DEF Fill

[tomandgayle]

I have a 2017 Aria and can’t figure out how to get the nozzle at the fuel pump to insert into the fill of the DEF tank. No matter what angle I try it doesn’t work. I had to use a long funnel.

[CDA]

You have DEF fills at your fuel pumps or am I confused?

[camperguy99]

My 2015 Tuscany is very similar to the Aria and it shares your DEF fill problem. I have to put the spout in sideways and not fully insert it to get a fill. Has worked for me for 5+ years. Tank is full after the very first turnoff.

By the way, I get 400+ miles to the gal of DEF.

camperguy99

[lwmcguire]

Since the tank sits high in the compartment I can insert it far enough to not get splash back when filling

Have to hold the nozzle. I usually top it off every 2-3 thousand miles and if at home in the shop I fill it with 2.5 gallon jugs

[16ACE27]

Originally Posted by CDA

You have DEF fills at your fuel pumps or am I confused?

Many diesel truck filling stations have DEF at the pumps.

[Bob Denman]

Do you think that it's better to buy DEF at the pump: or in an auto parts store?

[lwmcguire]

Def is UAN and RO/DI water

I buy jugs on sale for topping off I. The shop

On the road I fill at the pump

Over 10 years having to use DEF and the first 5 all out of jugs or totes

Never an issue in tract, trucks, or pickups

Most stories about DEF are from negligence, ignorance, sabotage, or simply stories

Many people DEF in fuel tanks so now a lot of fill ports are separated significantly

[Bob Denman]

I was curious after reading posts about it having a relatively short life-span...

[EA37TS]

Originally Posted by Bob Denman

I was curious after reading posts about it having a relatively short life-span...

DEF at truck stops has a fast turn around buying bulk because of the high volume used by truckers. The stuff inside in bottles doesn’t sell as fast. I buy mine bulk with every third or fourth diesel fill up.

[yukongrant]

I have heard stories of contaminated DEF at truck stops. I suspect they are just stories. But for all the DEF I use (maybe $30.00 a year), I'm erring on the side of "better safe than sorry" and only use the jugs.

[lwmcguire]

We hauled a spare gallon or two in the tool box for a year at a time and sometimes longer. Keeping the jugs out of direct hot sunlight is really the only thing that should be avoided. If you open a jug and don't use it all you should empty it when possible as the seal helps keep it from evaporating (the water portion) and concentrating.

The only way it quote "goes bad" is if the water evaporates and it concentrates, excluding someone monkeying with it that is.

The seasonal trucks and tractors/equipment were put in the shed all winter and brought out in the spring with the DEF perfectly fine after it had been frozen when we had extreme cold snaps. All the farmers and ranchers do the same thing.

[Bob Denman]

My jug of it is kept in the back of my garage in a "Vampire-Safe" zone...
But it is a couple of years old...

[CDA]

Originally Posted by 16ACE27

Many diesel truck filling stations have DEF at the pumps.

Gotcha, Was not aware, but than again my last diesel did not need DEF (2006).

[m1noel]

Originally Posted by tomandgayle

I have a 2017 Aria and can’t figure out how to get the nozzle at the fuel pump to insert into the fill of the DEF tank. No matter what angle I try it doesn’t work. I had to use a long funnel.

I used a cut off tool to trim the top of the door frame to make a little more clearance for the truck stop nozzle. I am going to try to post a pic. If it doesn't work you can find it in the Aria Initial thoughts/experiences thread.
Mike

https://www.thorforums.com/forums/f1...ce-9680-5.html

[GVP-The Boxcar Children]

I use a transmission funnel for the jug fill-the neck is long and slender. DON'T get one that separates into sections-get a one-piece unit. I will confess the angle is still extreme but I can get the jug tube to the funnel with no difficulty.
Gary

GVP

[lwmcguire]

Originally Posted by m1noel

I used a cut off tool to trim the top of the door frame to make a little more clearance for the truck stop nozzle. I am going to try to post a pic. If it doesn't work you can find it in the Aria Initial thoughts/experiences thread.
Mike

https://www.thorforums.com/forums/f1...ce-9680-5.html

That looks a lot like my tank and i can get the funnel that comes with the 2.5 gallon jugs in and empty the jug, barely

[HMCSW]

I read this on another site: Two separate:

Howie, very common on Freightliner products from the big trucks down to the Sprinters. The Def Header is the DEF tank sump, filter and potentiometer unit (for the gauge if equipped) (no pump, that sits on top of the tank). No recalls that I am aware of.

The biggest issue we see in the North East is if you fill the DEF tank in the winter and park it for an extended period of time (overnight), since DEF freezes, by poor tank design (Freightliner tanks) there is no room for the DEF to expand as it freezes and it cracks the plastic header within the tank. We have a policy at work DO NOT FILL THE DEF AT THE END OF THE DAY, FUEL TANKS ONLY. We change them by the dozens as a result of that and what we have become a custom to "routine failures for no reason".

When the engine cannot see the DEF tank level it will send the engine into derate (power reduction), I have had them just shut an engine off at highway speeds already also if it was damaged and shorted internally. The trucks have an "ENG FAULT OVRD" switch (that's how its labeled), you can press the button on the dash while cranking the engine and it will restart to limp it somewhere, I believe it will give you 4 hours at that point.

Tiffin had a problem with Def head sensors with their 2017-2018 models. The sensors were defective from their supplier. The sensors would give a false reading and cause a MIL light and then a derate of the engine. Most failed by 20,000 miles. Ours just failed at 19,000 miles. I changed out the head myself. Tiffin shipped me the new part over night. On ours, the whole tank had to be removed which was the hardest part of the repair. Had to drain 10 gallons of def first.