DEF expiration date?

[jvbuttex]

Might be a silly question, but is there a shelf life to DRF fluid? I know its urea and DI water mix. Will they seperate and come out of suspension after period of time.

Reason asking, Local NAPA has it this month for $10 a box. Great price from the other Autozones / Schucks / auto shops. Is it worth buying up 3-5 boxes to save $4-5 ea?

In case your wondering, in the 4 weeks owning the truck i have gone through 4 tanks of fuel ( 35g) and 1 - 2.5g bottle of DEF. So it seems i will use 2.5g every month or so with current driving condition.

thx
jim

 

[SouthTexan]

It depends on the temperature it was stored in and whether or not it was in direct sunlight for any period of time. Below is a snip from my Cummins dealer website.

DEF is always much cheaper and fresher from the pump at a truck stop. Last time I got DEF at the pump it was $3 a gallon.

 

[Thorny]

I did see an expiration date on the DEF being sold at Murdochs. I don't see this on some other bottles. FYI, 2.5g of DEF at Walmart runs about $9

 

[jvbuttex]

ok, maybe i dont stock pile any, well maybe 1 extra. I dont pass the truck stop in my path, so getting at the pump isn't an option. thanks for input.

 

[spoon059]

Yes it has a shelf life. I wouldn't stock pile any. I highly doubt you've gone through 2.5 gallons in a month unless you are towing heavy and often. The DEF gauge isn't really a gauge at all. When it shows half, it may be more or less. I don't touch it until it tells me I'm 250 miles to empty, then I fill it up from a pump if possible. On my longer trips (1800 miles towing), I'll have to fill up 3/4 of the way through the trip. Most of the time for local driving and local camping trips I can go 9 or 10 months without needing to refill.

 

[GTyankee]

I don't buy BLUE DEF $12.87 2.5 gallon
i go to Walmart & buy Supertech DEF $7,88 & tax 2.5 gallon jug

DEF has a shelf life of 1 year, IF it is not stored in a heated area, & kept away from Sun light

The date is displayed right in front of you, they don't hide it

Walmart goes through all their DEF rather fast, it does not have a chance to get old, but check the date for your self
For some reason the jugs always have a white dust like powder on them, i just grab the cleanest jugs

I have bought it at Walmart since mid 2016

It is made of synthetic *****, if you ever *** in it, expect the engine to shut down quickly

effing bot, worse than my grandmother used to be