How To Keep Def From Freezing

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How to Winterize Diesel Frazzle Fluid (DEF)

Tips for Handling and Storing DEF in Cold Climates

According to the Farmer'south Almanac, the winter of 2022 volition be filled with bitterly cold weather from the eastern parts of the Rockies and east to the Appalachian Mountains and Northeast U.S. However, while temperatures in these cold-climate areas are abnormally college right now, Mother Nature'due south shoe is going to drop. And when it does, diesel-pickup owners need to be prepared.

Treatment and storing DEF in cold climates includes adding it to a pickup truck's DEF tank, which tin be a messy operation when using the modest, flexible hose that is typically included with a new bottle. We recommend using a long funnel for this task.

When readying a late-model oil burner for the cold, one thing that may exist overlooked is the proper direction of Diesel fuel Exhaust Fluid (DEF). Handling and storing DEF in cold climates tin can be challenging. Made from a mixture of technically pure urea and purified water, DEF freezes at 11 degrees Fahrenheit and needs to be properly maintained and dispensed to preserve its quality.

Similar h2o, DEF will aggrandize up to seven per centum when frozen and can damage a truck's DEF-storage tank if it is total or nearly full when it freezes. Keeping a tank that you call up may freeze less than full is a good idea.

Notice that the DEF level is "OK," is the just detail our diesel-powered 2022 Chevy Colorado LT gives us. A more accurate reading of the fluid level (44 percent/upper-left) comes by way of Banks' iDash 1.viii Super Gauge, which provides data on several DEF and regeneration-associated values and functions.

If DEF freezes in the vehicle, do not put any additives in the tank to assistance it melt. The fluid needs to remain pure for it to work correctly. The engine will beginning without a trouble, and the tank has a heating element that tin can quickly thaw the DEF. Don't worry; on-spec DEF is specifically formulated to allow the fluid to thaw at the proper concentration to go on your rig operating smoothly.

In addition to cold, in that location are other things to consider when purchasing, handling and storing DEF. Drivers accustomed to purchasing DEF in containers should look at the expiration date on the bottle and be sure to employ it before this date as the product has a limited shelf life (minimum 12 months, or longer in optimum weather condition).

The Pinnacle BlueDEF nosotros're using does not have a clearly defined expiration appointment on the bottle. However, deciphering the batch data reveals the actual engagement that the fluid was produced. For our GA202070258, the gibberish breaks downward as follows: The 3rd through seventh characters (numbers) are the most of import elements of the BlueDEF batch lawmaking. The first two letters at the beginning of the code represent the plant where the DEF is blended. The third and fourth numbers (combined) represent the year plus i (19 + i = xx). The fifth through seventh numbers equate to the number of days left in the year at the fourth dimension the fluid was blended. So, as the info on our bottle is "207," that means the batch of BlueDEF was fabricated on the 158th day of the year (365 - 207 = 158), which was June vii, 2022. The 0258 is the actual batch code. If stored properly, this DEF is good thru June 7, 2022 (and probably longer).

If a date is not present, ask for the most recently delivered products. Also, be sure to look for the American Petroleum Found's (API) certification marking on the canteen. Many diesel-engine manufacturers recommend that drivers apply API-licensed DEF.

Storage conditions have an bear on on its quality. Check the label for recommended storage temperatures (typically between 12- and 86-degrees Fahrenheit). After purchasing DEF, API recommends that you don't store it for too long in your truck, especially if the storage area in the vehicle is routinely exposed to extreme oestrus or sunlight.

Source: https://www.motortrend.com/news/2001-winterize-diesel-exhaust-fluid-def/

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