expectations for shelf life when stored at constant temperatures. If stored
between 10 and 90 deg F, shelf life will easily be one year. If the maximum temperature does not exceed
approximately 75 deg F for an extended period of time, the shelf life will be two years.

[nvs4602]

Good price on DEF

https://www.ruralking.com/terracair-...id-2-5-gallons

[NCC-1701A]

I just purchased two jugs of the Tech DEF from my local Wal-Mart. Of the dozen or so jugs on the shelf, only two were fully sealed under the cap. Every jug, except those two, had the white residue spots on them, which IMO indicates that in shipping and handling, some small amount of DEF fluid comes out of the unsealed cap and then dries on the container. I also noticed that at least half of the jugs had no date markings on them at all. Fortunately the two fully sealed jugs had date codes < 6 months old.

I'll continue to buy this DEF, but I will also continue to thoroughly scour through the jugs to be sure they are sealed and date coded.

[grindstone01]

Originally Posted by NCC-1701A

I just purchased two jugs of the Tech DEF from my local Wal-Mart. Of the dozen or so jugs on the shelf, only two were fully sealed under the cap. Every jug, except those two, had the white residue spots on them, which IMO indicates that in shipping and handling, some small amount of DEF fluid comes out of the unsealed cap and then dries on the container. I also noticed that at least half of the jugs had no date markings on them at all. Fortunately the two fully sealed jugs had date codes < 6 months old.

I'll continue to buy this DEF, but I will also continue to thoroughly scour through the jugs to be sure they are sealed and date coded.

I believe the broken seals are from paranoid shoppers that keep taking the caps off. Walmart needs to put the DEF into locked cabinets like they do with some paint spray cans.

[NCC-1701A]

Originally Posted by grindstone01

I believe the broken seals are from paranoid shoppers that keep taking the caps off. Walmart needs to put the DEF into locked cabinets like they do with some paint spray cans.

You make a valid point. I even wondered that myself as I unscrewed tops checking and maybe even doing that "damage." But the two I purchased had the seals VERY solidly attached...in fact when I opened them to pour them in, the "glued on" part of the to partially stayed there attached. So if it's true that unscrewing the tops is doing it, I'd say TECH needs a more consistent attachment process for their seal because it's not working well on a majority of their containers.

[Ricci]

Hi - I've not had a great deal of trouble with broken seals but I do get upset that many are not getting date codes on the container. It is a requirement as far as I know. On the other hand they do fly off the shelves rather quickly. I just don't buy one that is missing the date code.



Tom

[tednruthy]

Originally Posted by lenny-shawna

Alot! I average between 6-8 mpg and drive between 15-18,000 miles per year. My most "pita" thing to do is fill the def as for some reason the engineers who have never spent time camping in an rv put the fill on the passenger side only.

I've used the Wall-mart def when I must but even with the spout I still need a funnel as I can't empty the jug.

I prefer to fill at the truck stops and when I find a fairly empty station I pull in backwards or opposite of the truckers so after getting diesel I pull up then fill the def. Obviously this only works when the station isn't too busy.

I usually have to fill via a 2 1/2 gallon gas can that I fill at the pump then top off the def, and I again need a long funnel due to the location of the fill neck.

I put 2 def spouts together end to end and taped the joint to keep it from coming apart. I keep this double spout with the two ends stuck inside each other (a circle) in my peg board compartment. I use this to fill. That way the jug sets on top of the open door of the DEF compartment and the hose reaches the tank. When done I shake out the excess DEF being sure not to get it on the coach or anything else that it can corrode. Works for me...

[Milford 47]

I usually get mine at MENARDS if not full from truck stops



The only reason I prefer to not use the truck stops is the mess at the pump and having to pull forward

DEF is stable for years if out of the sun and sealed

[fqberful]

Originally Posted by Ricci

Hi - I've not had a great deal of trouble with broken seals but I do get upset that many are not getting date codes on the container. It is a requirement as far as I know. On the other hand they do fly off the shelves rather quickly. I just don't buy one that is missing the date code.



Tom

We don't full time so I just order 6 jugs at a time and get free next day delivery from the warehouse not the store shelves. Everything much better condition.


The last couple deliveries all had date codes and were only about 1 month old. Note the date code is manufacture date.