How do you put DEF fluid in a truck without spilling a drop? Here are a few tips for diesel truck owners out there as well as lots of helpful info about Diesel Exhaust Fluid, what it does and where we found it’s cheapest to buy.
Since 2010, diesel pickup truck engines have relied on Selective Catalytic Reduction technology (SCR), which uses Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF), to meet the EPA emmissions standards. DEF is a mixture of 1/3 urea and 2/3 de-ionized water, and it is sprayed into the exhaust system of diesel trucks to reduce the nitrous oxide (NOx) emissions into harmless nitrogen and water.
Late model diesel trucks require refilling the DEF tank!
Each manufacturer designs their trucks with a tank to hold the DEF, and you have to replenish it every so often. Our 2016 Dodge Ram 3500 has a 5 gallon DEF tank. The filler hole is under the gas cap next to the diesel filler hole. On some brands of trucks the filler hole is in the engine compartment under the hood.
The Dodge Ram has the DEF filler hole next to the diesel filler hole under the gas cap
We use this handy magnetic gas cap.
As a side note, opening the gas cap on a Ram truck is interesting because there is no screw-on dust cap covering the diesel filler hole inside. There’s just a spring-loaded flap. We find we need to wipe down the whole area after we’ve taken the truck out on four wheel drive roads in dusty places like southeastern Utah.
We use a nifty aftermarket diesel gas cap that uses a magnet to keep it handy during fill-ups. Just stick it on the side of the truck. Very cool! A slightly less expensive one is also available here.
While it would seem trivial to refill the DEF tank, we struggled the first few times with the bulky jugs and awkward spouts, and it dripped here and there and was basically a pain in the neck.
We’ve also shopped around quite a bit to find DEF that is fairly inexpensive. One of the more common brands is BlueDEF. Others are Command DEF by Prestone and Blue Blood by Cam2. You can also buy it in bulk (see below).
However, the best deal we’ve found is the big blue 2.5 gallon jug of SuperTech DEF sold at Walmart (in-store) for $7.88. The jug is easy to use and it’s drip-free.
SuperTech Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF)
SuperTech DEF comes with a flexible pouring spout that is wrapped around the handle. Simply unscrew the jug’s cap and screw the spout on until it’s really tight.
The SuperTech DEF jug comes with a flexible pour spout wrapped around the handle
Screw the flexible pour spout on tightly
Ready to pour.
There is a small black vent hole on the spout, and this little guy is essential to making the whole process go smoothly and cleanly.
The black air vent on the pour spout is the key to doing this chore
without dripping or spilling
After putting the flexible spout securely into the filler hole on the truck, give the jug a small squeeze to start the flow of fluid. This will make the vent hole on the jug such air in, which vents the jug and allows the fluid to flow easily.
Once the spout is inserted securely in the filler hole, squeeze the bottle slightly to start the flow.
Make sure all the fluid has been poured into the tank, and then you’re done!
Empty the contents into the DEF tank.
The first time we did this, we didn’t squeeze the jug first, and DEF dribbled out the air vent. But if you get the siphon going properly, by squeezing the jug as you start to pour, it’s a cinch.
Our Ram truck has a dashboard gauge that indicates the fill level of the DEF tank. When it gets down to half full, we put a 2.5 gallon jug of DEF into the tank to fill it back up again. We typically do this every 1,000 miles or so.
DEF has a minimum shelf life of a year. We keep just one 2.5 gallon jug on hand at all times. Since we refill our tank about every four to six weeks, we never remotely approach its shelf life.
Buying DEF in Bulk
Another option for DEF fluid is to get it in bulk at a gas station. This is not common yet, and most gas stations don’t have DEF in bulk. However, Flying J and Pilot truck stops carry it at some of their travel centers (see links at the end for locations).
In our travels, we don’t often fill up at Flying J or Pilot, simply because they tend to be on the interstates and we tend to be on back country roads. So, we haven’t yet seen or been able to take advantage of their bulk DEF at the pump.
However, for RVers that use these travel centers a lot, this is a super way to go. The current bulk Flying J / Pilot DEF price at many of their centers is a little less than the SuperTech bottled price (~$2.79/gallon vs. $3.16/gallon).
Pilot / Flying J offers a discount card for RV travelers that gives a few cents off on fuel and 50% off on RV dump station fees, and special discounts for Good Sam Club members.
Pilot and Flying J have DEF in bulk at the pump AND a discount card for RVers
What are the pros and cons with a truck that uses DEF fluid? An obvious disadvantage is that you’ve got to do this extra little chore every so often.
However, there are benefits too. The fuel mileage is slightly better on SCR equipped engines than on older trucks that used a Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) to meet the EPA emissions standards (like our 2007 Dodge Ram 3500). Cummins, manufacturer of the engine in the Dodge Ram line of diesel trucks, says the improvement can be up to 5%.
This increase in fuel economy is because the improved conversion of NOx emissions allows the newer engines to be fully optimized. Also, the older engines go into a “Regen” frequently to burn off the particulates in the Diesel Particulate Filter. In a Regen, a higher quantity of fuel than normal is pumped into the engine to make it run hot so the particulates can be burnt off. This wastes fuel and ultimately lowers the truck’s overall fuel mileage.
The newer engines that use SCR technology (and DEF) don’t need to go into a Regen quite as often.
For more info on all of this, there are lots of links below that explain the history and mechanics behind Diesel Exhuast Fluid.
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More info about Diesel Exhaust Fluid:
- SuperTech DEF sold at Walmart (in-store pickup only)
- Diesel Exhaust Fluid Q&A from Cummins
- Diesel Exhaust Fluid explanation
- Understanding Diesel Exhuast Fluid
- Top 10 Facts about Diesel Exhaust Fluid
- Pilot Flying J Bulk DEF Locations
- Pilot Flying J RV Discount Card Info
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Thanks for your post. We have a GMC diesel with the DEF fill under the hood and have not been as skilled when filled….always manage to spill a little ;-( Safe Travels, Jeff and Deb
Oh well, I guess that’s what rags are for. We have bunches and we mop up after all kinds crazy of spills!!!! Happy trails!
I was surprised, my Ram 1500 has an 8 gallon DEF tank (the engine is not a Cummins, but a VM Motori).
Hmmm… that’s an interesting surprise. Thanks for the info!
Thanks so much for posting this! Just bought my first jug of SuperTech DEF for my first diesel and didn’t know to assemble the nozzle! No instructions on the jug, thanks again!!
Happy to help!
DEF is becoming more available at the pump. Centex ( Us older folks still call it the CO-OP ) is consumer owner and is in smaller towns with farms. Kwik-Trip in the Wisconsin area also has it.
Great info!
Hi. Are you still happy with the 4.10 axle choice? I have a 14.5k gvwr horse trailer. All I would use my RAM 3500 crew cab long bed 4×4 with Cummins and Aisin is to tow. I mostly tow to local parks, but am planning some longer trips. I too, don’t like to drive too fast. Also I am getting the Air Ride Level suspension – Does it really drop down an extra inch? The trucks are so high in the truck bed rail, I’m nervous about the clearance to the bottom of the gooseneck trailer.
We love the 4.10 rear end on our truck. The Air Ride suspension changes the height by about one inch. It’s not a huge adjustment. We have towed with the truck in both high and low settings and we have driven while not towing in both the high and low settings, and it’s a very modest difference.
Hi,
Just found your marvellous site, brilliant!
I’m in the process of going on the road full time and in the spring will be looking for a 1 ton Diesel. I previously had a 1 ton diesel but a Chevy Silverado which had the bad injectors and found out first hand how the manufacturers don’t take responsibility for their poorly made products. I’m looking at the Ram and Silverado (silly me, I know). As I’ve been put off by this, just wondering how your Ram 3500 is holding up. Any unscheduled maintenance or problems with the exhaust / def system, and the auto level suspension. Any problems at all. Thanks very much and once again great site.
We love our truck, David. We’ve had some minor problems: a factory installed Chinese front tire wore out in a weird way very quickly; a leak in the windshield that we’ve seen only twice. Other than that, it’s a great truck that has performed beyond our expectations for 30k miles. We’d buy a Ram again in a heart beat. Good luck and enjoy your travels!
Hi guy’s,
Thanks for your quick response. Keep safe and happy trails.
David.
🙂
I am giving serious consideration to starting my own company for RV Delivery. I have previously owned older Duramax and Powerstroke trucks but all were SRW. Needless to say, BOTH of my 6.0 Powerstrokes were FULL of problems and although the newer ones are leaps and bounds better, I am still hesitant. My experience with a couple of GM dealers after the 2008 Fed “bailout” left a REALLY BAD taste in my mouth for ANYTHING GM. So, I’m left with Dodge, and have never owned a Dodge truck. LOVED this article and the information provided. I have more homework to do, and the 2015-2016 years are where I am looking to start. Hopefully, I can find good used trucks in these years to get the business started. Any hidden pitfalls on these trucks I should look for? Thanks for the information!!!!!!
I’m not sure if you have read our article about choosing a diesel truck for towing purposes and our final selection of a 2016 Dodge Ram 3500 dually. If you haven’t read it, it’s at this link here. We LOVE our truck. It has around 40,000 miles on it now. It tows like a dream and is very comfortable as our daily driver too.
Thanks for writing this up. I’ve just recently (1 year or so) got into diesel trucks. While the supertech DEF looks extremely affordable, I am hesitant to put in “Walmart” branded DEF in my expensive truck. I will do more research to compare the quality of brand-names vs Walmart. Thanks!
We’ve been using Walmart branded DEF for three years (45k miles) in our expensive truck and we’ve had no trouble.