Avoid expensive diesel repairs & DEF explained (RV Living) 4K
Vložit
- čas přidán 4. 07. 2024
- When we decided to travel full time in an RV, we did a lot of research on the right truck. We bought a diesel Ram 3500 long bed crew cab dually. Then we had to research how to make this truck last. Understanding DEF is Key!
In this video, explain what DEF (Diesel Exhaust Fluid) is, what it is used for, why is it required, how to store and use it and how to avoid costly mistakes adding DEF and fueling your diesel truck. @BlueDEF
Chapters
0:00 Intro
1:23 What is DEF
2:00 What is an SCR
2:37 Filling DEF
5:50 Storage & Date Codes
7:12 DEF Mistake Story
8:06 Avoiding Mistakes
8:48 Cap Options
9:20 Conclusion
🛒Our Amazon Store
www.amazon.com/shop/downsizin...
Magnetic Diesel fuel cap for Ram Trucks amzn.to/3yjI6gv
Genos Garage Locking Fuel Cap - shown in the video
www.genosgarage.com/product/r...
Genos Garage Locking DEF Cap
www.genosgarage.com/product/r...
Video about these fuel caps
• 2013-current Ram diese...
🛒Links to RV Products we use
xtend & climb ladder amzn.to/3k5sS8C
micro air easy start amzn.to/3qFdQJp
Pepwave Internet Router and antenna www.mobilemusthave.com/?AffId=75
We boost 65 RV cell booster amzn.to/3k7Zrmp
Barker 32 gallon blue boy sewage tote amzn.to/3pHF28N
50 foot 50 amp extension cord amzn.to/3dwMxgs
Viaire Compressor amzn.to/37uUQWw
Portable vacuum amzn.to/2NKl4xa
Mopeka Tank Check for propane tanks amzn.to/3k5uCia
Magma Gas Grill amzn.to/2M9m7Gv
Levelmate Pro leveling system amzn.to/3pAUi7p
XChocks - chocks for RV reduce movement amzn.to/2ZBZdui
Water Pressure regulator amzn.to/3qHGJ7y
EEzEE tire TPMS monitor amzn.to/3dzHn3k
EEZEE tire booster amzn.to/2MbnKDy
Haloview Backup Monitor System amzn.to/2QWfg58
Dremel Multipurpose Rotary Tool amzn.to/3b3aoBj
KES Self Adhesive Toilet Paper holder amzn.to/2YIlnuQ
Fisher F22 Metal Detector amzn.to/3vSHZGS
Restmo-Rainpoint Water Meter amzn.to/3vNdUII
🛒 Products we use to Support our CZcams Channel
a6500 4K camera (link for a6600) amzn.to/3k93uyI
DJI air 2 drone kit amzn.to/3aEtb7w
Sony AX 53 camera amzn.to/2M73ZNi
DJI mavic mini drone (link for mini2) amzn.to/2Zw8rby
Fovitec studio lights x 2 amzn.to/3k5u9fU
V mount batteries for Fovitec lights x 2 amzn.to/3ufURqU
DJI gimbal osmo mobile 3 for smartphone amzn.to/3ujBJsf
Hats for youtube channel www.johnnybattle.com/
Zoom h1N audio recorder amzn.to/3s8z0Qr
Ipad air 4 amzn.to/3s9GkLy
Keyboard case amzn.to/3uhniVu
Apple pencil amzn.to/3qHE4L6
Ipad dongle adapters amzn.to/2NNIW2H
Go pro 9 amzn.to/37xAc82
Rode wireless microphone amzn.to/2OS5no1
Diety directional Microphone amzn.to/2NGWVHQ
Zhiyun Crane M2 Gimbal for sony a6500 amzn.to/3ucA4Vn
Go Pro Hero 7 Black amzn.to/3k3zyUU
Links to videos 🎥
1. Please Leave a comment, we always love to hear from viewers about their experience camping, traveling or Full Time RV Living.
2. Please consider subscribing if you are interested in RV's, traveling in an RV, Full Time RVing, Working on the Road or just looking for something different in your life that will add adventure and creativity.
Link to Subscribe czcams.com/users/downsizingmak...
Links to our other social media:
IG: / downsizingmakescents
Facebook: downsizingma...
Twitter: / downsizingcents
Pinterest: / downsizingmakescents
Website: downsizingmakescents.com/ (still working on this)
CZcams Subscribe link:czcams.com/users/downsizingmak...
Music by Epidemic Sound get a free month by clicking this link. www.epidemicsound.com/referra...
We use Tube Buddy to help Grow our CZcams Channel
www.tubebuddy.com/RVDMC
This is how we get some sold out campgrounds, CAMPNAB
campnab.com/r/rctqjz
My Thingiverse page where I post the things I designed for my 3D printer- I do not print for others
www.thingiverse.com/Leapnlarr...
We are a married couple in our mid 50s who downsized and sold our house so we can see the sights and enjoy every day to live deliberately as full time RVers - traveling with our dog Scrappy in our Grand Design Solitude 310 GK fifth wheel.
Downsizing Makes Cents is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising
fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com
#rvliving #def #diesel #dieseltruck - Auta a dopravní prostředky
Great video sir. Yeah, today was the first day putting def in my new and first diesel using a def pump. Put def right in the fuel tank. 😵💫 I started the engine because I have a digital display and couldn't see the def gage without starting the truck. I immediately realized my mistake and I'm really kicking myself.
Oh, no. If you caught it early, you need to clean out the tank.
Let us know how it turns out
@@DownsizingMakesCents I called the dealership and they immediately said its "ruined' without even looking at it. I don't know if that's a California thing or not but I had it towed to the dealership and my insurance and the dealership are acting like it's the end of the world.
@@godvandamme9921 whats the outcome?
@@oktawiangornik1284 It's been at the dealership this whole time. It's still sitting there waiting for parts. 😓
@@godvandamme9921 In many cases insurance company covers the wrong fueling. Check it out. Hope it turnes all good.
Thank you so much Larry and Alice. Great tip! I didn’t know about the Def for diesel fuel. Never had diesel but my brother had and my ex’s uncle did. Glad to know this. Thank you so much! Have a great night! And week and see you both soon! Stay safe.
Sherri, we learned a lot about DEF doing this video. We hope no one makes the mistake Larry’s friend did.
Have a great weekend. See you soon,
Alice
Thank you! First time diesel owner here and it’s almost time to fill up with DEF. This video was the info I needed.
Awesome. Glad we could help. We figured if we didn’t know this stuff, maybe others don’t 😉
Alice
Thank you for making videos on basic things that are so very important. Larry is a great teacher! (The comments were very enlightening too)
Thank you. And the comments are awesome. We have learned a lot
I’m retired from the automotive industry and spent the last 16 years at a Ram dealership. Your video is spot on!
When the catalyst system for diesels was first rolled out it was a nightmare for customers and dealers. Most of the problems were from software issues. All manufacturers had a hard time with regeneration so there were a lot of unnecessary check engine lights. And so many people put weird stuff in their DEF tank. I’ve seen diesel fuel, gasoline, plain water and who knows what in those tanks. And of course DEF in the fuel tank is so easy to do. By the time I retired a couple years ago emission problems with diesels where about the same frequency as gasoline engines. A certain percentage of everything breaks so you still see the occasional problem but the systems are much much better. I own a diesel truck by the way. Yes you can delete all that stuff but it can cause even more problems. A lot of the shops doing the deletions have no clue what they’re doing. Some are really good but I’ve seen some real disasters. And it’s illegal. Just my 2 cents!
Hey Randy thanks for sharing your considerable experience. Many people have commented on deleting their emmissions systems. I would consider it for myself, I would be afraid of voiding the warranty, having even more diesel problems, and getting in trouble with the law. I have seen many videos about the companies that specialize in deleting, getting busted. Thanks again for sharing your advice. Larry
Just bought my first diesel truck (Ram Eco Diesel) and I have learned so much about Diesel and DEF fluid. Thanks for this video! Loved it!
Diesel require more maintenance, but it’s worth it for power and performance
Thanks for the good tips. The first thing i tossed after buying my 2018 Ram 3500 6.7 was the plastic fill caps. I bought on Amazon metal magnetic ones colored appropriately and well marked.
Glad we could help. We are looking into getting a special cap - next time we are where we can get Amazon shipped,
Alice
Our Chevy Duramax DEF port is under the hood. Many Chevy drivers complain about that location but I’m glad for the very reasons in your video. Great job!
I would prefer my DEF fill under the hood, it would almost completely remove the risk of putting DEF in the diesel tank. Larry
You did a great job on this video. I learned a lot about DEF. I don’t have a diesel truck yet but I might end up getting one.
Danette, glad we could help. We learned a lot about DEF too 😅
Alice
Thank you!! This was very helpful. We just got our first diesel truck, Ram 3500 for towing a 5th wheel. I was confused about which type of kind if DEF to use. Thank you for making it clear.
Glad we could help.
When Larry had several hospital stays, I had to fill up with diesel for the first time. I was so worried I would put it in the DEF container.
But Larrys labels helped
Great information as always! Thank you Doctor Larry.😎
Rick, there funny. Because he used to wear scrubs all the time, I used to call him Dr. Larry 🤣
Alice
Excellent video, thank you for taking the time and explain so good the whole process to fill the DEF tank! Greetings from Houston, Te.
Glad we could help. Greetings currently in North Carolina
Great video, thank you.
No worries. We try to make sure to share our experience making it safer and easier,
Alice
Great video, thank you!
Glad we could help
Thanks. Good info.
Glad we could help. If it saves one person some stress and money, then it’s worth it.
We learned a lot researching for the video - so added bonus 😉
Alice
Great video Larry. Many people don't realize the extra work that is required to maintain a diesel engine. Diesel trucks are excellent workhorses. I've been driving diesels work trucks for over 26 years now. Mostly MDT's , Internationals, Freightliners etc. and all of these vehicles were pre-DEF, the newest being a 2014. However, one of our newer (2015) smaller F-550 bucket trucks does use DEF, and it's been problematic. Almost always it was something to do with the emissions. Even the 2014 International has had DPF problems. Diesels can be very finicky. Lately the company has been buying the F450's with the new 7.3l gas engine almost exclusively now. It's a super strong engine and it tows the trailers just great. I'm impressed to the point of probably not upgrading my next truck to a diesel. But rather a new 7.3l with a 4:30 rear end. If it can take a 16k trailer up the Ike Guantlet (TFL truck 7.3l Ike challenge) it should easily be more than enough for our future RV. Thats not set in stone yet, but it's sure looking that way.
I had never owned a diesel vehicle before this, and the extra maintenance and the associated cost takes some getting used to. The torque in our truck is insane, i and we only have a 3:43 rear end. If we had the 4:10 that would be extreme. You make a good case for gas, i would love to see a side by side comparison of the two. Thanks for sharing your knowledge. Larry
I hope we never make that mistake with our truck. You have it right. Pay attention and No distractions!
Thanks. Larry has come close a couple of times.
Alice
Great video. Thank you sir!
Glad you liked it!
Good advice!!
Carl, thanks. We try to help when we can,
Alice
Wow, this is an important video! We absolutely needed to know this before we start our journey! Thank you for the knowledge 👍
Jenna, thank you. We try to put info out there they we wish we found before RVing,
Alice
@@DownsizingMakesCents you're saving so many people from making huge mistakes. Your info is very appreciated! 👍
We appreciate you saying that. We actually had someone comment once - “why don’t you just show fun stuff” 😂
Alice
@@DownsizingMakesCents I think doing both fun and educational vlogs cater to more people. Keep doing what you're doing!
A def hack you can bypass the computer on the transmission there's a sensor or solenoid run a ground wire and find a fused power wire you will need to add a resistor to the power wire I also have used a resistor on the low oil cutoffs just unplug the low oil cutoff and put a resistor in the plug
Always very careful and soul e check which nozzle I have in hand - our Silverado 3500hd DRW has the two right next to each other which makes it a bit more anxious
When Larry was in the hospital, I drove the dually a lot, and had to fill.
It made me very nervous. But the labels and watching him make this video - plus I help edit - I felt more confident 🤗
Good advice. I purchased a Ford F150 diesel and most people probably don't associate a half ton truck with diesel. I should probably put a warning label on the fuel door in case someone tries to put gas in it for me. Thanks
Bo, definitely. Because sometimes you have someone else fill for you and they may not notice,
Alice
Lots a great points and very detailed. I fill my DEF at home so I'm usually not distracted. I agree with becoming complacent when fueling. We do it all the time so it's second nature. I have 3 different fuels I get on my way to the desert. 40 gallons of premium gas in my trailer. 20 gallons of VP in race cans in the bed of my truck. Top off my truck with diesel too. Don't forget your Hot Shots Secret EDT to save that CP4. Add to that the kids running around and double checking the load before we head down the long 6% grade. While it's not always possible to avoid distractions, staying focused is key. I play it out in my head before I even get to the stop. I even do a checklist on my phone sometimes. All you have to keep telling yourself is that a simple mistake could at the very least cost you thousands. Could be the lives of you and your family in the worst case scenario.
Wow you have a much more complicated fueling situation than us, we just have gas for the generators and Diesel for the truck. I 3d printed a plastic cap for my diesel fill that has “Pay Attention” printed on it now. One more step to help me remember. I now have a brain deficit because an illness i had a year ago so I have to be extra careful not to screw up not. Larry
@@DownsizingMakesCents I'm all for signs and directions. I'm the kind of guy that reads the manual from front to back before I dive in. 20 years in the DoD will do that to you I guess. Sounds like you're doing everything right. I had to teach myself since my friends just told me to hook and go lol. Not good advice. Anyway, you're doing great! Have fun and be safe 😁
A def hack you can bypass the computer on the transmission there's a sensor or solenoid run a ground wire and find a fused power wire you will need to add a resistor to the power wire I also have used a resistor on the low oil cutoffs just unplug the low oil cutoff and put a resistor in the plug
A def hack you can bypass the computer on the transmission there's a sensor or solenoid run a ground wire and find a fused power wire you will need to add a resistor to the power wire I also have used a resistor on the low oil cutoffs just unplug the low oil cutoff and put a resistor in the plug
I have my first diesel and I have a procedure: only one cap off at a time and I avoid the gasoline + diesel lanes and only fill in either a truck lane or a dedicated diesel lane designed for passenger trucks towing trailers. No distractions is critical.
Great tips.
Unfortunately, when not towing, sometimes on the road, you get diesel where you can - especially when looking for a good price.
We almost always use truck stop when towing
My husband made that MISTAKE!!!! Luckily we did not start it up, he drained the tank, refueling it, draining it again, so far so good.
Debbie, it’s a more common mistake than people will admit. You are right. It would have been much worse if he started it,
Alice
I’ve run diesel trucks for 21 years about 2 months ago I put DEF in my fuel tank on a 2020 ltz 3500 cost me 6500 dollars just a stupid mistake just wasn’t paying attention but good video thanks
Since Larry’s illness, I’ve been driving and filling up the dually. It only takes a distraction. Can happen to anyone.
I tried to out reg in - luckily since I was hitting the button for diesel with the gas pump in my hand, it wouldn’t fill
Sorry it was a costly mistake for you - that’s why some people like the DEF fill to be away from the diesel fill
Thank you for this video. No diesel truck for me.
Diesel trucks have applications that gas cannot compete, like pulling a big RV. Larry
While I don't have a diesel truck I do like Larry's delivery.. The only thing I have to remember at the pump is to not look at the price..
Thanks. Larry is so serious when he does these types of videos.
Gas prices in Canada are aging us 😬 plus all the tax. But we are seeing some amazing places,
Alice
Just replaced the turbo on my Ram yesterday. I was also relieved of my obligation to ever buy DEF again. It could pull a freight train now, and efficiency is better
Did you delete the scr and the dpf,? Was that expensive? Larry
@@DownsizingMakesCents
I made some healthy modifications to my truck. It's like night and day.
Found an opened jug on the shelf @ Walmart last month. Return maybe? Point being, Always check for a sealed jug before purchasing.
Good point. We always check the seal. We should have mentioned that,
Alice
Dang I like that cabin in the background. How do you tow that? lol Good move going with the upgrade DEF. I would do the same thing as well. Go cheap and you always end up paying for it. That date stuff is insane. They need to just stamp a real date on there. lol Ouch that sucks for your friend man. Where is your tags for the DEF and fuel. Come on Larry. lol Great stuff. We are looking at getting a diesel truck. This is helpful.
William, you are so right. Use the upgraded and check that insane expiration date.
Even with the hassle, we love our diesel truck.
And that cabin in the background? The best place to be in Tennessee 🤗
Alice
I’ve never had an issue fueling 10 years with our trucks. But in 2019 we bought a new rig that requires DEF. I get DEF 90% of the time at the Truck Stops where we fuel. I test the DEF before putting it in my tank…. Several times the DEF did not make spec and we did not take it. I test def in the box as well and have never found a bad box yet.
How do you test DEF?
@@davelauraphillips8814 you have to use a optical refractometer.
Easy to use.
You can find them on Amazon for def. About $24.
Testing the DEF is a good idea
@@truetexan7755 THX - another important "tool" to buy!
How are you able to test the fluid at a pump without pumping it first?
I made this mistake. 2019 2500 after putting def nozzle into diesel tank i realized my mistake quickly I quickly remembered not to put ignition switch to start or u will have major problems. I called my mechanic and he sent a tow truck I had just put 30 gallons of diesel fuel into my tank. My mechanic was not happy draining it. long story short he cleaned the tank out and put two new fuel filters on and I was good. Listen to this guy it can and will happen if ur day dreaming. Good luck
I almost did it - I just started filling myself because Larry is sick.
Luckily, I was hitting the diesel button and it wouldn’t pump 😁
back in the day all diesel was green dispenser now they are black at sum stations just to keep us guessing and now def dispensers. pro tip for your def system: DELETE IT/bypass EGR . Def will crystalize and you will not now it and gunk up system. ive seen deleted engines and there is NO smoke . Its all about money
I have seen a bunch of videos about cracking down on deleted systems. Larry
this will help allot of people understand def systems, thanks you know I just got my 3500hd Chevy in march, i do love it but I have tried to exclusively use the pump def, the amount of waste these box def fill jugs is unreal, the cardboard, plastics jugs and everything end up in landfills, can believe the amount of waste this stuff creates just to inject some water and pig piss onto an exhaust stream.... ugg and not to mention the cost of the dpf components themselves..... add 7k to any new truck what a shame the private truck owners have to do this. I think we should be able to fill up the empty jugs at service stations....you know eh....
Paul, unfortunately not every place has gas stations with DEF - we are in an area in Nova Scotia with no big gas stations.
We fill at truck stops when we can - the ones in jugs are back up,
Alice
@@DownsizingMakesCents Would it be practical to refill the jug from pumps when you come across them? Also - what is the 'mileage' for DEF?
That is it good
Thanks Dan. Larry
In the winter i some times would add a small amount of gasto thiñ out the diesel
There’s a special winterizing fluid approved
Yea I just poured about two seconds worth of def into my 21’ diesel gladiator. Realized it and googled. Thank god I didn’t start it. Waiting on a tow now.
Oh, jeez. Good thing you caught it early. Time to label it like Larry.
🤗
@@DownsizingMakesCents lol yea it’s at the shop now. 1200 ish from the sound of it
@@gooddays2484 yikes- but it could have been worse. Larry made a 3D cap that reads “pay attention” and it’s red
Wish I could send pic to you.
Maybe he should sell them on his Etsy and EBay stores 😉
Have you tried using the Walmart brand of DEF? It’s certified by the American Petroleum Institute and it’s approximately $7.00 for the 2 and a half Gallo container. I’ve used it since December and have had no ill effects from it. Great video as always Larry!
Me too no issues
Hey Robert, Most of the time we get DEF at the pump for around $3 per gallon. But I had no idea that the walmart brand was so inexpensive, I will have to check it out. Thanks Larry
Industry standards for DEF manufacturing, quality, transportation, storage, etc are detailed in ISO 22241. As long as a container advertises their product meets these standards it should be fine, regardless of price.
Diesel aftertreatment specialist make a respectful income by maintaining and repairing DEF systems. Speaking from experience, most DEF system faults are from failed components, software strategy, or gross contamination- filling DEF tank with diesel, hydraulic oil, or other fluid. I use a refractometer to measure specific gravity, it is extremely rare that I see concentration deviate more than 1.5%.
@@DownsizingMakesCents I always buy the Walmart brand and here is why…. Walmart sells 20 to 1 their brand over Blue DEF and it is always the freshest DEF on the shelf, I test every container and it has always been spot on!
i just made this costly mistake , i just wasnt paying attention , thank god for full coverage and good insurance , the total on the estimate for repair from the dealership is 21k. they are replacing the entire fuel system . Ill never do that again
Wow im sorry this happened to you, I have a huge fear of this mistake. Are you saying that your car insurance paid for the repair or did your car warranty pay for it? I really want to know. I 3d printed a gas cap for my truck that says “Pay Attention” it really helps me make sure i concentrate on any diesel activity that could cost thousands.
I have 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee. I am almost panicked by the DEF thing. Never imagined having a diesel but circumstances brought me to it and actually like the vehicle. I went to the Jeep dealer as I did not understand this DEF thing. They told me that it was very pricey and that it would be in excess of $300. dollars to service the tank. My gauge shows less than half full of DEF and I am traveling soon do not want to take any risked of damaging the engine. Should I have the dealer do this or as your excellent video indicates perhaps I just need to fill the DEF tank with the fluid you use. Seems like a less expensive way. The vehicle runs beautifully I am just concerned about th level of DEF. Thanks for a great explanation. Would appreciate your recommendation.
We buy a jug at Walmart and fill up whenever gauge reads 1/2 or 1/4 full.
Doing it yourself definitely saves money
I do not have a diesel truck yet. I had never heard of that, thank you. I do get tired, rushed, and distracted. I am surprised there are not at the pump safeguards and on the truck. Does DEF make it smell better? I feel sick when i smell diesel trucks. I know there is nothing i can do about the smell of the fuel, but i sure hope the exhaust smell is better. The engine noise is obnoxious, too. I REALLY hate having to get a diesel, but guess there is no choice in order to be safe. Thanks so much.
the great thing about all of the emissions changes to diesel trucks is it virtually eliminates that diesel smell. I hate the smell of diesel. I had a bad experience on a fishing boat where the wind blew taht diesel smoke on us for hours, made me so sick. The engine noise is more that a gas truck but you dont notice any difference while driving, the cab is very sound proofed. larry
@@DownsizingMakesCents good to hear...or not hear...mine was a boat, too!
I have just bought a diesel VW and I had no idea you had to put this product in, as the dealer told me nothing! How often do you have to put some in? If i drive a thousand miles how much would the car use? Basically how often do I have to fill up, or will I be told when it needs refilling?
Good info. Thank you. Do you have a video about your Ram truck and why you chose that brand? I am researching 1-ton duallies and I'm leaning towards the Ford F-350 or 450. I would like to know your thoughts.
Thanks. There are two videos - very early in our channel.
czcams.com/video/N26LHcVXjNU/video.html
czcams.com/video/YtfvfzSPjoQ/video.html
Both are great trucks. I’m a Cummins fan but I have to give credit to the 6.7L Powerstoke but man o man once you drive a rig with the turning radius of a F-450 and F-550 you won’t want anything less.
Plus the the F Series the fuel door is huge so the ports are spread out nicely, not like the dodge were you open it's and it's like you walked in on step sis stuck in the laundry machine. The 6.7 PS also has the best mpg.
Are you able to refill the DEF container at the pump or buy a fuel can to use? We’ve gone back and forth about upgrading to a 3/4 ton but will probably get a gasser for our less than 7000 pound rig.
Hey Stephen, thats a great idea. I will keep one of my empty def jugs around to fill at the pump, I dont see why you couldnt. Larry
i never tow our 5th without a spare DEF. especially going into remote areas.
Smart guy. We always have DEF with us, but we have had some go bad because we usually get it at trucker stops,
Alice
@@DownsizingMakesCents , how’s your back?
@@pigybak Better, but no major hiking or rock/cliff climbing 😩 Thanks for asking 🤗
Alice
Purchased my 2020 Chevy 3500 Duramax 6 months ago. (DEF fill is next to diesel fill on 2020 and newer as opposed to under the hood)I have not put DEF in the fuel tank...yet. I am so paranoid about doing this, I am hypervigilant when filling my tanks. I did run into something called diesel premium last week and did not know what it was or if it was compatible with my truck. I put the "regular" diesel in then I was worried about it until I burned up the tank.
they should not call it diesel premium, it causes too much confusion between premium gas. One grade of diesel is good for me. We are in canada now and the pump handles are sometimes yellow and sometimes green for diesel. I really stop and pay attention here especially. I think chevy should have kept the DEF under the hood. thanks for sharing your story. Larry
First time diesel owner here. Very paranoid each time I fuel up!!
Better to be cautious then careless 👍
Alice
WHy do the put both holes in the same place? Gas and DEF, they should be far apart.
We agree. And other trucks do
is there a cap that comes with a lock? this will force you to use a key to unlock and remind you that the fuel is special
Links to the locking caps shown in the video are in the description
How often you add DEF in to the truck
Depends on travel. About once a month because we put a lot of miles on the truck
How long the DEF can last with out to fail ? I keep truck for 15 years and the DEF thing scare me
I wouldn’t hold onto a tank for more than 6 months.
If it’s in your truck for more than a year without the DEF being used, you need to flush it
I don't drive my truck too many miles..It has 37k miles. It there a drain plug for def so I can change it out?
That’s a great question, I wouldn’t want old def to mess up the emissions system. I hope somebody here can answer that question, I will look it up. Since we traveled extensively right now we always have fresh DEF in the tank but when we settle down that will change. Larry
Pay attention to the task at hand.
Exactly 👍
How did the DEF get into the filter system if the guy did NOT start his truck? You said he drained it right away.
After he flushed the gas tank out, some def was still in there, when he put new fuel in and started the truck some of the residual def made its way into the fuel filter. I should have explained that better, Larry
He probably only siphoned the fuel out.
That would have left a lot of def in the bottom. The water goes to the bottom and doesn't mix with the fuel.
How often do you use def?
Have to put def in every 1500 miles or so to keep it topped up. It’s really not a big deal. Larry
How often do you have to fill the def? Missed info for those of us who do not have a diesel truck yet. Thanks!
Same question… does it have a separate gauge for the def?
Depends on number of miles- so about every 2000-2500 miles,
Alice
Yes. In the truck, there is a gauge,
Alice
@@DownsizingMakesCents I have a new Ford and it has a gauge, I've got about 2800 miles on it so far and just at half on the DEF gauge now so about 5 to 6k per tank on mine maybe.
@@dougswaggard6667 Doug, how big is your DEF tank? Ours is small
I have a gasser and was thinking about switching to a diesel. After watching this video, I think I'll stick to my gasser. yes.
So far 4 years in I love the diesel, it pulled us up some really steep mountains last year, no problem. I just wish diesel was cheaper than gas like it used to be years ago. Larry
To me, it's not about the cost of fuel, it's the pain in the butt maintenance that these trucks need and the potential probelms they can have.
Diesel all day long!!
I made that mistake I’ve been driving trucks for a while,tied and distracted i put it in my my feul tank and didn’t realize until i started the engine and started driving,five miles are so the engine die,i felt like dumbass😢
Oh, no. Just shows, even experienced drivers could forget. Such a costly mistake.
Thanks for sharing your story
How much DEF do you put in there approximately?
2 1/2 gallons each time we fill
Hey, we saw you at Mira but didn’t recognize you, otherwise we would have said hello. We’re full timers as well and heading across Canada soon. How long are you in NS?
Hey, you still here? We leave tomorrow- headed to Cape Breton National Park for a couple weeks. I can’t remember where next 🤣
Sorry we missed you. I wasn’t out and about that much because I hurt my back. But we had a great day out today.
Message me on IG 🤗
Alice
@@DownsizingMakesCents we’re not in Cape Breton anymore. We did go to the highlands for a hike. We did the Skyline Trail, very pretty and very crowded. Worth the long drive. If you’re camping at the national park, you probably can only fit in either Cheticamp or Broad Cove. Cheticamp is very cramped with no privacy. Broad Cove is a lot better. By the way, we don’t have any social media but if you have an email address, we’d love to stay in touch. You never know, our paths may cross again! Good luck with your travels!
Sorry we missed you. We definitely want to do the Skyline Trail.
We should have an email on our CZcams about us section.
We will be in Canada at least through September so who knows.
Alice
I put DEF in my wife's 2020 GMC. GMC doesn't put a gas cap on that truck. Being in a hurry I put DEF in the dsl tank while in idle to watch the dash reading. It cost over 18,000.00 in parts & labor. MAKE SURE YOU PUT IN A CLAIM THROUGH YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY. IT COMES UNDER YOUR COMPREHENSIVE @ DOESN'T COST YOU ONE CENT. THATS WHAT I WAS TOLD.
Francis, sorry that happened. But so good insurance paid for it. Thanks for the info,
Alice
A good strategy to avoid this would be to never fill the DEF at the same time as the fuel.
Tim, he doesn’t.
When Larry was in the hospital and I had to drive and fuel the dually, the stickers saved me.
Lots of examples in the comments
Alice
DEF is such a waste my deleted truck only briefly makes a small amount of soot at WOT(not visible in my mirror then none when staying in WOT
I guess you are in a state where you won’t get a ticket?
I drive a 2001 dodge and don't worry about it lol
Gary, that’s awesome it still runs. Yeah. The rule wasn’t in until like 2010 😉
Alice
@@DownsizingMakesCents no rust 2500 5.9 rebuild motor upgrade transmission, rebuild steering, etc
Pay attention!
No distractions!
Dear lord…
Exactly. We have had so many people thank us.
So thank you for understanding 🤗
I have an 05 f350. No DEF for me.
Yeah, that’s before the mandate
Peak def at Costco $9
Jason, that’s a good price. I guess we should join Costco 😉
Alice
The wasted DEF containers are probably worse for the environment than the exhaust
We recycle the empty containers and the cardboard box
Having to decipher the date code alone would make me go with another brand. Wow!
Dwayne, it is a very strange way to date it,
Alice
Def freezes at -13 degrees C.
Jim, good to know for those in cold climates.
The whole reason we travel full time is to avoid temps like that 🥶 😉
Alice
Your tank heating system should avoid any freezing issues.
Go to the truck stops and fill up for $2 a gallon instead of $10
It’s cheaper, but not quite that much 😉
@@DownsizingMakesCents try South Carolina just got 6 gallons for $12.66
But glad I found the place
Get 500 miles for a for tank instead of spilling it out the jugs and never topping off for long trips….
Be safe Bro
Could you imagine the look on our parents faces if we were kids and told them "in the future we are going to buy 8 dollar a gallon water for our diesel muffler" so we dont hurt our 10 thousand dollar exhaust system.
And then we tell them it's made of water and pee
It is unfortunate that adds so much cost to a diesel truck. I think the manufacturers could find a way to make it less expensive but they dont have an incentive to. Larry
That MFR date code on the box is asinine - they should reprogram the printing software to fix that. IMHO they made it difficult to interpret deliberately.
Isn’t that ridiculous? Using old DEF is so bad. It should be more plain,
Alice
I worked in the chemical industry for a while, it’s likely SAP or some big ERP managing their manufacturing, labeling and shipping and yeah a simple report or interface code change could out it in, well, a normal date format like mm/dd/yyyy for expiration date. Even if it’s some old thing like MAPICS or BPCS it is not a hugely difficult thing… yeah I think it’s intentional frankly…
No green 4 diesel blue 4 def
I recently had to fill the truck myself because Larry is extremely I’ll and is going back into the hospital.
I’m glad I knew about this I doubled checked. His stickers helped.
Thank you for supporting us
Alice
you had the jug up side down the black air breather should be on top,,, Just saying
Thanks rick, i wil have to try that the next time, does that mean you have to hold the jug the other way around, thanks Larry
@@DownsizingMakesCents Yep! Turn the jug 180🙃 and have the breather on top.
It will fill smoothly and it's easier and quicker to Stop filling when the tank is full 🤗
Another reason I will not buy a diesel. When I drove OTR def didn't exist.
There are a bunch of reasons to stay away from diesel but in the end, they last longer and pull harder than a comparable gas. DEF is here to stay for OTR and people like me. Larry
Obviously the DEF date code was govm't idea.
Probably! Larry
im sorry i bought a newer truck rhe def system on my spinter works as it should but on the ford it is not good lots of trouble and lots of cash delete it asap if you want to keep the truck past 100k
I am really hoping that if I take care of it, maintain it properly and make sure that I run it hard occasionally to burn out the DPF, hoping to get several hundred thousand miles for for the emissions stuff goes bad, Lar
I purchased my 2017 Ram 3500 6.7 Cummins with EGR delete. No DEF filling ever. Our Rig is 20,000lbs and I get around 9-11mpg depending upon terrain. 18-22mpg not pulling.
You definitely benefit with extra power and mileage with the deleted emissions system, but that voids the powertrain warranty. I dont know much about diesel engines so I rely on the warranty for big repair expenses. Larry
I understand your concern there. We have 235,000mi and 0 issues :) the Aisin tranny is a beast.
You don't need to take the jug out of the box. The black valve should be up and it won't suck the jug in. You make it look so much harder than it is. No table should be needed.
Casey, the table is because Larry has RA - it helps with the lifting and pouring.
I’m glad you have no problem when filling,
Alice
The black valve always ends up on the bottom when screwing the nozzle on. I think it's intentional, because several brands do this.
@@alaska-bornfloridaman then turn the jug over. You're using it the wrong direction. The valve needs to be on top to work correctly.
@@caseypries7559 Don't need to. I've recently made my truck "off road" .
@@caseypries7559
Also: When turning the jug that way, the fluid floods that air valve instantly, so it doesn't work at all.
kinda stupid that the def can even fit in the diesel fill port.
Good point
Stupid date code. Just put the date on it
You are so right
Delete. 12-14mpg hauling a 14k trailer
How much did it cost to delete? Larry
What kind of rigg? That sounds like really 💩MPG 😳.
ask Chevy owners how they fill their DEF 😵💫
from what i understatd is the Chevys used to fill under the hood but since 2020 is located beside the diesel fill port like Rams. Is that right. larry
Mine is right next to the diesel fill port…
Buy A Gasoline 1-Ton Dually Truck so U don’t have too worry about That DamDeff.
I wouldn’t want be towing with a gasser up a long mountain accent out west, like we did last year plus the exhaust brake really helps on the decent. Larry
How toxic and how much waste is there with the plastic containers and the production of this?
This feels like one of those fancy new gas can with the nozzle that pours everywhere. SMH
Culo by a ram wey 😂
First issue is you bought a RAM instead of GMC Denali 😂😂
😁 Our very first truck - except for an SUV - Xterra
When I purchased my gently used 2016 2500 HD Silverado last year I was a bit perturbed that I had to “pop the hood” to add Def…not so much anymore. With having to go half way around the truck to add it; my chances of putting it in the fuel tank go way down👍🏻. Now, making sure I don’t pick up the regular handle…that’s still a constant worry…but with the color coded diesel handle I can at least tell all the wacko environmentalists that I’m really a “greenie”‼️🤣🤣🤣
Opting for a printed receipt of pumped fuel gives you legal proof incase stations tank is compromised with water or other contamination.
A brief sniff test of the nozzle after a quick pull & release (think chemistry class smell test, not a Scarface snort) is also a good practice to check if you’ve selected the wrong handle or if a tanker driver accidentally delivers gasoline into the stations diesel tank.
Rick, we definitely see the advantage of having the DEF under the hood. And yes, still need to be careful. It’s happened to more people that are willing to admit to it 😉
Alice
The thing is you don’t have to add DEF very often - at least not with my truck. It’s Not very expensive (not compared to the truck or camper) and it’s not a big chore. If you’re an absent minded person that often makes these kinds of mistakes maybe don’t get a diesel.
David, as we show in the video, it’s not an uncommon mistake. The friend we mentioned is an engineer who also runs major companies.
You don’t have to be “absent minded” just human. Mistakes happen. We just hope we can help others not make a costly mistake.
If people chose not to buy, go, or do something because a mistake might happen, that wouldn’t be much of a life.
It’s great to hear you are so confident.
Have a great weekend,
Alice
What a deliberately ridiculous date code...
We agree
Don't have to worry about def if you get rid of the emissions garbage 🙂
The admissions stuff can be a pain.