PEAK Blue DEF Platinum: Any Issues?

[nlambert182]

That really depends. While the Ram is in warranty, they will not work on it UNLESS it is preauthorized through Ram because the ECMs are shipped to Ram blank and are programmed using FCA/Stellantis software. That's absolutely true. They sometimes "can", but it requires a lot of red tape.

However, when it comes to the mechanical aspect, Ram still files warranty through Cummins if there are mechanical failures in the Cummins system. This is why you have multiple warranties on a diesel Ram. The Cummins warranty is extended through Ram.

Once the warranty is out, Cummins will work on anything at your expense. International can and does do Cummins warranty work and they really don't care what truck it is. When I worked for the International dealership we had the software for Ford, Ram, and GM.

If you REALLY want to make it confusing.... remember when Sterling made the Bullet? It was a rebadged 4500/5500 Ram with a Cummins engine. Getting warranty repairs done on that truck was difficult. Sterling tried to handle everything in their dealerships, but certain things had to get approved for repair through Ram, some through Cummins, and some through the body builder. We worked on quite a lot of those trucks because the Sterling dealer here wasn't an authorized Cummins repair facility. Talk about a mess.

 

[06 Dodge]

A Cummins Repair Facility often turn away Ram Diesels

They claim that Ram have their own proprietary software, therefore it is not a Cummins Engine
But the Engine was produced by them

If you stop at an International Repair Facility, you will see Ram Diesels being worked on.

I agree with you, I tried once to get a Cummins dealer to work on my 2006 not under warranty and was told no can do as they can not hook up to an read the Dodge/FCA proprietary software...

 

[GTyankee]

When you think about it .....
most of the mechanics at a Cummins Shop, likely have the Electronic Tools to work on almost Every vehicle made.

But they can not use them at work

These days, almost everyone does side jobs

 

[Units]

My 2024 Ram uses 2.5 gallons of def every 1000 miles pulling my horse trailer. Twice as much as my 2018 Duramax did. Stupid.

More DEF = less EGR. Better for the motor.

 

[miketx]

I own a 2016. I ran Blue Def for the first 66,000, no problems. Then my DEF light came on. I was under warranty. I took it to the dealer ( Perry Dodge in National City, Ca. They dropped the Def tank to clean it and said there were “ fibers” in it. They asked what was running, and I said Blue Def. They said blue def is not in the warranty and charged me $1100 for the job, and told me to run stock Mopar Def. I have ever since and have 148,000 miles now, no problem. Mophar Def wasn’t much more than Blue Def. My Def light has never come back in either.

That's a load of horse hockey. They nailed you due to "fibers" (most FCA warranties state if fluids are "dirty", the warranty is voided). "Dirty" covers a ton of situations, and not all are valid. I'd demand to see the fibers. DEF is just water and urea. Walmart or Blue DEF is just as good as Mopar.

 

[OLEJOE]

36k miles on 100% Walmart $8.88 per 2.5 gallon jug.

 

[Bramic71]

36k miles on 100% Walmart $8.88 per 2.5 gallon jug.

Wow. That looks unbelievably good

 

[OLEJOE]

Wow. That looks unbelievably good

That’s exactly how it looked when I pulled it out. I didn’t clean it up any.

 

[Grams]

One thing on the DEF fluid people seldom talk about is that it starts breaking down in temps over 80 degrees -- or at least that is the info I received when I started looking into it.
That means if you are buying it where those temps are above that limit for the whole summer (of which PHX is for about 4 months of the year), you are not getting what you think you are.

Granted this info is 3 years old and things might have changed but I doubt it...

I think that's the reason I was told NOT to buy it from Truck stops.

Those are all points I believe to be correct.

Avoid often “topping up” your DEF tank. USE AS MUCH as possible before refilling…. in order to reduce the amount of “aged” or “old” DEF in your tank. FRESH DEF is what you want to maintain.

Heat, Long-Storage, Old fluid are your enemy.

(BTW, this advice contradicts what Rislone suggests. Rislone suggests to never let your DEF tank get “low”. But that advice seems to me to encourage some fluid to become old…merely adding a little bit … a little at a time. I believe it’s best to use it up …just don’t run “out”. When I get a 100 mile remaining msg…or below 1/8 tank… I refill it. This has worked very well for me so-far.)

I also believe that all DEF from reputable sources meets the same ISO standard…(You’ll see that on the jug you select)….Including the WalMart/SuperTech stuff that sells for less than $10 for 2.5 gals. That’s what I’ve used for the last year and a half and had no problems whatsoever.

 

[OLEJOE]

I fill mine when it gets to 1/4 tank on the gauge which a 2.5 gallon jug brings it up to 3/4 on the gauge.

 

[06 Dodge]

Those are all points I believe to be correct.

Avoid often “topping up” your DEF tank. USE AS MUCH as possible before refilling…. in order to reduce the amount of “aged” or “old” DEF in your tank. FRESH DEF is what you want to maintain.

Heat, Long-Storage, Old fluid are your enemy.

(BTW, this advice contradicts what Rislone suggests. Rislone suggests to never let your DEF tank get “low”. But that advice seems to me to encourage some fluid to become old…merely adding a little bit … a little at a time. I believe it’s best to use it up …just don’t run “out”. When I get a 100 mile remaining msg…or below 1/8 tank… I refill it. This has worked very well for me so-far.)

I also believe that all DEF from reputable sources meets the same ISO standard…(You’ll see that on the jug you select)….Including the WalMart/SuperTech stuff that sells for less than $10 for 2.5 gals. That’s what I’ve used for the last year and a half and had no problems whatsoever.

I have used Walmart DEF for 4 years now without problems, as you said all DEF has to meet ISO standards, I recall DEF has to be 32.5% urea the rest I believe is distilled water

 

[Grams]

I have used Walmart DEF for 4 years now without problems, as you said all DEF has to meet ISO standards, I recall DEF has to be 32.5% urea the rest I believe is distilled water

De-Ionized. (different than merely distilled)

 

[06 Dodge]

De-Ionized. (different than merely distilled)

Woops, I made a big mistake, not sure why I wrote distilled, guess it was a brain fart...

 

[Grams]

Woops, I made a big mistake, not sure why I wrote distilled, guess it was a brain fart...

BTDT myself