High Def Concentration

[lavocat]

Coach has been sitting since late May. Started it up today and had a warning of High DEF concentration. What does this mean and what do I need to do? 2019 Anthem

[757driver]

Originally Posted by lavocat

Coach has been sitting since late May. Started it up today and had a warning of High DEF concentration. What does this mean and what do I need to do? 2019 Anthem

Some of the distilled water has probably evaporated from the def tank thus the high concentration. Drain the tank and fill with fresh def and see if that cures the problem.

[Gary.Jones]

Or a bad sensor

Gary

[757driver]

Originally Posted by Gary.Jones

Or a bad sensor

Gary

With all that can go wrong with this system that is a real possibility.

[lwmcguire]

Unless you are storing/parking outside in direct sunlight you probably have a sensor problem

Very rare issue

[FreshAir]

Might want to take a look at your DEF with a DEF Refractometer and proceed from there.

[JMonroe]

I highly doubt it's due to evaporation, coaches will sit for up to six months at our winter snowbird park and I've not heard of any such problem. I suspect the bad sensor scenario.

[Rollin101]

Originally Posted by JMonroe

I highly doubt it's due to evaporation, coaches will sit for up to six months at our winter snowbird park and I've not heard of any such problem. I suspect the bad sensor scenario.

X2.

[lavocat]

So if it is a bad sensor, can it be driven without a fix?

[Gary.Jones]

Have you talked to Spartan yet about what the implications of a potentially bad sensor reading is yet?

DEF is a serious issue and I have read that a DEF problem can result in engine de-rating and even a shutdown commend if it is ignored too long (I believe that is for someone who runs their DEF down to zero and does not refill.... I think that leads to a very serious problem). Now, for concentration issues, I have no idea, but Spartan or Cummins should be able to tell you how critical it is and how long you have before you run into problems, if at all.... I would want to get the information from "The Horse's Mouth" as they say.... My recommendation is start with Spartan customer service and work your way up to Cummins engineers.

Gary

[Turbojack]

Originally Posted by lavocat

So if it is a bad sensor, can it be driven without a fix?

I would say NO. You may be able to drive for a short time before the motor goes in shutdown or limp mode.

As easy as it is to drain the def and put new in the tank I would do that first before taking to the shop.

[Rollin101]

#1. If you have a $25 refractometer you can check the DEF concentration, no need to drain. #2. I would disconnect the sensors wait a few minutes and reconnect. There was a post on here a couple weeks ago about that fixing a DEF problem.

[TurboDaveTX]

You never know about Spartan sensors. In 2017 headed to Middlebury to pick up new couch then to Norfolk. About 50 miles out got a code that said radiator level was low. Didn’t look low to me. Could see it was full through sight glass. Called EC, they said call Spartan. Couldn’t get anyone so left message. After sitting for an hour on side of I-30 waiting on a call back which I never did get, found there was a Cummins place in Texarkana about 120 miles, so we drove there. Their service guys said this was a fairly common problem, not exactly a leak, but a minute amount of fluid was wicking through the sensor into the wires and corrode the wires and eventually result in a trouble code. They said they had a replacement plug, but not the sensor. They called every truck parts outlet in a 250 mile radius and after talking to Spartan concluded there was no sensor closer than Middlebury. This process consumed about six hours at Texarkana Truck while they waited on a callback from Spartan to say If it was safe to drive. I called EC CS several times and said I was on way to EC and make sure they have the radiator level sensor there to install the next day. Spartan said they have a parts run to EC every day. Spartan finally called back at about 4:00 and said just unplug the radiator sensor that it would be safe to drive. So we left shortly and drove very late and arrived at EC about 1:00 the next day as I had told them. They did the Tijuana two step and ignored me. I finally about 3:00 and nothing, I asked Mike if they had or did not have the sensor. He said he was not sure and would have to speak to the Spartan Techs. The response floored me! They said, yes the had it, and it was a little after 3:00 and they quit 4:00 and it takes longer than an hour to change, so they would look at it the next day. I had an 8:00 appoint with Lambright to install my sofa and needed to be in Norfolk by the end of the next day, so I told the Spartan tech they were blowing smoke up my ... that I could replace it in less than 10 minutes, so they gave me the sensor. I installed it in their parking lot in 7 minutes.

The moral of the story, one really does not know what will happen if there is a sensor alarm! Never had an issue with DEF in my ‘15 CS.

[brobox]

Dave for that reason and a few others, I am sure that is why there is no longer at Spartan Shop at Entegra. I know for a fact, they couldn't align a front end.


I like J.H's idea of resetting the sensors and going from there. Even a call to Cummins if there is a code and see if it's driveable with that code.