Has anyone purchased DEF at Pilot/Flying J truck stops in the truck diesel lanes? More so, bulk type w/ handles that look like unleaded handles for gas? Just wondering if any problems w/ the DEF itself and it seems a lot easier than having to pour in by hand. Haven't put any in my new 6.7 yet and I see where Pilot has 2.5 gallon Blue DEF jugs for $15.00 and pump DEF is a lot cheaper.

DEF sold at the pump is perfectly fine, and usually far less expensive than buying it pre-packaged. WalMart is - generally - one of the less expensive places to buy it, and it's still over $10 for 2.5 gallons. At the pump it's usually well under $3 gallon. At one point we bought two of the containers from WalMart, and we refill them at truck stops as needed. That way we never risk running out even when many miles from a source. The only issue that you might encounter is the need for a magnet to allow full flow at the pump. Some truck stops are equipped with dispensing handles with a safety interlock in the nozzle of the DEF pump - and some trucks have a magnet which encircles the inside of the hose inlet. If you find that you try to dispense DEF and it shuts off quickly (like a normal gas pump which shuts off when your tank is full), head to the desk and ask if they have a magnet you can borrow or buy. They will know what you mean. You first insert the nozzle through the magnet and then into the inlet on your truck. I'd buy one and keep it in your truck. Not all truck stops use pumps that need a magnet, so you may or may not run into this. I know that some Loves locations such as Kingman, AZ need the magnet.

The biggest issue is that the DEF is on the driver side pump and most RV DEF tanks are on the passenger side. I would not recommend driving through against the traffic flow to get DEF. Carrying a 3 gallon gas can that you can fill while fueling and then poor in at your leisure once of the fuel rack seems like a good solution. :) :)

How much of a problem is it to stop at Wal-Mart several times a year ? I pour in their lot and put the jug in their dumpster !

wanderingbob wrote:How much of a problem is it to stop at Wal-Mart several times a year ? I pour in their lot and put the jug in their dumpster !Makes sense to me. Only talking about a little extra money. I saw a Wal-Mart branded jug of DEF in the automotive section the other day. A buck or two less.

I avoid truck stops, but this trip to Florida I did stop at a Flying J for diesel. I pulled into the truck lane (which I normally do not do). I saw the pump with both diesel and DEF and absolutely did not know what to do. I did not need DEF, but if both fluids come out the same hose .... FORGET IT. I'm not risking a $54,000 vehicle by getting a mix of diesel and DEF in either tank. It just made no sense to me.I walked over to the auto islands and found auto diesel. I pulled on through the pumps then and went to the auto diesel pump and filled. I'll continue getting my DEF from Wall Mart. I carry an extra full container in my truck most of the time, and especially when traveling. Sorry, I still despise truck stops. Oh... and at this same stop,.... sure enough ... when pumping fuel ... a vagabond came over to me begging for money! I was so danged mad I exploded on the guy! Just reinforces my disdain for truck stops.

Buying DEF in diesel lanes at Pilot/Flying J | Good Sam Community

28 Replies

jus2shy
Explorer
Mar 14, 2015
I have to ask this question (and maybe it isn't the case at all truck stops). But have all the naysayers ever driven by a truck stop to look at a DEF filling apparatus? In the truck stops I frequent, the DEF filling nozzle is actually behind a protective shield to keep soot and other particles out of it. It doesn't take much to poison/compromise DEF, so there are extra steps taken at the truck stops I've personally observed. Also, it seems like you can only operate one of the nozzles at a time. At my favorite truck stop, you have to pump diesel first. Then once you're done with that, you can pump DEF. The nozzles are very different and I have the practice of only opening the nozzle I intend to fill. So when I'm filling the diesel, the DEF cover remains on. When I intend to fill the DEF, I cover my diesel fill port and open the DEF fill port.

And for quick reference, RAM and Ford have the same filling locations, behind the fuel cap. Ford has a little more separation between the two nozzles while RAM kept the small traditional fueling door so the nozzles are closer together. The GM trucks are under the hood. As for the new Nissan Titan, it sounds like the DEF port will be behind the fuel cap. I typically bring my 1 and only purchased DEF jug and re-fill that with DEF.
lj2654
Explorer
Mar 13, 2015
geez, why does everything on here get so complicated...read what the pump says, then stick the right hose in the right tank, fill it up...then pay...the end!
IdaD
Explorer
Mar 13, 2015
wanderingbob wrote:
Someone advised using a blue water jug ? Sounds kinda dangerous to me . Could get mixed up by some other person !

I'm very big on following color coding with jugs. I had an aunt reach for a gas can once instead of a diesel can when she was helping burn some brush and she got burned real badly. Now DEF is a little different not having a specific color, but at a minimum it would make sense to me to reuse old DEF containers.
wanderingbob
Explorer II
Mar 13, 2015
Someone advised using a blue water jug ? Sounds kinda dangerous to me . Could get mixed up by some other person !
Huntindog
Explorer
Mar 13, 2015
ACZL wrote:
Has anyone purchased DEF at Pilot/Flying J truck stops in the truck diesel lanes? More so, bulk type w/ handles that look like unleaded handles for gas? Just wondering if any problems w/ the DEF itself and it seems a lot easier than having to pour in by hand. Haven't put any in my new 6.7 yet and I see where Pilot has 2.5 gallon Blue DEF jugs for $15.00 and pump DEF is a lot cheaper.

I consider it a high risk low reward activity.
DEF needs to be kept very pure. Contaminated DEF will cause the emissions system to throw a code, probably putting you in limp mode or worse. The DEF system in our trucks do not have any filtration system at all. Since truck stops seem to be problematic in cleanliness at best, I prefer to get my DEF in a sealed jug at Walmart for 10-12 bucks.

Since you have a Ford, there is another reason that you may not want to use Truck stops. With the DEF and diesel fills in the same place, a misfill is a lot more likely. It is not something that anyone does on purpose, but it does happen. It is not hard to find posts from those that have done it on the Ford forums. A minutes distraction is all it takes to make a 10-12K mistake.

Do the math and at the rate our trucks use DEF, the savings at a truck stop don't amount to much at all. Maybe a case of beer for me over a year. Not enough to make an impact in my life... Now a 10-12K brainfart.... That's gonna leave a mark.
haddy1
Explorer II
Mar 13, 2015
mdamerell wrote:
The DEF pump at the truck stop has a special nozzle on the end (magnetic interlock) and it will not open unless it is properly inserted into the neck of the DEF tank. It's suppose to keep someone from pumping DEF into the fuel tank.

Our DEF storage tank in heated and the nozzle is inside a compartment to keep it warm.

The "magnetic" nozzles are only at some stations in some parts of the country. Loves seems to be big on them, while I've never seen one at any of the Pilot/FlyingJ's that I have used. The company linked below sells the magnets at a reasonable price. I carry one "just in case" because my tank is on the passenger side and I need to fill a portable plastic container.

http://www.fivestardef.com/
mdamerell
Explorer
Mar 13, 2015
The DEF pump at the truck stop has a special nozzle on the end (magnetic interlock) and it will not open unless it is properly inserted into the neck of the DEF tank. It's suppose to keep someone from pumping DEF into the fuel tank.

Our DEF storage tank in heated and the nozzle is inside a compartment to keep it warm.
Cummins12V98
Explorer III
Mar 13, 2015
brooks379 wrote:
Houston we have a problem........

Step 1. Pull into the truck stop to the pump, place the big diesel nozzle into the fill tube and pump fuel.

Step 2. After fueling hang the big nozzle up and reach for the small, skinny , blue nozzle that says DEF on it and fill up the DEF tank.

Step 3. After filling both tanks pull forward get out, walk into the truck stop and pay for you fuel and DEF.

It really is that easy !!

I use truck stops all the time! Now that I have a new RAM with DEF I will be filling that tank there also.

I pull up the wife takes note of what pump we are at has the cashier put over what it will actually cost on the CC to fill the truck. Once that is done I start filling when done I call my wife's phone let it ring two times so she knows I am done then she finishes the transaction. Then I pull forward to let the truck behind me pull up to fuel.

It's really that easy!

FACT....the Def and Diesel nozzles are two separate items at the truck stops. The DEF nozzle mentioned above was probably covered for winter to keep from freezing.
ramgunner
Explorer
Mar 13, 2015
DutchmenSport wrote:
I avoid truck stops, but this trip to Florida I did stop at a Flying J for diesel. I pulled into the truck lane (which I normally do not do). I saw the pump with both diesel and DEF and absolutely did not know what to do. I did not need DEF, but if both fluids come out the same hose .... FORGET IT.

They are two separate dispensers. Standard diesel for diesel, and a blue one (usually behind a door) with a much thinner nozzle for DEF. The pump will usually ask if you want Diesel, DEF, or both.
Miles_Away
Explorer
Mar 13, 2015
Just an idea regarding filling up a jug (jerry can) with DEF at the pump; Purchase a blue jug (used for water) for your DEF. Then you never have to worry about getting the contents confused with gas or diesel.

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Buying DEF in diesel lanes at Pilot/Flying J

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