When towing mine was using that much or more, before my exhaust failed (SCR and DPF) and was replaced. After the replacement my use is less than half of what it was before the fix. I guess I need to start tracking how many miles I am getting on a tank of DEF, like I do for fuel. ;o)
This summer we went from San Antonio to Memphis, Nashville, and the Smokey Mountains and back on 2.5 gallons or less of DEF. Whereas last year when we ran out west to Yellowstone and back I used 3 or 4 - 2.5 gallon containers of DEF.
Geez, I thought 2.5 gallons every 800 miles was ok. Guess not.
Rick
It always seams as though i go through a lot while towing... I reset my 2nd tripometer as I filled up the tank before this trip to see.. Right now I am at 1300 miles and have not gotten the 1/2 full message...
I don't have any exact figure but if I were to take a very good guess, we just did 2,500 miles and it used about 2.5 gallons possible 3 at most.
Steve
I average approx 4K miles on 5 gals of DEF pulling our Heavy 39MB. I generally wait for the 200 to 300 mile warning, then I can generally add two 2.5 gal containers.
Not towing I never have to add DEF between getting the truck serviced every 5,000 miles. Never even get the 500 miles to go message.
When towing, I have to add DEF after 3,500 to 4,000 miles
For those with the Ram 3500 (mine is a '14), there is a recall on the emissions system. Something to do with the NOX2 sensor and Catalytic Converter. They replaced both of mine. Not sure if this is related to your DEF usage, but might be worth checking into. I use a tank full of DEF every 3000-5000 miles? I go months without having to look at it. Pulling a rig or not.
There is one for the DEF system for the 15's and up. Been waiting for it to hit the mailbox.
Thanks
Rick
There is one for the DEF system for the 15's and up. Been waiting for it to hit the mailbox.
Thanks
Rick
No need to wait for the mailbox if you know its coming or already here.
The dealership will have your VIN number and know what recalls are in effect.
Every time I take it in, they run the scan for the latest recalls. Let's not forget that they make money on that...That's how I found out about this latest recall. I took it down for a "Check Engine" light.
I should not have had a Check Engine at 50,000 miles. The dealership ran the scan and determined that the Check Engine light was related to the recall item. They said that if I had driven very far, the truck would have shut down and I would have been stranded. Many of the Check Engine codes won't do that. But this one would have.
Good idea I hadn't thought of that.......................Thanks
I am no RAM or diesel expert, I just picked this up from asking questions when mine was using excessive DEF and the exhaust system failed (DPF & SCR). This is not unique to the RAM by the way. At a real high level there are three components to your exhaust the DOC (diesel oxidation catalyst - what we used to refer to as a catalytic converter), the DPF (diesel particulate filter - where it gets rid of soot), and the SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction - this is where the DEF is injected to turn the nitrous oxides into harmless water and nitrogen gas.) And there are sensors between between each to monitor flow and pressure and alot of other stuff to determine when to regenerate and inject the DEF...................on mine it was supposedly injecting more DEF than was needed based on info from those sensors. So i don't know if it was getting the new exhaust system thru warranty, the reprogramming based on the replacement, or a combination of both but the amount of DEF I use now is way less than before.
Note: because of the ongoing issues with the new diesel exhaust systems the govt has pressured most manufacturers to extend the warranties................I think most have been extended to around 7 yrs and 100k miles or something like that. I could be wrong, I didnt fact check this but I recall the tech telling me this.
Sorry for bringing up the DEF in an MPG topic...........!
