When did DEF become required ?

The new FL Cascadia Revolution tractors can get over 8 MPG. Big fleets say they are getting better mileage. However the reliability of the new systems is questionable.

Moisheh

According to what I have read, engine manufacturers say you get better fuel mileage due to the increased horsepower and torque, if you want to believe it. The problem I see is the cost to replace the system. On a 2007 with the regen system, the cost according to a factory rep is about $9,000. I do not know the cost to replace a DEF system.
Those are some of the reasons I purchased in 2003 that has a 2002 chassis with NO pollution required equipment. In 2003 the EPA required motorhome chassis manufacturers to add a cat converter and an EGR valve.
I get 8.5 to 9 miles per gallon towing a 6000 pound Hummer. I AM REALLY HAPPY!!!!!!!!!!!

mdamerell, the fresh air is for everybody. Most large cities across the country have some type of smog.

Safe travels,
MM.

When I started to drive semi in 1995 I would get 6.5 mpg on average with a cab over truck. When Kenworth introduced the T600 they got around 8 mpg and everyone thought that was great. A classic Peterbilt 379 or Kenworth W900 would average 4-5 mpg.

Since then the EPA has messed up the diesel engine and after aerodynamics and now ULSD we are back to fleet average of 6.5 mpg and diesel costs $4 a gallon not $1 a gallon.

Volvo claims a savings of around $3000 a year due to an 8% increase in fuel economy. I've not seen it and we use more DEF than the engineers claimed we would. I think it's a net zero situation. We still have a couple of pre EPA engine trucks left in our fleet 750,000 plus miles and the engines run better than most of the new ones. Less head aches but the new ones sure ride better.

The DEF regen units adds over $5,000 to the initial cost of the truck not to mention the repair bills.

Other than LA being able to breath I'm not sure it is worth the cost for the rest of the country.

wolfe10 wrote:
I would be quite surprised if the cost of DEF (particularly if purchased at the pump) would not be more than off-set by the better fuel mileage.

Same as gasoline cars when the catalytic converter came out in 1975.

The DPF and DEF allow the engine to be run dirtier/more power and let the equipment downstream clean it up.

how much increase is there?I would think the independent drivers would know their cost since they are paying for both fuel and def, that's what they tell me

I kind of had the same concerns. But after buying our new mh and using DEF, it isn't a big deal at all. Like earlier posted. It is fairly cheap and goes a long way. Really no problem for me at all.

DEF at the pump is about $2.80 a gallon which is cheaper than buying the 2.5 gal jug at Auto Zone for $14.99.

The DEF pump nozzle has a built in shut off that will only open when it's inserted into the neck of the DEF tank to try and prevent people from pouring DEF in the fuel tank. There is no such protection when pouring from the jug.

My semi runs about 461 miles a day and I add about 5-6 gallons every 2-3 days (when it gets to 1/2 tank, 13 gal tank) So we use about 1 gal of DEF per 275 miles. The Cat, Detroit and Cummins are about the same consumption rate.

Most engine built after December 31 2009 require DEF BUT some manufactures bought extra 2009 engines so even a 2011 MH might have a 09 engine.

I would be quite surprised if the cost of DEF (particularly if purchased at the pump) would not be more than off-set by the better fuel mileage.

Same as gasoline cars when the catalytic converter came out in 1975.

The DPF and DEF allow the engine to be run dirtier/more power and let the equipment downstream clean it up.

I've heard many independent truck drivers that come to our plant to load up say, the extra cost in DEF hurts their pocket book, but they are doing tens of thousands of mile per year. The DEF does reduce emissions but, I think motorhomes should have been excluded from the mandates, due to them not being the cause of our pollution problems.