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08-11-2019, 01:12 PM
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#1
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Northwest Tennessee
Posts: 450
M.O.C. #10884
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Ok to top off DEF tank?
For some forgotten reason, have a hand written note in the diesel manual for my truck saying do not top off DEF before the 999 mile before reduced speed warning on the DIC. Leaving on a long trip with Montana and thinking of adding DEF before we leave. Know to be careful and not allow overflow! Yes, I wrote the note several years ago but not sure why! Manual and internet search didn't find anything. Thanks,
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2017 Montana 3611
2012 Chevy 2500
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08-11-2019, 01:41 PM
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#2
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Montana Master
Join Date: May 2019
Location: Alton
Posts: 2,689
M.O.C. #24086
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We were coming home to Mo. from SD when I got the 500 mile DEF warning 2016 F350. No problem, we will be home before then (about 300 miles to home). However when towing it appears you use more than you think. We ran out about 30 miles from home. Got a new warning, speed will be reduced if we do not fill up within 50 miles.
Stopped at the next gas station and bought a 2 gal refill. After we got home I topped it off. And yes I over filled it and it ran out the fill cap. I just washed it off.
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Daryl and Marianne,
2019 3130re 20th Anniversary Edition
2016 F350 Lariat
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08-11-2019, 02:34 PM
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#3
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Site Team
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Carmichael - CA
Posts: 7,363
M.O.C. #4831
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My Ford tells you the level is OK, below 1/2, or you have 500 miles to go. You do not want to run out of DEF. I check the level each day when driving. When it says it is below 1/2 full, I wait 100 miles (1/2 empty is not really 1/2 empty) and then top it off. This has worked great for 100K+ miles.
You can buy a DEF fill nozzle from Ford, but much cheaper on Amazon, that doesn't spill DEF if the tank fills up before all of the 2 1/2 jug is gone.
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Carl (n Susan)
There is more to life than fuel mileage.
2012 Montana 3700RL Big Sky Package towed by a 2015 Ford F350 6.7L PSD 4WD CC LWB
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08-11-2019, 03:49 PM
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#4
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Montana Master
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Lake Gaston
Posts: 8,773
M.O.C. #12156
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No problem topping off your DEF tank.
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Mike and Lorraine
2002 3655 FL, 2005 3650RK
2010 3665RE, 2015 3910FB
F350 crew cab dually 6.7
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08-11-2019, 04:14 PM
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#5
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Fulton
Posts: 456
M.O.C. #20688
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Top off at truck stops don’t mess with jugs .
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Wayne & Malinda
2018 Montana 3731FL
MORryde IS/DiscBrakes
2017 F450 DRW KR 4x4
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08-11-2019, 04:20 PM
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#6
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Montana Master
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Livermore
Posts: 5,144
M.O.C. #1920
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I like to keep it above half way. I also fill at truck stops, but this past winter our DEF froze up coming back from Quartzite (-13) in Wyoming. The service tech said they have found water in some of the DEF from the pump. From now on, especially in cold weather, I will use the jugs.
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Ron and Terrie Ames - MOC #1920/KF0NTA
2021Montana 3230CK Super Solar Legacy Package
2021 Ram 3500 Laramie Longhorn, BIM Charging
4x4, SRW, LB, Crew Cab, Pullrite 3900 Hitch
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08-11-2019, 07:47 PM
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#7
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Austin
Posts: 2,416
M.O.C. #21044
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DEF
My 2014 Chevy used to show a warning something like “DEF level low 989 miles”...I don’t remember exactly but it was always in the 900 mile warning. The new Chevy pops up in the 400 to 500 mile range. For the 2014 I remember the dealer told me to add a 2.5 gal jug...I took that to mean “only one jug”.For the 2019 same dealership said I could add 2 jugs (5gals) each time the warning goes off. Chevy does not have a gauge -it’s either ok or it needs DEF.
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MikenDebbie Aggie ‘77 in the sticks near Austin TX
2019 Chevy 3500 High Country DRW
2018 Montana 3921FB
Aussie Gus + Texas Heeler Jimmy
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08-18-2019, 02:02 PM
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#8
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Montana Master
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Winthrop Harbor
Posts: 1,831
M.O.C. #8160
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Ron, how many miles do you get to a tank of DEF when towing and when not?
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08-12-2019, 08:38 AM
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#9
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Fort Wayne
Posts: 477
M.O.C. #17609
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My understanding is that this is just based on a desire to have the DEF as fresh as possible. If you wait til you get the warning, it'll be mostly newDEF in the tank. I have a Chevy Duramax and add a 2.5 gallon jug the next chance I get after the warning. Its usually good for another couple thousand miles then, even towing.
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2016 Montana 3160RL w/MOR/Ryde IS and Disc Brakes
855W Solar System, TriStar MPPT-60 Controller, Magnum 2800W Inverter, 6 Trojan T-105REs
2015 Chevy Duramax SRW SB Crew Cab
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08-12-2019, 08:58 AM
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#10
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Fulton
Posts: 456
M.O.C. #20688
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DEF is 67% Deionized Water !
Yep I’ll bet that tech found water in it
__________________
Wayne & Malinda
2018 Montana 3731FL
MORryde IS/DiscBrakes
2017 F450 DRW KR 4x4
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08-12-2019, 09:21 AM
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#11
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Bastrop
Posts: 2,892
M.O.C. #20753
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MidMOTraveler
DEF is 67% Deionized Water !
Yep I’ll bet that tech found water in it ��
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I blow through about 2.5 gal of DEF per 1000 miles when towing.
Ford finally added a gauge. Of couorse it takes forever to move off of F then runs down rather quickly
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Mocha, one-eyed toothless, hurricane survivor, Pirate dog
2019 20th Anniversary Edition 3701LK
B&W 20K for Ford OEM Puck
2018 Ford F-350 Lariat CCLB PSD DRW KJ5CQH
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08-12-2019, 10:22 AM
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#12
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Sharpsburg
Posts: 202
M.O.C. #20974
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It is o.k to add anytime you want/need too. Or if you can delete that mess,no more def.
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2023 GMC 2500 HD AT4
2018 High Country 340BH
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08-12-2019, 01:22 PM
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#13
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Chatsworth
Posts: 468
M.O.C. #10933
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Yes DEF is 67 per cent water and it freezes around 16 deg. F. If your tank is full it could rupture during cold weather. Always, in cold temps fill to about 80 per cent.
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08-12-2019, 01:41 PM
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#14
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Fulton
Posts: 456
M.O.C. #20688
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Can’t say about other brands but Ford has a heater in the DEF tank.
I do store my Ford for the winter and do leave the DEF tank less than full.
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Wayne & Malinda
2018 Montana 3731FL
MORryde IS/DiscBrakes
2017 F450 DRW KR 4x4
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08-12-2019, 01:43 PM
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#15
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Trinidad, TX
Posts: 506
M.O.C. #20746
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Yes, you may top off your DEF tank. Just be careful in the winter
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2018 Ram 3500 Laramie Longhorn 4X4 Dually Cummins Aisin CC LB / B&W Companion hitch
50 Gallon Transfer Flow in bed tank w/ Trax 3
2018 Montana 3121RL
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08-12-2019, 02:45 PM
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#16
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Montana Master
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Wampum
Posts: 571
M.O.C. #9928
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A note of caution. I buy DEF in the jugs. A buddy did the same but fund that someone had poured out the DEF and replaced it with plain tap water, then returned the jug to the store. Now when I buy DEF in a jug I always remove the cap and check the seal to be sure someone didn't mess with it.
As for topping off.....no problem. Just do NOT run out. Those darn computer know when you do and they cannot be reasoned with!
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"What happens at camp stays at camp"
2018 3121RL
2016 Ford F350 SB SRW
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08-18-2019, 04:35 PM
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#17
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Montana Master
Join Date: May 2017
Location: South East NC
Posts: 1,768
M.O.C. #19865
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Slufoot733
A note of caution. I buy DEF in the jugs. A buddy did the same but fund that someone had poured out the DEF and replaced it with plain tap water, then returned the jug to the store. Now when I buy DEF in a jug I always remove the cap and check the seal to be sure someone didn't mess with it.
As for topping off.....no problem. Just do NOT run out. Those darn computer know when you do and they cannot be reasoned with!
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A few Walmart stores have been finding a lot of that. Buy it, use it, refill from the tap and return for refund. Talk about cheap people. I prefer at the pump at truck stops but will buy at auto shops. I don’t do Wally for anything.
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08-18-2019, 04:55 PM
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#18
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Seasoned Camper
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Brownwood
Posts: 86
M.O.C. #14197
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DEF failure
I have hauled DEF out of truck stop tanks because it was contaminated. I asked how they knew it was bad and the answer was not easy to get but apparently it had been reported by customers with sudden DEF problems that had tests done. I cannot verify that but I can verify that we have removed DEF from underground tanks at two places for disposal.
I would have thought DEF was safe from a truck stop because they sell a good bit of it before I had the experience of hauling it off. We fill our DEF tanks at truck stops because 2.5 gallon jugs would be a pain when one needs 20-30 gallons so we may be taking a chance as well.
That being said we fill our pick ups from jugs that are sealed shut, stored in a cool place, kept out of the sun and come from a reliable parts house. We are helping save the environment one plastic jug and one cardboard box at a time. I expect the landfills love that...
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08-12-2019, 05:17 PM
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#19
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Montana Master
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Grand Rapids
Posts: 1,896
M.O.C. #9561
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Keep your def fresh.
Any left over in a container throwout...do not keep.
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08-12-2019, 05:51 PM
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#20
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Austin
Posts: 2,416
M.O.C. #21044
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DEF tank heaters
Chevys definitely have a tank heater. The heater in my 2014 went out at just over 100k miles. They do not replace the heater- they replace the whole tank.
But good info about not filling the tank too full during cold weather. Makes sense.
__________________
MikenDebbie Aggie ‘77 in the sticks near Austin TX
2019 Chevy 3500 High Country DRW
2018 Montana 3921FB
Aussie Gus + Texas Heeler Jimmy
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