DEF Level?

[dsprik]

Any other GMC/Chevy truck owners out there how to monitor the DEF level? I have a DIC and while cycling through while towing in TN a message popped up stating that I had 500 miles of DEF remaining. No idea what that meant, but I bought a gallon and put in. No idea how long that will last, but I haven't had any message since. There must be a way of monitoring that level. What am I missing? I have a 2013 GMC 3500 (Sig).

On Edit~ (Please move to Truck/Towing section)

[Bigsky3625RE]

I have a 2012 Silverado 3500 that uses DEF. The only way I know that it is monitored is through the DIC. I get a warning at 1000 miles and then 500.

When I get the 1000 mile warning I add 2 1/2 gallons.

As for how long it will last that will depend on the outside temperature, how much towing you are doing and how heavy your foot is.

Since there is no gauge, when I fill it I listen for the trickle of it going in to stop. That means it is coming up the neck and I call it good.

Have read on other forums that people get between 3000 and 5000 miles before they need to add more. I have never paid attention to the milage but I have 22k miles and have put in four 2 1/2 gallon jugs.

[pineranch]

I check the information center. When it shows the DEF level less than 1/2 full, I put in a container of blue DEF.
Mike

[dpam]

I have a 2011 GMC Duramax and it does not have a level indication like a fuel gage, however when I get down to 1,000 miles worth of DEF left I get notification via the DIC. On an average I can get between 2500 and 3,000 miles on 2.5 gallons (depends on whether I'm towing or not). I believe the DEF tank holds 5 gallons of DEF. When I'm making a long trip I usually reset my "miles travelled display" and via that manner track the number of miles I put on since I filled the DEF tank. It would be great if General Motors had a DEF gage next to the fuel gage.

[jfaberna]

I had a long discussion about DEF when I bought my 2014 RAM diesel. Luckily, it has a DEF level indicator next to the fuel level. The engine will limit you to 5 mph if you run out of DEF. My tank is 8 gallons and they say you get 1000 mpg on DEF. So it's about half an oil change in miles. The new Cummins says 15K miles between oil changes, but 6 month. The DEF has a shelf life, so since I don't plan on putting that many miles on the truck, maybe 10K/yr, I'm going to only fill the def tank to the amount I'll use in 6 months. I'll put that amount in at each oil change. My dealer has a oil program that gives you 6 oil changes with diesel synthetic oil for $299. That's 3 years. I don't think that will pay for the oil at Autozone.

[rvgwen]

Big Sky 3625 gave good answer. Same for me about every 3000 miles 2 1/2 gallons. Safe travel........

[twindman]

My Silverado (and also the 2013 model, I believe) holds 5.3 gallons of DEF. I think my DIC doesn't show anything until it gets down to 17-20%. So I figure it still has about 1 gallon left. So I add 2.5 gallons and then after another 1500-2000 miles add a 2nd 2.5 gallons.
If they can tell you it is 17% left, why can't they show you it is 50% or whatever!!!
Also, while I am complaining... My 2006 chevy showed the instant mpg readout. Now they only show the average. I am pretty sure it is because when you go in to re-gen, mpg drops to 8-10mpg without towing. Everyone would yell to high heck if that showed up, so they just 'hide' it.

[Artemus Gordon]

quote:Originally posted by rvgwen

Big Sky 3625 gave good answer. Same for me about every 3000 miles 2 1/2 gallons. Safe travel........

X3

[1retired06]

Ford gives you a half full message, balance of warnings, like GMC is miles.

[mhs4771]

Per GM owners manual you're suppose to get the DEF warning at 1000 miles left. Presently 55K on our 2011I've and I've never seen a 1000 mile warning, I've had 600 some odd, 400 odd, never the same, BUT never at 1000. I generally clear the first warning and wait for the next time, usually 150 to 200 miles. If were're on the road at that warning, I'll add the 2 1/2 Gal that I carry with us, but if we parked for long term I'll buy two containers at Wally World. Dump in the spare we've been carrying along with one of the new and put the second in the tool box as our spare.

[WaltBennett]

A good friend of mine has one of the first year's Chevy that had DEF - I can't put here all he said about when he found out there was NO warning of any kind (and the sales guy didn't tell him anything about it) and he had a long, slow drive to get to the dealership in Michigan's UP. Now he just carries an emergency gallon with him all the time & keeps track of how many miles on a filled tank manually.

[dsprik]

Hey! I found the level indicator. Not sure why I didn't find this earlier... On the DIC buttons, the 2nd one that shows the oil %. Keep cycling all the way through that section and you will find the Exhaust Fluid %. Mine is at 16%. Time to head to Wally World...