Flying J/Def fluid pump

Aren't we kind of picking the fly sh*t out of the pepper? We're all in a hobby that arguably is the worst financial investment, and there's quibbling over a couple of bucks? Enjoyable, yes, financially sound?...

Just sayin.

JerryandSusie wrote:

JaxDad wrote:
While I don't have a horse in this race, a sub-contractor of mine has a 6.7 Cummins in his Dodge p/u, he says he gets about 1,000 miles per gallon of DEF.

If you can go 2,500 miles on a standard 2.5 gallon jug why would it matter if it's in a pump at a fuel stop?

Tractor-trailers are a different animal.....

It matters to me or I wouldn't have asked.

I’m still trying to understand the logic here.

If 2.5 gallons of DEF that costs ~$12 lasts ~2,500 the cost is ~$0.005 / mile. Buying in bulk would then cost 1/2 of that, ~$0.0025 / mile.

If diesel is $3.00 / gallon n and the TV is getting 10MPG the cost is $0.30 / mile.

If fueling at a truck stop that has bulk DEF means you pay ONLY THREE CENTS per gallon more you have more than lost any savings. If the price, as mentioned above, is $0.30 b gallon higher you are effectively paying TEN times the cost of buying DEF in 2.5 gal. jugs.

On top of all of that there is the very real potential that the DEF is on a truck island that’s in use, or one that doesn’t have the smaller nozzles so you must move pumps, pay twice, and / or wait while someone in a big truck buys 100’s of gallons of fuel.


Someone please explain how this is logical.

Campinfan wrote:
Oops I stand corrected. On my phone, Pilot is $3.19 for diesel, the BP (which is now a Marathon right off the highway but the next exit West on I -94 is $2.89....so that is $.30 per gallon.

Just checked, and yeah their diesel prices are significantly higher ($0.3/gallon) than surrounding stations, regular gas they're actually the cheapest within a mile of a highway exit. Spot checking major interstate intersections in several states it appears to be the same, as cheap or cheaper regular gas than anything convenient but high diesel prices. I guess that solves that mystery, the complaints must mostly be from diesel users and appear to be legit. Guess if you've got a diesel rig or tow avoid Pilot/Flying J.

Oops I stand corrected. On my phone, Pilot is $3.19 for diesel, the BP (which is now a Marathon right off the highway but the next exit West on I -94 is $2.89....so that is $.30 per gallon.

I get my fuel when pulling my trailer at Pilot or Flying J where it is easy to use the pumps but it is more expensive. West of Ann Arbor on I-94, Pilot can be 15 to 20 cents more than Marathon a couple miles west of their. The other day it was $.20. Also, going to Florida in December, it was always more expensive in Ohio/Kentucky area compared to places called Fuelman. The Pilot and Flying J on Baker Rd west of Ann Arbor used to be the same price as all the other places (even for regular) but the last couple years has always been higher.

The Flying J nearest to me in Ontario can be between 5 and 10 cents or more higher per litre than nearby regular gas stations. That's significant.
As for the problems you have navigating smaller less expensive stations, sorry but I can't help you there.

MDKMDK wrote:
Even at Flying J/Pilot? I know their fuel can be more $$$ than nearby regular gas stations. I wonder if they over charge for DEF as well? I usually check for a bulk DEF option at the pumps when driving the diesel, but as far as I know, it isn't happening in Ontario. Yet.

I do know the Husky truck stop down the 401 from the London PFJ recently added bulk DEF to their regular commuter pump island lanes. Sorry, I know that doesn't help the OP, unless you're traveling in Canada. Husky fuels are big in western Canada, if that helps at all? When Suncor recently merged (bought) with Petro Canada, they sold off some of the surplus stations to Husky and others. I believe that Husky truck stop may have been one of them, or it might have been the old 5th Wheel, when they went belly up a while back. I can't recall.

Please show me a map where Pilot is significantly more expensive than any station within 3 miles of the highway. I've driven in 42 states now, always use gasbuddy or google maps to check fuel prices, and Pilot is always within pennies of any station that isn't more than 10 minutes off my route. They also are generally laid out is a manner that is conducive to getting a truck and trailer through with minimal fuss. I always hear this Pilot is so expensive whine on forums but I've never seen any proof to back it up.

Even at Flying J/Pilot? I know their fuel can be more $$$ than nearby regular gas stations. I wonder if they over charge for DEF as well? I usually check for a bulk DEF option at the pumps when driving the diesel, but as far as I know, it isn't happening in Ontario. Yet.

I think the Husky truck stop down the 401 from the London PFJ recently added bulk DEF to their regular commuter pump island lanes. Sorry, I know that doesn't help the OP, unless you're traveling in Canada. Husky fuels are big in western Canada, if that helps at all? When Suncor recently merged (bought) with Petro Canada, they sold off some of the surplus stations to Husky and others. I believe that Husky truck stop may have been one of them, or it might have been the old 5th Wheel, when they went belly up a while back. I can't recall.

The main reason is cost. Bulk at stations is about half the cost of buying the jugs

many along I-95 do have bulk DEF, but you can always check on their app or Web Page