Shelf Life

[Rondo]

Does anyone know if the DEF has a shelf life or not? Had a problem with a sensor after I added DEF to the reservoir but it was not the DEF sensor and wondering if the DEF has a shelf life and may have caused it because the DEF was a box I had bought about 8 months prior and had it sitting in the garage. I have tried contacting the companies that make it and none will respond to my emails on this subject so turning to the MOC gang and their knowledge!

[robert285rld]

My GM dealer says yes - 6 months is max.

[BB_TX]

From Cummins web site.


Q. What is the shelf life of DEF?
A. The shelf life of DEF is a function of ambient storage temperature. DEF will degrade over time depending on temperature and exposure to sun light. Expectations for shelf life as defined by ISO Spec 22241-3 are the minimum expectations for shelf life when stored at constant temperatures. If stored between 10 and 90 deg F, shelf life will easily be one year. If the maximum temperature does not exceed approximately 75 deg F for an extended period of time, the shelf life will be two years.

[bncinwv]

Interesting, the manufacturers say a minimum of one year if storage temperatures are acceptable:

DEF Characteristics

Bingo

[1retired06]

Dealer told me one year. No date on the box of blue def I just bought.

[andylparish]

I have gone to buying DEF from the diesel fuel island when I buy fuel. The pumps pump faster and you can get DEF for something like $2.59 per gallon, then I just carry a jug in my toolbox for just in case.

I would think that as much as they sell to the big trucks it would always be fresh.

[DmaxDually]

When I first got my truck I was thinking about buying DEF in bulk (a 55 Gal drum). I was going to keep it in my garage this way I wouldn't have to worry about buying two 2.5 gal jugs every few months. That when I did some research and found out that DEF does have a shelf life and it's dependent on temperature. I average about 5200 miles between fill ups on DEF (about every 4 months I fill it up). That's approx 15 gals a year. So a 55 gal drum would last me over 3 years..way past the shelf life. Now I just buy 2 jugs of Peak Blue DEF at Sams Club when needed.

I don't like the fact that our trucks are now dependent on DEF fluid to run. Under normal circumstances it not a problem finding def fluid. But in a natural disaster or emergency it might not be so easy and we can be left stranded.

[DmaxDually]

quote:Originally posted by 1retired06

Dealer told me one year. No date on the box of blue def I just bought.

My dealer didn't have a clue about shelf life for DEF. He said it was the first he heard about it when I told him. Even then he didn't seem to care much.

[DonandBonnie]

Don't know if this has a connection with your issue. We recently took our F350 in for a recall to supposedly correct a programming issue with our DEF system. Since then our sensors have been wacky. There has been no under half tank warning and when we get to the 500 mile countdown, at which time we should be able to add 5 gallons of DEF, we can barely add 2 gallons before it overflows. A Ford dealer told us that the DEF system requires a minimum of 2.5 gallons to properly reset the sensors and that we should allow the tank to drain to where it affects our driving (on Fords, you are not suppose to be able to exceed 35 mph when the sensor countdown reaches 200 miles to empty) before we add more. We haven't reached that point, so we can't say whether the Ford folks have spread fact or fiction.

[kevin50]

My dealer also warned of DEF LIFE as well as buying cheap fluid. I do not believe this is to get us to buy if from them as it is a Hugh and highly respectable dealer. So, for my $65,000 investment, I'm a little picky what I run and where I get it. Def is cheap where ever you choose to get it as compared to our vehicles or our ruined trips that bad def could cause. my 2 cents

[DmaxDually]

I am also picky about my DEF fluid. Peak Blue DEF fluid is the only brand that I have used in my truck since new (2012). Knock on wood I haven't had any DEF issue so far, 54,000 + miles.

[Starmaster]

I usually have 3-5 boxes on hand, I can catch Blue DEF on sale for less than $9 a box. It stays stored downstairs in the basement storage area where it is dark and a constant 65-70*. I've been doing that for 4 years and 2 trucks and have not had any DEF issues with either rig. YMMV

I have purchased bulk DEF at trucks stops before, but it is almost always a PITA to get the pump to dispense, usually have to go get the adapter from the cashier to allow the pump to work in my Ford. Other times some pumps work ok, overall more trouble than it's worth for me, I just carry a jug on long trips and fill when needed.

Dave