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JohnArch · 01-11-2023, 06:46 AM

I live in the northeast. I usually store the coach a few miles from my house in an unheated and no electric building. When I bring the coach out in the early spring the DEF is liquid and no problems. I never checked during storage if it freezes. This year I am heading south then to Texas in mid february. The coach is home and plugged in. A few days prior to leaving I plan on turning the floor heat on and then plugging in engine heater if needed. My question is - does the DEF freeze and if so do I just head on out and let the DEF heater ( I think there is some kind of element for heat) thaw the fluid?
2015 Aspire 39E.

Ambetter · 01-11-2023, 07:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnArch

I live in the northeast. I usually store the coach a few miles from my house in an unheated and no electric building. When I bring the coach out in the early spring the DEF is liquid and no problems. I never checked during storage if it freezes. This year I am heading south then to Texas in mid february. The coach is home and plugged in. A few days prior to leaving I plan on turning the floor heat on and then plugging in engine heater if needed. My question is - does the DEF freeze and if so do I just head on out and let the DEF heater ( I think there is some kind of element for heat) thaw the fluid?
2015 Aspire 39E.

Answer to both your questions is yes.
It starts to freeze around 12 degrees and yes head out the heater will take care of it. When you shutdown the pump evacuates the line and tank has room for expansion if/when it freezes. The engine will run fine until it thaws enough to be liquid, which is pretty quick.

**Lt Dan** · 01-11-2023, 07:24 AM

The DEF tank is heated by engine coolant running through tubes in the tank. There is a solenoid valve that's supposed to only allow coolant when the temperatures are cold. A good warmup of the engine should thaw out any DEF in the tank pretty quickly.