DEF at truck stops

[Chief Brown]

I was in a local Ram dealership recently and the subject of DEF came up. I told the service manager that I buy my DEF at the truck stops when I need some. He said oh don't do that. He said it is not the same quality as what you can buy elsewhere i.e., (Autozone, Walmart,etc). He said it would "crystalize" in my DEF tank and cause all kinds of issues.
Just wondering if anyone on here has had issues with DEF from truck stops?

[mlh]

The quality is set by the federal government.
Lynwood

[Retiredgpa57]

Okay it’s regulated by Govt. Does anyone have answer to the first question here?

[1retired06]

I have never had a problem. I buy at truck stops because of shelf life. Rapid turnover at truck stops.

[Retiredgpa57]

Good to know. Thanks

[MandK]

I Buy at the truck stops most of the time. No problems.

[Retiredgpa57]

Great thanks

[BB_TX]

I have never heard of anyone having had a problem with truck stop DEF. Or bottled for that matter.

But I can’t help but keep wondering. Tankers put new DEF on top of any old still in the underground tanks. And next time the same. And next time ….. The percentage new vs old would depend on the amount still in the tank. As such the old is still there on top of the old old, on top of the old old old, …. The old DEF can never be completely eliminated simply by adding new, just continuously diluted. Still, apparently it is not a problem. I am sure I am just over thinking it. My little engineer brain does that often.

[Andy Smith]

I have done both truck stop def and a variety of def from Autozone, etc. If I can find it, I usually get the ultra premium blue def, because I notice a substantial increase in fuel economy and power, but I've never had an issue with any of it from the pump.

[Todd & Mary]

I've been running truck stop DEF for close to a year now without issue. I dont believe it is a problem. I would think if would be fresher than store bought, because its always turned over with new DEF.

[77cruiser]

Originally Posted by Andy Smith

If I can find it, I usually get the ultra premium blue def, because I notice a substantial increase in fuel economy and power,

I guess that happens a lot.

[rohrmann]

DEF will have no impact on power or fuel mileage because it is injected into the exhaust stream just ahead of the catalytic converter, not into the engine. It works with the converter to reduce oxides of nitrogen in the exhaust.

[LeftOverParts]

I too have used pump DEF with no problems.

From what little I know about it, there is an ISO std 22241 for DEF that specs the purity of the urea, % urea, deionized water, and level of contaminates. If it’s API certified, it means it’s tested regularly. I suppose a mfr could use agricultural Urea and lower quality water if they don’t claim meeting ISO and/or skip the API cert.

Some pumps or the company’s website will list what their DEF meets. For example (see the droplet bubbles for ISO.):

https://pilotflyingj.com/media/36698/pilot-def.pdf

The boxed stuff from Peak Blue DEF and Bluesky DEF label theirs as ISO and API.

Re the Dodge dealer comment, maybe it’s like my Ford dealer always wanting me to use their oil, filters, fuel additive, service dept, etc.

[BB_TX]

Originally Posted by rohrmann

DEF will have no impact on power or fuel mileage because it is injected into the exhaust stream just ahead of the catalytic converter, not into the engine. It works with the converter to reduce oxides of nitrogen in the exhaust.

Agree. The supposed “premium” DEFs claim to reduce or eliminate DEF crystallizing and build up in the exhaust system. But the only place I have ever seen any claims of that being a problem is in the advertisements of the manufacturers that sell a “premium” grade DEF. And even if true, that would happen over time, not between tankfuls of DEF (according to those manufacturers).

[mlh]

Quote
DEF (Diesel Exhaust Fluid) is a specific composition of urea for application in transportation to reduce the amount of nitrogen oxides (NOx) emitted into the air by diesel engines. DEF is a high purity chemical, comprised of 32.5% urea and 67.5% de-ionized water.
It’s set by the US government. Premium is selling the sizzle instead of the steak.
Lynwood

[AZ Traveler]

It sounds like we are trying to overthink this. I have used DEF at the gas pump and Walmart with no issue. The gas pump is certainly more convenient.

[Cat320]

Originally Posted by mlh

Quote
DEF (Diesel Exhaust Fluid) is a specific composition of urea for application in transportation to reduce the amount of nitrogen oxides (NOx) emitted into the air by diesel engines. DEF is a high purity chemical, comprised of 32.5% urea and 67.5% de-ionized water.
It’s set by the US government. Premium is selling the sizzle instead of the steak.
Lynwood

Agree....DEF is DEF is DEF, it's all the same. I prefer to buy mine in the 2 1/2 gallon containers at Wally World or a local farm and ranch store that is sometimes cheaper. Each container is dated and it should be used between one and three years, depending how it is stored. The hotter it's stored, the shorter the life. One problem with getting it at Love's/Pilot/Flying J, etc is that the DEF tank in the ground is having new DEF put in and mixed with old DEF, therefore nobody knows how old it is.

[DQDick]

Always got mine from truck stops.

[Mr Pachu]

Originally Posted by Cat320

Agree....DEF is DEF is DEF, it's all the same. I prefer to buy mine in the 2 1/2 gallon containers at Wally World or a local farm and ranch store that is sometimes cheaper. Each container is dated and it should be used between one and three years, depending how it is stored. The hotter it's stored, the shorter the life. One problem with getting it at Love's/Pilot/Flying J, etc is that the DEF tank in the ground is having new DEF put in and mixed with old DEF, therefore nobody knows how old it is.

I'm just wondering if anyone is worried about the diesel or gas that they buy? New fuel delivered and added to old, to old, to old?

[TenOC]

Originally Posted by rohrmann

DEF will have no impact on power or fuel mileage because it is injected into the exhaust stream just ahead of the catalytic converter, not into the engine. It works with the converter to reduce oxides of nitrogen in the exhaust.

2X !!!!!!