Exhaust Fluid for a Diesel

BrianM

BrianM

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 10, 2009
Location
Burlington NC
Test drove a new truck and looked under the hood. Seen a place for exhaust fluid. Seriously? Sounds like turn signal fluid to me.
 
yep seriously...DEF (urea) is injected into the exhaust stream and processed in the SCR (selective catalyst reduction) muffler. The ammonia (NH3) in DEF mixes with typical exhaust nitrogen oxides (NOX...ie smog) to form water vapor (H20) and pure nitrogen (N2...~70% of the earths's atmosphere). NOX reduction was mandated on diesel engines by the US EPA for 2010, been keeping me busy at work for at least 6 years now :D
 
On the 6.7 powerstroke, if you let it run out of def it will stay at idle until it is filled. And before that it it will limit your speed before completely running out.
 
Good thread, I've been wondering about this stuff lately too.

Is this (DEF) here to stay? Just wondering if this is how it is likely to be for the forseeable future or if there is some other technology on the horizon? I'm toying with buying a new diesel and didn't want to get something that no one wants 5 years from now when some other technology comes along and makes the DEF using motors something no one wants.

Also, do the big diesel tractor-trailer trucks use this or are they exempt? Is it available on a pump (I haven't seen it yet but haven't really been looking) or is this stuff a jug only product?
 
I've seen them on the new tractor trailers and the truck stop near me advertises there price don't know if it's at there pumps but they did just redo all their pumps so I would assume that it is. On a f-350 I think your suppose to fill the tank for it every oil change but I could be wrong


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Most all big trucks are running it now da6s but its been around for a while. Daimler trucks have used it in Europe for years. And at alot of truck stops theres an additional pump next to the diesel pump for the def.
 
5 gals in my F650 will last around 4000 miles
& the F550 at work is about the same
& the F250 at work is about 5 gals every 5000 miles
 
Last Thursday I was talking to a truck driver about this while he was filling his DEF tank from a 250gal bulk cube on the freight dock, his Freightshaker gets 3500mi out a 20-22gal DEF fill, and they keep their own supply of DEF on hand as the cost is half what the pump price is at the truck stops.
 
So what does a gallon of this stuff cost?

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GREENCHEROKEE said:
So what does a gallon of this stuff cost?

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Click to expand...

Kenly Flying J is advertising DEF at the pump at $2.799, as are most in NC
 
Great Info!! Dumb question after some googling. I see my local Flying J has DEF bulk pumps advertized. Cool! But I suspect they mean these are on the commercial side of the truck stop for the big rigs. Can individuals with a pick-up pull into those lanes to fill up with DEF? Maybe a dumb question, but I wouldn't want to get in the way of the truckers if I am not supposed to be there.
 
benmack1 said:
Great Info!! Dumb question after some googling. I see my local Flying J has DEF bulk pumps advertized. Cool! But I suspect they mean these are on the commercial side of the truck stop for the big rigs. Can individuals with a pick-up pull into those lanes to fill up with DEF? Maybe a dumb question, but I wouldn't want to get in the way of the truckers if I am not supposed to be there.
Click to expand...
I fill my Dodge Ram up with diesel in the big rig side, DEF should be OK too. Honestly, I've never noticed a DEF pump at any places I fill up though. I have seen it in AutoZone and NAPA.
 
benmack1 said:
Great Info!! Dumb question after some googling. I see my local Flying J has DEF bulk pumps advertized. Cool! But I suspect they mean these are on the commercial side of the truck stop for the big rigs. Can individuals with a pick-up pull into those lanes to fill up with DEF? Maybe a dumb question, but I wouldn't want to get in the way of the truckers if I am not supposed to be there.
Click to expand...
I pull my VW Passat into those lanes, and other than the strange looks and "you know that's a diesel pump" comments, its never been an issue. But I also have never seen the DEF pumps. Never looked though.
 
benmack1 said:
Good thread, I've been wondering about this stuff lately too.

Is this (DEF) here to stay? Just wondering if this is how it is likely to be for the forseeable future or if there is some other technology on the horizon? I'm toying with buying a new diesel and didn't want to get something that no one wants 5 years from now when some other technology comes along and makes the DEF using motors something no one wants.

Also, do the big diesel tractor-trailer trucks use this or are they exempt? Is it available on a pump (I haven't seen it yet but haven't really been looking) or is this stuff a jug only product?
Click to expand...

I am an exhaust system engineer for Volvo/Mack trucks. DEF usage started in January of 2010 due to the new EPA mandates. I am not aware of any plans to eliminate or replace the usage of DEF in the future, and I typically work on projects up to 5 years before they go into production.
 
drkelly said:
I am an exhaust system engineer for Volvo/Mack trucks. DEF usage started in January of 2010 due to the new EPA mandates. I am not aware of any plans to eliminate or replace the usage of DEF in the future, and I typically work on projects up to 5 years before they go into production.
Click to expand...


Great info. Thanks. Awesome to have an expert on this on the forum.
 
The company I work for builds the DEF tanks that hold the fluid. We build tanks for mostly agriculture equipment. So I'm guessing DEF is going to be mandated for all diesels.
 
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