For the past couple of months, I've noticed an annoying problem while refilling the DEF tank at truck stops. The problem is that I have a 2.5-gallon white jerry can that I use to transport the bulk DEF from the pump to the back and other side of my motorhome. But when I return to the pump to fill the can again, the pump has timed out and makes me re-swipe my fuel / pump start card.To be clear, I am not putting the nozzle back in place on the hook after filling my 2.5-gallon tank. I pull out the nozzle from the tank and lay it gently on the floor. In the past, this would not cause me a problem. I could refill my tank several times even with the 5 minutes pause between fills.This occurs at Flying Js and PIlots. Has anyone else noticed this problem? Is there any solution other than to carry two re-fill tanks?ON EDIT:It's difficult to understand how awkward my DEF refueling inlet is placed on my coach and I noticed some people asking about it so I've drawn a little diagram to show you exactly how silly it is. As you can see, the diesel fuel inlet is on the driver's side (and there is a second one on the curb side not shown. But the DEF inlet is at the back of the coach on the curb side.

I would think if you left the pump unattended at a truck stop for five minutes, the least of your problems would be a pump timing out. I couldn't think of a better way to irritate a professional driver. Why don't you just pull in to the pump, fill up your DEF tank, and pull forward to free up the pump when you're done or leave if you paid with a Flying J card?

What an odd problem. Anyone have some popcorn?

holstein13 wrote:For the past couple of months, I've noticed an annoying problem while refilling the DEF tank at truck stops. The problem is that I have a 2.5-gallon white jerry can that I use to transport the bulk diesel from the pump to the back and other side of my motorhome. But when I return to the pump to fill the can again, the pump has timed out and makes me re-swipe my fuel / pump start card.To be clear, I am not putting the nozzle back in place on the hook after filling my 2.5-gallon tank. I pull out the nozzle from the tank and lay it gently on the floor. In the past, this would not cause me a problem. I could refill my tank several times even with the 5 minutes pause between fills.This occurs at Flying Js and PIlots. Has anyone else noticed this problem? Is there any solution other than to carry two re-fill tanks?why would you be doing this? The problem is that I have a 2.5-gallon white jerry can that I use to transport the bulk diesel from the pump to the back and other side of my motorhome.

TucsonJim, H13's DEF tank is on the passenger side in a bay. He would have to pull in backwards to fill his tank. Ours happens to be with the fuel fill on the driver's side but the previous chassis's were like H13's, on the passenger side. That was before the fuel stations realized that they would offer DEF at the pumps. I guess they thought everyone would buy it by the gallon jug.The problem that we have is that the DEF tank pump handle is VERY sensitive. My arm gets tired holding the pump handle 'just right' so that it doesn't constantly click off. When I fill up our DEF tank, it clicks off and then I notice that the over-flow will leak a little bit. So, I've decided to just put in a few gallons at every fill up and not fill the tank all the way. My frustration will be less as the DEF tank is rather slow to fill. Our DEF tank holds 16 gallons.MM.

I've never heard of DEF at the pump like that in Canada. I'm always buying the big jugs for our company trucks.

Strange new DEF refill problem | Good Sam Community

TucsonJim
Explorer II
Oct 16, 2016
I would think if you left the pump unattended at a truck stop for five minutes, the least of your problems would be a pump timing out. I couldn't think of a better way to irritate a professional driver. Why don't you just pull in to the pump, fill up your DEF tank, and pull forward to free up the pump when you're done or leave if you paid with a Flying J card?
GordonThree
Explorer
Oct 16, 2016
What an odd problem. Anyone have some popcorn?
usersmanual
Explorer
Oct 16, 2016
holstein13 wrote:
For the past couple of months, I've noticed an annoying problem while refilling the DEF tank at truck stops.

The problem is that I have a 2.5-gallon white jerry can that I use to transport the bulk diesel from the pump to the back and other side of my motorhome. But when I return to the pump to fill the can again, the pump has timed out and makes me re-swipe my fuel / pump start card.

To be clear, I am not putting the nozzle back in place on the hook after filling my 2.5-gallon tank. I pull out the nozzle from the tank and lay it gently on the floor. In the past, this would not cause me a problem. I could refill my tank several times even with the 5 minutes pause between fills.

This occurs at Flying Js and PIlots. Has anyone else noticed this problem? Is there any solution other than to carry two re-fill tanks?

why would you be doing this?
The problem is that I have a 2.5-gallon white jerry can that I use to transport the bulk diesel from the pump to the back and other side of my motorhome.
Mr_Mark1
Explorer
Oct 16, 2016
TucsonJim, H13's DEF tank is on the passenger side in a bay. He would have to pull in backwards to fill his tank.

Ours happens to be with the fuel fill on the driver's side but the previous chassis's were like H13's, on the passenger side. That was before the fuel stations realized that they would offer DEF at the pumps. I guess they thought everyone would buy it by the gallon jug.

The problem that we have is that the DEF tank pump handle is VERY sensitive. My arm gets tired holding the pump handle 'just right' so that it doesn't constantly click off. When I fill up our DEF tank, it clicks off and then I notice that the over-flow will leak a little bit.

So, I've decided to just put in a few gallons at every fill up and not fill the tank all the way. My frustration will be less as the DEF tank is rather slow to fill. Our DEF tank holds 16 gallons.

MM.
oneolddog
Explorer
Oct 16, 2016
I've never heard of DEF at the pump like that in Canada. I'm always buying the big jugs for our company trucks.
tmm2good
Explorer
Oct 16, 2016
oneolddog wrote:
I've never heard of DEF at the pump like that in Canada. I'm always buying the big jugs for our company trucks.

DEF at the pump is common in the US at truck stops. Generally cheaper and fresher than the jugs you buy at the store.
Strabo
Explorer
Oct 16, 2016
Leave the handle propped against the pump. That's what I do.
holstein13
Explorer
Oct 16, 2016
Strabo wrote:
Leave the handle propped against the pump. That's what I do.
That's more or less exactly what I do. It always worked in the past but doesn't always work now.

I suspect Pilot / Flying J changed the algorithm to turn off the pump because a lot of guys weren't replacing the fuel nozzle completely back on the hook and ended up having to go back out and re-seat it.
holstein13
Explorer
Oct 16, 2016
TucsonJim wrote:
Why don't you just pull in to the pump, fill up your DEF tank, and pull forward to free up the pump when you're done or leave if you paid with a Flying J card?
I wish I could do that. Unfortunately, the DEF tank is on the other side and the back of the coach. It's an arrangement that causes me consternation.

And you are correct that it can and has caused irritation with truck drivers. I got into a verbal altercation with a truck driver behind me one time who didn't realize I was still using the pump, despite the fact that I was behind my coach filling it with a jerry can.
Ivylog
Explorer III
Oct 16, 2016
Why not just do one can of DEF each time you fill up? Should not take longer than what it takes to fill the diesel.

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