DEF usage ?

[jadocs]

No idea, I added 1 jug of DEF and it brought the level up 1/4.

 

[BennyHanna]

I have been tracking my DEF usage pretty regularly. When I drive around town, or pull my camper I use much more. When I cruise down the highway, it seems to do much better. Which should be pretty obvious. Our trucks are designed to run on 3% DEF.

Lets look at some real world numbers though.

At 12,739 miles I had to fill my DEF again. I put in almost 2 full jugs (5 gallons). I'll call it 5 gallons as it was close enough. That puts me as adding 12.5 gallons total since I bought the truck new. Or about 1019 mpg of DEF. We should be burning about 3% DEF and 97% Diesel. So doing the math on it I should have burned only 416.67 gallons of diesel which would yield ~30.5 mpg of diesel. I wish I was getting that.

According to Fuel Log Pro over the course of 12503 miles (didn't start tracking until after my first fill-up), I have averaged 16.7 mpg. Extrapolating that out for the full life of my truck I have used 762.81 gallons of fuel total. This means that my truck has only been burning about 1.64% DEF which is half of what it is designed to use.

So why so little? My guess is that 90% or more of my miles are spent on the highway with cruise control set. I make a conscious effort to try and get the best economy as possible (I've made 200 mile trips where the display read 29mpg).

 

[ceide4489]

I have 3100km on my 2014 and the DEF gauge has not moved off of full yet

My dealer says should get 10-15000 km

 

[Synister]

When I picked up my 2013 it had about 3/4 of a tank. The dealer did not fill it up but they did give me 2.5 gallons worth that they brought out from the service department so I was happy. Anyway truck now has 7500 miles, I waited until the tank was at 1/4 before I added the 2.5 gallons, that brought it up to 3/4 of a tank. Now it is back at 1/4 tank. So long story short I have approximately used up 5 gallons in 7500 miles.

 

[ceide4489]

I am up to 6000km (3800 mile roughly) and about 1/3 of tank so far but have never added any. All was no pulling excpet for 125 miles where pulled 5000lb trailer

 

[younggeezer]

It's good to know, I've got about 1100 miles on mine and the gauge hasn't moved yet.

 

[ceide4489]

I am up to 7700Km and just under half a tank not so I would say 12000km or so out of tank

I will add small jug and see how much it comes up

 

[Kenny kustom]

When I bought mine, it was right on empty ( along with the fuel tank)
I moaned a little, and they gave me one jug. It brought it right up to full.

I have just over 4km on it, and the gauge is just over half.

So I bought another jug.
It took ALMOST the whole jug.

I think the gauge is a bit off. Lol

 

[jayhuc]

Also guys, look at the UREA%....
UREA is the important part. DEF mostly water. I have seen some DEF from gas stations with under 20% UREA.
I work at a MACK truck dealer. Mack warranty is void if anything under 30% urea is used. This is checked by a refractometer.

Also to save money, Companys will buy 100% urea drum. And dilute themselfs.

The picuture attached shows the UREA % in bottom right.

 

[ceide4489]

If not 32.5 it wont work but I dont think you can find any other percentage and if under 32.5 the truck will throw codes. I have looked everywhere and cant find any with out that concentration anywhere

I would be very surprised to see any under 30 or for that matter anything other than 32.5

 

[hounddog]

I burned 3/4 tank of def last summer in 2600 miles. Most of it consumed on three trips pulling my TH, approx 6K lbs. Went an additional 3500 miles after refilling, and burned 1/3 tank not pulling. So I could see 10k between refills, but she sure the hell aint gonna do it pulling 14k.

Both mine have been nearly identical of each other; about 1400-1500 miles per half tank at about 30/70 hauling/not hauling.

Frankly, it's just another scam perpetrated on the American People by our Chairman and his anti-diesel campaign via EPA/DEQ to punish those of us who understand diesel is thee most efficient means of operating combustion engines.

 

[ceide4489]

Im geting about 4000 miles per half tank

I have now got 6000 miles have added 1 9.46 liter jug and am at 3/4 of a tank

 

[CumminsTxBoy89]

I'm looking at purchasing a 13-14 ram 2500 Cummins, my question I have read this pretty thoroughly my question is where do you get DEF from and where you do fill it up at?

 

[ceide4489]

easy to buy almost anf fuel station will carry and fill cap right bside diesel fill

 

[Cummins Powered]

I've seen def at the pump stations in other states, have not seen any in Tx. You can pick def at any auto parts store, Wal-Mart, and even at Sams club.

 

[CumminsTxBoy89]

Okay that's good to know. The def is more used when towing correct?

Do you still have to do the traditional floor it and blow out the soot? I've read where the new rams have a passive and active system on it.

I'm just trying to learn as much I possibly can.

 

[ceide4489]

I read somewhere works out to around 2-3% of fuel consumption so yes more when towing

I have just added my second jug each being 9.46 liters (2.5 US gallons)

So I have added 5 gallons and I am full the truck has 11476km (7172.5 miles)

So mine has been 1434.5miles per gallon

 

[CumminsTxBoy89]

Wow that's good to know.

Do you still have to give it the gold of punch it and watch black smoke roll? I've read where some have said yes and some have said no.

 

[Valhakar]

I thought my usage was way too much at first at 3300 miles I had used nearly 15 gallons! However I found the formula below on the Cummins site and the RAM site. Depending on load you will use 1-3%, more in extreme towing. I tow a 5th wheel up mountains so I went with 3%

The formula is this:

(MPY/MPG) x 0.03

Miles per year divided by miles per gallon
You then multiply by 0.0.3 ( 3%)

I simply replaced MPY with my current miles driven as the truck is new.

(3325 Miles Divided by 8 MPG) X 3% = 12.46 gallons of DEF So, using 14 gallons considering the mountains, its right on the high side of the targeted use rate. Truck is new so I hope to see it get better over time.

 

[Rotzilla]

Doing the math I have to agree, that is pretty accurate, good find.