Jeep Garage  - Jeep Forum banner

DEF Level at Delivery

23K views 96 replies 41 participants last post by  Brainstormer 
#1 ·
According to the tips card included with my EcoDiesel:

"Your vehicle has been delivered to you with a full tank of DEF"

I might take this back to the dealer and ask him to fill it up after all.
 
#37 ·
being a diesel doctor on rigs, makes me not want a new diesel with def and any regen catalysts. cause after warranty expires hello ultra high repairs. Sent from my LG-P999 using Tapatalk 2
The SCRs are a far better process than the pre DEF emissions. I have several of each and one day I will be able to ditch the PITA pre SCR trucks.
 
#39 ·
Oh I prefer the "ancient" trucks myself but out of the emission ideas, I use the term ideas loosely, I think the SCR trucks are far better.
 
#48 ·
According to the tips card included with my EcoDiesel:

"Your vehicle has been delivered to you with a full tank of DEF"

I might take this back to the dealer and ask him to fill it up after all.
I had to take my Jeep back to dealer suspecting the same thing as you because of the dash warnings I was getting. Turns out I broke off an injector located on the bottom of the exhaust! All I did was drive home 350 miles through a snow storm with like 4 inches on the highway. Yes I hit ice chunks dropping off off others people's vehicles, a few snow piles etc. but I thought I was in a new Jeep? wth??
 
#63 ·
My DEF level was at about 75% at delivery. I am now at 5,000 miles and am not so sure of my current level. The gauge jumped around the other day during a 600 mile drive. It was at about 45% then dropped rather suddenly to about 20%. It then drifted lower to about 15% over a couple hundred miles. Then it jumped back up to about 40%. Arriving at home, I see it has dropped down to about 20%. !@#$%^&*(@#$%!
I don't want to add any until I see what the level does in the future and to see if I get a warning message. I do have two gallons in jugs for when I need to add DEF.
 
#64 ·
My dealer told me tonight in advance of delivery that they would not fill the DEF at delivery and that it has 2.5 gal in the tank.
but here's the kicker... they said DEF only has a 30 day shelf life and they say if you don't use it fast enough that it could go bad and you COULD have to have the DEF system cleaned at your expense if you are not using it fast enough to keep it fresh.. DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? they DID say they would give me coupons for me to get two 2.50 GAL containers any time I wanted to add as the stock level goes down....
Does this stuff really go bad like that , especially in the summer?
Never heard of anything like that....:confused:
 
#66 ·
Diesel Exhaust Fluid Fill at PDI on 2014 Grand Cherokees (March 2014)

We are starting to see several cases on Grand Cherokee vehicles equipped with the 3.0L Diesel Engine where customers are coming back to the dealer with low mileage P203F and P241D DTC’s due to low DEF. DTC P203F indicates that the DEF fluid level is too low. Grand Cherokees are equipped with an Electronic Vehicle Information Center that will notify the driver when the DEF starts to get low. The driver warning and inducement strategy for a low fluid condition is as follows:

- The first warning will occur when the tank level is at approximately 2.5 - 3 gallons. The customer will hear a chime and get an EVIC message reading "LOW DEF REFILL SOON".

- The second warning level will occur when the tank level is at approximately two gallons. The customer will hear a chime and get an EVIC message reading "REFILL DEF ENGINE WILL NOT RESTART IN XXX MILES".

- If the message is ignored until the tank is empty, the vehicle will not start. The customer will hear a chime and get an EVIC message reading "REFILL DEF ENGINE WILL NOT START". DTC P241D “SCR INDUCEMENT - FORCED ENGINE SHUTDOWN“ will set anytime the SCR inducement does not function as designed including when the DEF runs too low. If the reading "REFILL DEF ENGINE WILL NOT START" message is set, the vehicle will not start until a minimum of two gallons of approved Diesel Exhaust Fluid is added to the tank.

Vehicles are shipped from the assembly plant with approximately 3 gallons of DEF in the DEF tank. This is done to ensure the vehicle will start and run properly while the vehicle is being moved around the dealership prior to retail delivery but not too full to cause concerns during transportation from the assembly plant to the dealership.

The vehicle SHOULD NOT be delivered to the owner until the DEF tank has been completely filled.

As indicated on the “New Vehicle Preparation Form,” dealers are requested to fill the DEF tank just prior to delivering the vehicle to the owner.

Labor Operation 25-08-01-40 can be used to reimburse dealers for this DEF fill. This Labor Operation can only be used prior to retail delivery and is not intended to be used for any warranty repair.
 
#83 ·
Diesel Exhaust Fluid Fill at PDI on 2014 Grand Cherokees (March 2014)

Grand Cherokees are equipped with an Electronic Vehicle Information Center that will notify the driver when the DEF starts to get low. The driver warning and inducement strategy for a low fluid condition is as follows:

- The first warning will occur when the tank level is at approximately 2.5 - 3 gallons. The customer will hear a chime and get an EVIC message reading "LOW DEF REFILL SOON".

- The second warning level will occur when the tank level is at approximately two gallons. The customer will hear a chime and get an EVIC message reading "REFILL DEF ENGINE WILL NOT RESTART IN XXX MILES".
Milous, the DEF amounts quoted in the PDI do not match my experience, nor do they make sense, nor do they match the diesel supplement. Below is the DEF level information copied from the diesel supplement.

As it says, if the first warning is at 500 miles, that should be about 0.4 gallons (500mi/10000mi*8gal) not 2.5 to 3 gal. Conversely, 2.5 gal should be over 3,000 mi which is rather early for a warning. The second warning is at 200 miles, which is 0.16 gal not 2 gal.

Looking at it another way, if we were using DEF at a rate of 2.5 gal per 500 mi, then we would use 50 gal every 10,000 mi, not 8 gal as spec'ed.
• Engine Will Not Restart in XXXX mi DEF Low Refill
Soon – This message will display when DEF driving
range is less than 500 miles, DEF fluid top off is
required with in the displayed mileage. The message
will be displayed in the EVIC during vehicle start up
with the current allowed mileage and accompanied by
a single chime. The remaining mileage can be pulled
up anytime by way of the “Messages” list within the
EVIC
• Engine Will Not Restart in XXXX mi Refill DEF –
This message will display when DEF driving range is
less than 200 miles. It is also displayed at 150 miles and
100 miles. DEF fluid top off is required with in the
displayed mileage. The message will be displayed in
the EVIC during vehicle start up with an updated
distance mileage, and it will be accompanied by a
single chime. Stating at 100 miles, remaining range will
be continuously displayed while operating the vehicle.
Chimes will also accompany the 75, 50 and 25 mile
remaining distances. The DEF Low telltale will be on
continuously until DEF fluid is topped off.
• Engine Will Not Restart Refill DEF – This message
will display when the DEF driving range is less than
1 mile, DEF fluid top off is required or the engine will
not restart. The message will be displayed in the EVIC
during vehicle start up, and it will be accompanied by
a single chime. The DEF Low telltale will be illuminated
continuously until DEF fluid tank is filled with a
minimum of two gallons of DEF.
 
#67 ·
DEF has a shelf life of 2-3 years before crystallization occurs. I keep it in bulk and have never had an issue.


Sent from my iPhone using JeepGarage
 
#68 ·
DEF shelf life -

Average daily temperature - Shelf life in months
Less than 50 F - 36 months
Less than 77 F - 18 months
Less than 86 F - 12 months
Less than 95 F - 6 months
Greater than 104 F - 2 months

For example: In 2009 the two hottest months in Phoenix Arizona were July and August. The average temperature for both months was 95 F (35 C), according to the data from the National Weather Service. The average daily temperatures for these months ranged from 104 F (40 C) to 85 F (29 C), while for
some days daily highs reached115 F (46 C). For areas that see these average temperatures DEF shelf life would be 6 months.
If you live in the extreme southern US, I would not top off the DEF in the summer months, but everywhere else, it should be no problem running with a full DEF tank.
 
#73 ·
But back to DEF-consumption: I thought that we, the consumer, wouldn't be dealing with this issue that often since it's supposed to last for 10,000 miles and would be re-filled during scheduled maintenance visits?!:confused:
 
#76 ·
I never received any messages about low DEF. When the EVIC indicates 10% remaining, which was at 8,400 miles, I added two 2.5 gal containers. It then read 75% remaining.


Sent from my iPhone using JeepGarage
 
#78 ·
I first tried to buy at a truck stop, but the attendant was so rude as I tried to prepay for the purchase, I decided to leave. The truckers get VERY irritated when they catch a four-wheeler in one of their lanes. I may try again next time.


Sent from my iPhone using JeepGarage
 
#80 ·
I first tried to buy at a truck stop, but the attendant was so rude as I tried to prepay for the purchase, I decided to leave. The truckers get VERY irritated when they catch a four-wheeler in one of their lanes. I may try again next time.
When DEF amount falls under 1/4 gauge, the gauge line turns red. I chose this as my mark to schedule a visit to the pump within the next few days. I then fill exactly 5 gallons which brings me to above 3/4. This way I can easily prepay and never over-fill. The only flying J around here does not accept CC at the pump. I picked up Saturday afternoon for the best time to fill DEF. The truck stop is less busy than the usual, and the attendants can activate you quickly. I picked up the lane closest to the attendant so I can be in and out quickly. Took me about 5 minutes from pulling in to out.
 
#84 ·
I informed the dealer I bought it from who didn't fill it up so they said bring it to a local dealer to get fluid and send them the bill. It seems they were not told to do this so a lot of them missed it. I sent the TSB to them as well so they know in the future. I bought two 2.5 gallon and put on in and it filled it almost all the way up so I have a spare. I am keeping it in my basement on the floor which should keep temps low so its shelf life is longer.
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top