how do you know if the DEF you buy for your truck is good?
- Thread starter roy2
- Start date
RoadJunkie
Well-known member
Dahillbilly
Well-known member
of late I've been buying DEF in the truck lanes out of the pump, way less expensive than in the boxes. Never have seen an expiration date on a box
RoadJunkie
Well-known member
Decoding DEF date code:
NYSUPstater
Well-known member
I too buy mine at the diesel pump when needed. based on my driving and miles per year, I usually only get it couple times/year. So probly sits in truck longer than it does at fuel stop. No probs.
well roadjunkie i love your second answer there first one i dont think id ever use that.its a wonder why dont they just put the date on it when they make it .oh well never understand it.and also you still dont know were its been sitting in the heat or cold.at least i know when they made it now and ill hope it didnt sit in the sun some were. thanks again thanks all of you guys trying to help me out.
centerline
Well-known member
there is NO brand of diesel exhaust fluid that is better than another, EXCEPT in the event of OLD fluid that has been stored in a warm location for too long...
it is a specific formulation that the emissions need to work as designed, and the expiration date on DEF means very little to the engine or emissions.... and the systems have sensors that will inform you if the def fluid is not up to par, BUT this doesnt mean bad DEF cant be ran until you use it down and refill the tank.... its just telling you that its time to use it up in a hurry.
if DEF is stored in a cool, temperature stabile place that never exceeds 60degrees, it will outlast its expiration date many times over, but when the DEF is stored in a warehouse on the upper shelves when it can get relatively warm, it can degrade, but never within its expiration date, which is a conservative amount of time....
and some vehicles will set for several months in extremely hot weather, without the def fluid going bad.... so there is nothing to worry about except the cost one has to pay for it, and if you call around, you can find it rather cheap at some high volume outlets....
we have been paying $7.50 for a 2 gallon container of it, but we usually buy 10-15 containers at a time.... some places sell it for twice that..... and the BLUE brand is generally the most expensive, but it is no better or worse than the cheapest brand on the market... its just that the marketing it better so that you feel compelled to give THEM more of your money for the SAME product that is filling generic containers... because the manufactures who make the fluid sell it to various distributors who only have to package it under THEIR brand, price it as the see fit, and put it on the market....
it is a specific formulation that the emissions need to work as designed, and the expiration date on DEF means very little to the engine or emissions.... and the systems have sensors that will inform you if the def fluid is not up to par, BUT this doesnt mean bad DEF cant be ran until you use it down and refill the tank.... its just telling you that its time to use it up in a hurry.
if DEF is stored in a cool, temperature stabile place that never exceeds 60degrees, it will outlast its expiration date many times over, but when the DEF is stored in a warehouse on the upper shelves when it can get relatively warm, it can degrade, but never within its expiration date, which is a conservative amount of time....
and some vehicles will set for several months in extremely hot weather, without the def fluid going bad.... so there is nothing to worry about except the cost one has to pay for it, and if you call around, you can find it rather cheap at some high volume outlets....
we have been paying $7.50 for a 2 gallon container of it, but we usually buy 10-15 containers at a time.... some places sell it for twice that..... and the BLUE brand is generally the most expensive, but it is no better or worse than the cheapest brand on the market... its just that the marketing it better so that you feel compelled to give THEM more of your money for the SAME product that is filling generic containers... because the manufactures who make the fluid sell it to various distributors who only have to package it under THEIR brand, price it as the see fit, and put it on the market....
