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Old 04-29-2014, 10:46 AM   #1
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DEF Question

We have a 2013 Berkshire 360 QL with a 340 HP Cummins.
I believe the D.E.F. tank is ten gallon capacity.
On our current trip, we used between quarter to half a tank DEF.
I added three gallons to the tank.
We re heading home from Texas to Calif.
Question I have is should the tank have enough until we get home or should I get a couple of gallons extra?
This is the first pusher we have owned so the DEF is something totally new to me.
Thanks.
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Old 04-29-2014, 11:26 AM   #2
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Quote:
Originally Posted by donie View Post
We have a 2013 Berkshire 360 QL with a 340 HP Cummins.
I believe the D.E.F. tank is ten gallon capacity.
On our current trip, we used between quarter to half a tank DEF.
I added three gallons to the tank.
We re heading home from Texas to Calif.
Question I have is should the tank have enough until we get home or should I get a couple of gallons extra?
This is the first pusher we have owned so the DEF is something totally new to me.
Thanks.
2.5 gallons to every 100 gallons of diesel.
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Old 04-29-2014, 11:31 AM   #3
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How much diesel fuel did you consume? Cummins suggests about 2% of the diesel consumed. So, if you burned 100 gallons of diesel, about 2 gallons of DEF. That's a rough estimate, they do have a DEF calculator:

Fleetguard Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) Usage Calculator
The 2% estimate comes from this brochure from Cummins:

http://www.cumminsfiltration.com/pdf...es/MB10033.pdf
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Old 04-30-2014, 07:19 AM   #4
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Thanks for the replies.
Now, I know how figure how much was used and how much to keep on hand when traveling.
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Old 04-30-2014, 07:31 AM   #5
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As stated previously DEF usage will be about 2+ gal per 100 gal of fuel. DEF has a storage life of one year. So unless your planning on storing your MH for more than a year go ahead and fill the DEF tank up and don't worry it. Treat your DEF tank same as your fuel tank. At 1/4 fill it up.
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Old 04-30-2014, 08:39 AM   #6
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DEF consumption largely depends on how hard the engine has to work like driving in thee mountains or towing etc. It can vary a lot. The one important thing is to compare prices I've seen differences of up to 1000%, not kidding.
Always carry some in a dedicated container on board, that's it.
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Old 05-03-2014, 09:05 PM   #7
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What I plan on doing is refilling a couple of one gal. DEF bottles I have now.
Would refilling empty D E F bottles hurt anything?
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Old 05-03-2014, 09:28 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by donie View Post
What I plan on doing is refilling a couple of one gal. DEF bottles I have now.
Would refilling empty D E F bottles hurt anything?
No problem.
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Old 05-03-2014, 09:31 PM   #9
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Appreciate the replies.
Thanks.
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Old 05-04-2014, 09:15 AM   #10
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Great questions and info in this thread.

DEF consumption varies from 2-4% depending on various conditions like ambient temp, load, altitude, etc.

Reusing DEF containers is a good way to "adapt" to the current DEF infrastructure which is optimized for commercial trucking.

Some guidelines for reusing containers:

  • Rinse once a year with distilled water.
  • Be very careful with caps that have paper seals - these degrade and can cause contamination. Look for a jug with a poly foam seal.
  • Keep the container sealed up at all times with the cap, not the spout.
  • Don't use the container for anything else ever.
  • If DEF seems to just trickle out of the nozzle, you are at a location that uses the magnetic interlock nozzle. It'd possible to tease the nozzle to get it to flow, but there are magnets available: The 21Gu DEF Nozzle by OPW Sometimes the station will have one you can borrow.
  • Rinse your spout once in a while with distilled water. Keep the nozzle or funnel you use in a sealed bag like a ziplock.
Visit our website if you want more info on DEF and reusable containers. As always, please consider us an IRV2 resource for DEF. Feel free to ask us anything about DEF.

Erich

Note: I'm working on an inexpensive version of that 21GU magnet ring.
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