Just a quick tip for those that are new to Diesels with all of the newer emission controls. DEF apparently has a shelf life and using anything other than DEF bought from the dealer may void your warranty. I have a 2011 Duramax and recently had a message on the DIC stating Diesel Exhaust Fluid Quality Poor. Unfortunately I ended up in Limp Mode before I could make it to the 1st Dealer. I tried to get a service appointment at the dealer I purchased the truck from but they were backed up with recall work. So off to Dealer #1. Dealer #1 was absolutely no help what so ever. They stated that since I had used DEF from an Auto Parts store and not from a dealer they would not cover any of the repairs under warranty. They also said the only fix was to replace the entire DEF Tank to get rid of the supposedly bad fluid. I said no way, put my truck back together and I would be by to pick it up. Dealer #2 (where I purchased the truck from). Sorry if I am breaking forum rules here but when service is good I think we owe it to them to give them credit. Dave Sinclair Buick GMC is the place I will go for service from now on. I did some research prior to the appointment and was ready to argue my points to them. No need to. They said that they have in the past had problems with GM covering DEF problems in the past but would do everything they could to get it covered. They even said they would contact a regional GM Service Rep on my behalf. They called today and said that it was covered. They tested the fluid and it was good. Turns out it was a bad NOx sensor. It was not the fluid after all but I think I will be keeping better track of where I purchase DEF from.

Huh?If I'm reading this right the problem was a bad NOX sensor and had nothing at all to do with the shelf life of DEF.Glad it worked out for you. Sometimes you just have to stand up for yourself.

...you sure you didn't take the truck to a Ford dealer by mistake...that kind of treatment is typical Ford style customer dis-service...DEF is a product mixed to industry standards...it's all the same formula...denying warranty coverage for DEF purchased at a location other than a GM/Ford/Ram dealership would be tantamount to denying warranty for using an engine oil other than their house brand......coincidentally, I am currently in Iowa building a truck stop. The diesel fuel is unbranded. We just installed a 7500 gallon DEF underground storage tank. The diesel islands have dispensed DEF at each diesel dispenser. The DEF is provided by Diamond DEF. If warranty denial as shown by the crooked dealer he Op visited, why are bulk DEF sales so successful?.as we bury all these tanks, they have to be filled to 95% capacity with product to keep the tanks from potentially floating...looks like this DEF and all the fuel will be over 90 days old before we pump a gallon out of the tanks...shelf life?????Regards

From what I can gather from online research, which we all know is not always the most reliable, DEF has a shelf life of 2 years when stored at 86 Degrees F. As the temperature increases the shelf life shortens. Here are the few of the numbers that I could come up with.32* : Infinite50* : 75 Years68* : 11 Years86* : 23 Months95* : 10 Months104* : 4 Months122* : 1 Month140* : 1 Week.The problem comes in when the big box stores leave the DEF in their warehouse at who knows what temp for an extended period and then place it on the shelf for you to buy. I would think that most truck stops would end up using their fluid in the tanks fairly regularly so it may be a safer to buy from them than at your local Wally World.

There is nothing in the manual that I recall about buying DEF from the dealer. So I think you were being lied to. As someone who used to buy 50% Urea (DEF is 30% Urea) by the truck load several times a week, I can say that the hotter you keep your DEF - the faster it will break down to ammonia. If you open a bottle and a sniff takes your breath away and makes your eyes water for 5 minutes, then that bottle is degrading to ammonia. But that is what happens in the truck so ammonia won't hurt the truck it may just make the DEF a little less effective.

Yes the problem was apparently the NOx sensor but if they would have determined that the fluid in the tank was bad GM apparently would not have covered the issue under warranty. I am not a 100% sure but I think that burning poor DEF will cause the sensor to fail. I was really p/o when I found this out. I was ready to put the truck on the selling block and head to another manufacturer or back to a Gasser. But cooler heads prevailed and I was able to get it fixed for now. Hope the DEF light stays out.

DEF Shelf Life! | Good Sam Community

ricatic
Explorer
Jul 19, 2014
lawnspecialties wrote:
ricatic wrote:
...you sure you didn't take the truck to a Ford dealer by mistake...that kind of treatment is typical Ford style customer dis-service...

Seriously? Let it go.

why...and stifle the truth...my experience is real and valid...just do not want anyone else to ever suffer the tragedy and dishonesty of the terrible Ford Customer Service we received...

Regards
FishOnOne
Nomad
Jul 19, 2014
Bionic Man wrote:
Manguson-Moss Warranty Act allows you to purchase DEF from any source, just as it would oil, filters, or other items. They can't disallow warranty based upon where you bought DEF.

Magnuson-Moss

Just to clarify... As long as the product meets the manufacturers specifications. Run the wrong API oil in your DEF equipped truck and the metals in the oil clogs your DPF... That's on your bill fellow.
lawnspecialties
Explorer
Jul 19, 2014
ricatic wrote:
...you sure you didn't take the truck to a Ford dealer by mistake...that kind of treatment is typical Ford style customer dis-service...

Seriously? Let it go.
FishOnOne
Nomad
Jul 19, 2014
I choose to buy my DEF from containers and prefer to stay away from bulk like at truck stops.

I'm surprised the GM trucks continue to have the contaminated DEF errors that plagued them since the launch of their DEF equipped trucks.
jjr1314
Explorer
Jul 19, 2014
I don't know the correct answers to any questions about DEF but it is incredibly frustrating that the engineers of these systems could screw up such a great truck/engine. I absolutely love my truck and it's a dream to tow with but not so good when you are in Limp mode and a few hundred miles from home towing a 32 Ft camper. I hope others do not have to experience the same frustration that I did last week.
agesilaus
Explorer III
Jul 19, 2014
Not likely, you'll use at least one 2.5 gal bottle every 8 months or so.

BK
ToddD
Explorer
Jul 19, 2014
Considering a new GM 6.6 1 ton.

My current 2004 GMC 3500 is used for trailer towing, so it does not see a lot of miles (not a daily driver).

46k in 10 years.

New truck will probably see same use.

If DEF does indeed have a shelf life, am I asking for trouble putting so few miles per year on a DEF equipped truck?
Turbo_Diesel_Du
Explorer
Jul 19, 2014
That was only one of the many problems I had with my 2011 Chev 2500 6.6, Went back to my Ram. Problems solved.
thomasmnile
Explorer
Jul 19, 2014
Bionic Man wrote:
Manguson-Moss Warranty Act allows you to purchase DEF from any source, just as it would oil, filters, or other items. They can't disallow warranty based upon where you bought DEF.

Magnuson-Moss

Exactly right!! :C
jjr1314
Explorer
Jul 19, 2014
Good info Bionic Man I will look into that. Thanks

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