Diesel Exhaust Fluid or DEF Fluid
Whether in storage tanks or in equipment, DEF can freeze and possibly cause issues. As temperatures drop below 12°F, DEF will begin to solidify and not work as intended.
How do I stop my truck from freezing in DEF?
Preventing Frozen DEF
Storing your truck in a heated or insulated garage during cold periods can help prevent your DEF from freezing. Likewise, an insulated tote blanket can help prevent freezing. More details about your truck’s specific after-treatment system can be found in TruckSeries.
Can you store DEF in the cold?
DEF should be stored in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area. The ideal storage temperature for DEF is between 15ºF and 65ºF (-9ºC and 18ºC). It should not be exposed to direct sunlight for long periods of time as the urea will decompose.
How do you winterize a DEF fluid?
Push the DEF pump switch to “Trailer Fill”. Allow the pump to run while squeezing the nozzle handle for 30 seconds. Unhook the quick coupler from the nozzle WHILE THE PUMP IS RUNNING. This will evacuate the DEF fluid from the nozzle.
What to Do When DEF is frozen?
If DEF freezes in the vehicle, do not put any additives in the tank to help it melt. The fluid needs to remain pure for it to work correctly. The engine will start without a problem, and the tank has a heating element that can quickly thaw the DEF.
How do you unfreeze a DEF tank?
Keeping your DEF tank less than full in cold temperatures is a good idea. If DEF freezes in the machine, do not put any additives in the tank to help it melt, API says. DEF needs to remain pure for it to work correctly. Instead, the heating element in the DEF tank will thaw it while the machine is running.
What temp does diesel freeze?
It’s right at the freezing mark, 32 degrees Fahrenheit, that the paraffin in diesel fuel begins to stiffen, leaving the fuel tank clouded. Although this change won’t prevent you from driving, it serves as a warning of how colder weather affects fuel.
How cold does it have to be for diesel to gel?
Gelling occurs when the paraffin wax in diesel solidifies because of a drop in temperature, and the temperature of the fuel generally has to stay below something like minus 10 degrees F for extended periods, like 48 to 72 hours.
What temp does diesel start to gel?
This term is pretty self-explanatory, since fuel gelling occurs when the fuel in your tank thickens up enough to look and feel like gel. This only happens when the temperature outside drops below 32 degrees Fahrenheit, though it’s most likely to occur at about 15 degrees or lower.
Can you store DEF outside in winter?
If you can, reduce the amount of DEF you have on-site for winter. Hold a bulk pre-order until late winter or spring. The urea will degrade over time. Keep it in plastic or stainless steel tote or container.
What temperature should DEF be stored at?
For maximum Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) shelf life, store between 68°F (20°C) and 23°F (-5°C). Keep DEF out of direct sunlight. If DEF is stored outside it must be kept shaded from the sun. DEF will begin to lose its urea potency if kept in direct sunlight for too long.
Can DEF fluid sit outside?
DEF INVENTORY STORAGE LEVELS
Store DEF out of direct sunlight. If DEF is stored outside it must be shaded from the sun.
Does DEF freeze Duramax?
DEF freezes at approximately -11 degrees celsius, so the tank and DEF system are designed to freeze in cold climates. If DEF is frozen, the vehicle will still start as it always has.
Does DEF fluid go bad?
Because it doesn’t include any preservatives, DEF does come with a shelf life. The good news is, it’s a fairly long shelf life; DEF can usually be stored up to one year without any issues.
Can you put water in DEF tank?
The DEF will be diluted by the added water, but depending on the ratio of water to DEF, the solution may still contain enough urea to deal with the NOX via an increase in the injection rate.
How long does it take to thaw DEF?
An SCR exhaust cleaning system usually has a built-in DEF heater to defrost frozen DEF. You just need to start the car to begin the heating. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the frozen DEF must flow within 70 minutes. The earlier the time to melt the fluid, the better.
Why does DEF need to be heated?
DEF fluid is a urea based product, it freezes at -11°C (12.2°F). The heating element (6) is used to prevent the fluid from freezing while the engine is running.
Can DEF fluid go bad?
Because it doesn’t include any preservatives, DEF does come with a shelf life. The good news is, it’s a fairly long shelf life; DEF can usually be stored up to one year without any issues.
Can you store DEF outside?
If you store DEF outside, it must be kept out of direct sunlight and stay under shade. If it is kept in direct sunlight for any sustained period of time, it begins to lose its urea potency. DEF must be stored below 86°F or in the coolest area of your storage facility.
How long does it take to thaw DEF?
An SCR exhaust cleaning system usually has a built-in DEF heater to defrost frozen DEF. You just need to start the car to begin the heating. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the frozen DEF must flow within 70 minutes. The earlier the time to melt the fluid, the better.
Why does DEF need to be heated?
DEF fluid is a urea based product, it freezes at -11°C (12.2°F). The heating element (6) is used to prevent the fluid from freezing while the engine is running.
