Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 

Go Back   Montana Owners Club - Keystone Montana 5th Wheel Forum > GENERAL DISCUSSIONS > Tow Vehicles & Towing
Click Here to Login

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 06-29-2014, 07:14 PM   #1
Artemus Gordon
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Redding
Posts: 1,421
M.O.C. #12339
DEF Tank on new Chevy Dually?

Was invited to test drive fully loaded Chevy HD Dually. What a nice truck. Interior is a home run in my opinion. The only crazy thing, is the DEF tank, hanging below the passenger door. I heard it was being relocated? Brand new off the transport and this had the low hanging tank. I know the install of step rails will hide it. I don't go off road, nor do any of my Dually friends, but the location was a bit troubling? Not trying to get, my truck is better kind of discussion. Just pointing out the only real issue I found. I really liked the truck!
 
Artemus Gordon is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-30-2014, 01:03 AM   #2
farmall130
Seasoned Camper
 
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Kernersville
Posts: 86
M.O.C. #13857
It's not really a problem. I have a 2013, and you're right, with the step rails it's barely noticeable. It's not as close to the ground as you think, but I agree iof you were to take it off road, it might cause some problems. I have more of an issue of where you put the DEF in. It would be better to have a DEF fuel door, but I really, really like my truck...
farmall130 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-30-2014, 02:12 AM   #3
Tom S.
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Waterford
Posts: 3,693
M.O.C. #7500
There has been no mention of moving the tank that I'm aware of. Just wishful thinking by some folks, perhaps.

Other than that, I love ours. It's light years ahead of our 06 in every way.
Tom S. is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-30-2014, 03:25 AM   #4
JandC
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Frostproof, FL USA
Posts: 2,362
M.O.C. #13272
Artemus, can I have your old truck....please....please?
__________________
Previous: 2008 Montana 3400RL & 2014 3725RL
Current: Full Time 2022 SOB TT Toy Hauler
JandC is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-30-2014, 03:37 AM   #5
Rondo
Site Team
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Omaha
Posts: 6,749
M.O.C. #7560
I've got a 12 and it has been there since then. I also agree with farmall130, the location of the fill for the DEF if a real pain and the fill spout and tube is not large enough. It's under the hood next to the firewall on the passenger side. GM needs to redesign the location for the fill location. The DEF filler door would be a good idea or do as Ford has done and put the filler access in with the fuel door.
Rondo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-30-2014, 05:07 AM   #6
RKassl
Montana Master
 
RKassl's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Fall Creek
Posts: 1,328
M.O.C. #3699
I have a 2011 Dmax, no problems at all, if you are careful and use the flexible fill tubes that come with the DEF, it is really not a big deal to add DEF.
__________________
Bob and Nancy Kassl Fall Creek, Wisconsin
2015 Montana 3440RL Legacy Edition, G614's, Pressure Pro TPMS, Dish Tailgaters
2016 GMC Sierra Denali 3500 CC SRW, Iridium Metallic, Duramax Allison Transmission
RKassl is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-30-2014, 06:22 AM   #7
Artemus Gordon
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Redding
Posts: 1,421
M.O.C. #12339
To all who answered thanks, but where do you put the DEF. It's not in the fuel filler area like Fords ? No J & C you can't have my truck... We are inseparable ! Lol
Artemus Gordon is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-30-2014, 07:58 AM   #8
Tom S.
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Waterford
Posts: 3,693
M.O.C. #7500
Quote:
quote:Originally posted by Artemus Gordon

To all who answered thanks, but where do you put the DEF. It's not in the fuel filler area like Fords ? No J & C you can't have my truck... We are inseparable ! Lol
As was said, it is filled under the hood on the right side near the firewall.
Tom S. is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-30-2014, 08:07 AM   #9
Artemus Gordon
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Redding
Posts: 1,421
M.O.C. #12339
My bad! My Evelyn Wood speed reading, "refresher course" has not arrived! Lol
Artemus Gordon is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-30-2014, 08:12 AM   #10
farmall130
Seasoned Camper
 
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Kernersville
Posts: 86
M.O.C. #13857
The biggest thing if you do spill a little is simply rinse it down really good. The stuff is caustic, but it won't start eating at something right away. As RKassi said, if you take care it's not so bad. I spilled some once when it was about 20 degrees and the wind was blowing, I wanted to get back inside. Then had to bring out water to wash it
farmall130 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-30-2014, 10:22 AM   #11
WaltBennett
Montana Master
 
WaltBennett's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Hanover
Posts: 1,471
M.O.C. #13325
Friend has a first year DEF 2500 Duramax and complained long and loud about how there was no dash light or indication of his running out of DEF. In fact, the dealer he bought it from never even told him about needing the stuff. He ran out not too far from home and had to limp to the dealer for about thirty miles. Has GM fixed this yet?
__________________
WaltBennett is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-30-2014, 12:25 PM   #12
grayghost03
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Roswell
Posts: 627
M.O.C. #12028
Send a message via MSN to grayghost03
Yep, DIC tells you the level, let's ya know when you have about 1000 miles left. The DEF filler has a funnel built around it with a drain, unless you really get careless and overflow it big time, any spillage goes down overflow tube to the ground. But the tube size is small and it won't take a large flow, so it takes a minute to fill it, instead of 30 seconds. Personally, I have the time.
grayghost03 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-30-2014, 01:33 PM   #13
farmall130
Seasoned Camper
 
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Kernersville
Posts: 86
M.O.C. #13857
Walt, they had the DEF warning system the first year it came out. Not sure what is going on, but if they left it off the dealer and GM should fix it. Without it, as you said, you are at the mercy of where you run out. Mine starts warning early (about 200 miles) so there's plenty of time to top it off....
farmall130 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-30-2014, 03:23 PM   #14
rohrmann
Montana Master
 
rohrmann's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Box Elder
Posts: 4,677
M.O.C. #12947
Mine a few days ago had the message pop up on the DIC, didn't notice it right away, and when I did notice it, it said I had 996 miles of range left on the DEF. Once I acknowledged it, I checked again, and it then gives you a percentage of DEF left in the tank. The system would be nice to have a gauge, but once you get used to it, it's not really a problem, Besides, DEF is available just about anywhere now, and is the only reason I normally go into a Walmart, to get the 2 1/2 gallon containers of DEF for $11.97. I have heard of some getting DEF at the islands at truck stops, but the flow is quite high and tends to make quite a mess with spillage.
__________________
Bob & Becky
2012 3402RL
2012 Chevy 2500HD D/A CC 4WD
rohrmann is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-30-2014, 07:01 PM   #15
Artemus Gordon
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Redding
Posts: 1,421
M.O.C. #12339
The truck stop pumps have been a big problem for me. It's got to be something, I was not doing right! Each time I began filling, it acted like it it had too much pressure with no venting. Kept overflowing each time I tried. Just went back to bottles, keep two in my truck.
Artemus Gordon is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-01-2014, 12:53 AM   #16
farmall130
Seasoned Camper
 
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Kernersville
Posts: 86
M.O.C. #13857
My buddy has a 2011, the 1st year for DEF. He says his gives a warning at 1000 miles and again at 300 miles, and he has to clear it manually. They have much improved this, mine gives several warnings and they clear automatically....
farmall130 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-01-2014, 05:30 AM   #17
bigmurf
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Sunshine
Posts: 1,445
M.O.C. #538
Maybe GM will fix that on their next recall.ggg
bigmurf is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-01-2014, 06:37 AM   #18
Tom S.
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Waterford
Posts: 3,693
M.O.C. #7500
Quote:
quote:Originally posted by WaltBennett

Friend has a first year DEF 2500 Duramax and complained long and loud about how there was no dash light or indication of his running out of DEF. In fact, the dealer he bought it from never even told him about needing the stuff. He ran out not too far from home and had to limp to the dealer for about thirty miles. Has GM fixed this yet?
Your friend is part right. There is no warning light, and still isn't. However the Driver Information Center (DIC) displays warnings from the point the vehicle has 1000 miles left on the remaining fluid until it starts limiting top speed. While I can believe the dealer may not have told him about it (my salesman was truck knowledge impaired), he would have found out about it if he bothered to read the owner's manual.
Tom S. is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-01-2014, 12:45 PM   #19
tanner1070
Montana Fan
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Palmdale
Posts: 177
M.O.C. #11365
FYI...dealer just informed me today that when you get the 1,000 mile warning on the DIC, the tank takes exactly 3 gallons to fill it back up. Takes some of that guess work that leads to a mess out of it.
tanner1070 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
For Sale:2011 Chevy 3500 Dually $36,500 mobilcastle Trailers, Tow Vehicles & RV related items for Sale 3 09-29-2015 02:12 AM
Recall on 2015 3500 chevy dually hunts800 Tow Vehicles & Towing 1 09-14-2015 01:44 PM
New Chevy 3500 Dually hunts800 Tow Vehicles & Towing 13 09-05-2014 02:07 AM
New Chevy 3500 Dually (NO GO) tim43 Tow Vehicles & Towing 31 09-30-2011 09:31 AM
2011 Chevy LTZ Dually & Hitch Clearance tim43 Tow Vehicles & Towing 4 08-31-2011 05:42 PM

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Montana RV, Keystone RV Company or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 03:18 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.9
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.