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ACZL's avatar
ACZL
Explorer
May 31, 2017

Odd DEF occurrence

Message on dash said I was low on DEF, etc, etc. Went to Pilot and topped off and only took 2.4 gallons out of 5. Filled up w/ DEF 2,000 miles ago. Anyone else have this happen? Just a flukey thing w/ stuck gauge/sending unit?

6 Replies

  • Same issue on my 2012 Ff350 DRW. Get the warning message of 500 miles to shut down and starts counting. Stop for DEF and put in less than 2 gallons.

    Ford has check and reflashed 3 times and at 60,000 miles still doing it and no solution.

    Ken
  • its happened twice on my 2016, both times a day or so after extended heavy towing(which means heavy def use). I think the computer gets messed up/confused. Both times just topped the tank off, and it went away.
  • Thanks for the replies. Spoke w/ dealer and they said to "wait and see if it happens again and bring it in if it does". According to them, they haven't heard of sensors going bad on DEF tanks. So guess I have to see what happens in next couple thousand miles or so.
  • I had the same thing happen on my '13 F250. Couldn't believe it needed DEF since I just filled it 600 miles before light came on. Filled it, actually overfilled it, and light went off and hasn't happened again.
  • Lots of this with the big three. Also lots of sensor replacements and S/W changes.
    I would check with your dealer to see if there are any updates you need.
  • Had it happen once when truck (2012 F350) was about a month old. Took it to dealer who added about a gallon of DEF as that was all it would take before overflowing. Warning indicator went off and that never happened again.

    Recently got a check engine light but no DEF warning message. Took it to dealer and it was a DEF tank sensor. Replaced it and OK again.