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guidry's avatar
guidry
Explorer II
Sep 24, 2013

Emissions check engine light on 2013 Chevy 3500 Duramax?

After about a half tank towing on the freeway all day my check engine light came on and the manual shows it to be emissions related. Diesel cap is ok, I'm guessing bad batch of diesel (truck stop). I added new diesel to top off the tank. Truck has only 13,000 miles. Could it be the bad diesel or maybe air filter? I'm having it put on a scanner tomorrow but figured someone here might have experienced this before. Truck is running fine, even pulled 5th wheel up a 7% grade like nothing.
Thanks

25 Replies

  • I'll know the code tomorrow when I have it scanned. I was hoping someone here had already gone through something similar. I'm guessing bad diesel or air filter. DEF was added about 400 miles prior so I know that isn't the problem. The only recent thing done was a trucker fuel stop then about 100 miles later was the emissions engine light. Runs fine though.
    Thanks to all who have replied so far. Any ideas?
  • REWahoo wrote:
    FishOnOne wrote:


    My vote is your truck is reporting "Contaminated DEF" that I see so much with the GM diesel trucks.


    Not likely. If it was bad DEF the DIC would indicate it with a "Poor DEF quality" message.


    Yes... You're correct!
  • FishOnOne wrote:


    My vote is your truck is reporting "Contaminated DEF" that I see so much with the GM diesel trucks.


    Not likely. If it was bad DEF the DIC would indicate it with a "Poor DEF quality" message.
  • guidry wrote:
    After about a half tank towing on the freeway all day my check engine light came on and the manual shows it to be emissions related. Diesel cap is ok, I'm guessing bad batch of diesel (truck stop). I added new diesel to top off the tank. Truck has only 13,000 miles. Could it be the bad diesel or maybe air filter? I'm having it put on a scanner tomorrow but figured someone here might have experienced this before. Truck is running fine, even pulled 5th wheel up a 7% grade like nothing.
    Thanks


    My vote is your truck is reporting "Contaminated DEF" that I see so much with the GM diesel trucks.