DEF Warning in F350

Well mine doesn't reset right away but it does after an hour or so. It could be a bad sensor, I've heard some people are having problems with those. It will go into limp mode when it thinks the tank is empty.

You did pour it into the right tank didn't you?

Try filling full being careful to clean up spillage. Some have reported that sensors don't reset unless really full. I've not had that problem with mine. Ford makes a fill tube that reduces spillage.

How much did you add? The tank is 5 gallons. If you used a 2.5 gallon jug it is possible that the level isn't above the sensor yet. Do as others said and fill up more. Mine resets within seconds of filling it up.

May be similar to a GM - the first message on the GM is:

The Driver Information Center (DIC) will provide the driver with current information about the DEF system operation and range. These messages include:

EXHAUST FLUID RANGE: 1000 MI

EXHAUST FLUID RANGE: 300 MI

Below 300 miles (500 km) of range, the range message or speed limiting messages will appear every time the vehicle is started.

TIP: DEF should be added prior to receiving an Exhaust Fluid Empty DIC message; however, it may take several miles of driving for the DIC message to update.


If the Exhaust Fluid Empty message is displayed:

When refilling, more than one gallon of DEF must be added to release the vehicle from speed limitation.

Wait for up to 30 seconds with the engine running for the Exhaust Fluid Empty DIC message to clear.

If the vehicle is driven prior to the Exhaust Fluid Empty message clearing, the vehicle will still be speed limited.

If the Exhaust Fluid Empty message clears while driving, the vehicle must be brought to a complete stop to release the speed limitation.

Mine did the same thing....It was calling for def so I filled it up but the warning stayed on the rest of the day . The next day after driving awhile the def waning went out.

Nothing is wrong. You MUST refill completely. I believe it states this in the manual.

I tried doing what you did - only adding 2.5 gallons to the 5 gallon tank when the end-of-the-world messages started. But the messages did not go away, even though I waited several days. So I bought another 2.5 gallons and refilled it and THEN the messages stopped.

Then I called my Ford diesel truck service manager and he confirmed that you must refill it completely to stop all the messaging.

But here's what I am not clear on. If the message comes on, and you only partially refill, will it indeed go into limp mode, etc, even though you still have 2 or 3 gallons of DEF in the tank (for example). I never got a good answer on that. But I'm sure not taking any chances.

So I think Ford needs to redo how the sensor and alerts work together. If you add DEF above a certain minimum level, it should not continue the countdown until it gets back down to the danger level.

So now I carry 5 gallons of DEF with me at all times (full timing). And I'll also fill up with DEF when fueling up if I can.

Tim.

Problem Solved! All of you, and my wife, were right. I added another 2 gallons of DEF and 30 seconds later the doomsday messages stopped. Now if I could only get my wife to stop saying "I told you so." Thanks for all the input.
Happy Trails!

Adding 2.5 - 3 gallons of DEF to the tank on an F350 when the Information panel query displays "Exhaust Fluid Under 1/2 Full" is a good way to avoid the DEF level reset issue that early F350 6.7 diesels may have.

Doctor DEF - I have a 2013 with 22,000+ miles on it now and do not recall any such message ever showing up. The first msg I got was when it was 'low'.

Tim

GoPackGo wrote:
Doctor DEF - I have a 2013 with 22,000+ miles on it now and do not recall any such message ever showing up. The first msg I got was when it was 'low'.

Tim

Same here, the only message I've ever seen is: DEF Low with the 500 mile countdown. And I add one 2.5 gallon bottle of DEF to clear it. It's hard to understand how the tank holds 5 gallons but you get an alarm that's cleared with 2.5 gallons.