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Is all DEF the same?

way2roll
Navigator II
Navigator II
I had been buying BLUE DEF for the past year. "Gold star, premium, blah blah blah..." Recently at the auto parts store the clerk showed me they had FRAM Def. It was literally half the price. So I bout 2 jugs, put them in and have been running it now for over a month. Today at the same auto parts store someone was buying BLUE and I tipped him to my recent find. To my surprise, another clerk said not to buy the FRAM brand that it can cause issues? I was like, wha..? Then why are you selling it? In all my research everything says that DEF is DEF is DEF provided it has the right percentage of urea to water. I mean, it's just atomized into your exhaust to neutralize harmful emissions. So is fancy DEF any better than house brand stuff? What about DEF at the pump - who knows what brand that is.

Jeff - 2023 FR Sunseeker 2400B MBS
52 REPLIES 52

FishOnOne
Nomad
Nomad
I think the bigger story is the shortage of DEF due to Urea and China holding back shipments of this raw material. The next big story will be a shortage of fertilizer.
'12 Ford Super Duty FX4 ELD CC 6.7 PSD 400HP 800ft/lbs "270k Miles"
'16 Sprinter 319MKS "Wide Body"

Bionic_Man
Explorer
Explorer
I use the stuff from Walmart that is about 1/3 the price of Peak. If you really want Peak, find them on instagram and you can print a $5 rebate per box, through 1/10/22.
2012 RAM 3500 Laramie Longhorn DRW CC 4x4 Max Tow, Cummins HO, 60 gallon RDS aux fuel tank, Reese 18k Elite hitch
2003 Dodge Ram 3500 QC SB 4x4 Cummins HO NV5600 with Smarty JR, Jacobs EB (sold)
2002 Gulf Stream Sea Hawk 29FRB with Honda EV6010

2oldman
Explorer II
Explorer II
"The main component that sets brands of DEF apart from each other is the level of purity in the product. DEF fluids all must meet an international standard and standards from the EPA that measure the purity of this fluid. Only purchase a DEF that meets the ISO 22241 standard."
"If I'm wearing long pants, I'm too far north" - 2oldman

FishOnOne
Nomad
Nomad
Link
'12 Ford Super Duty FX4 ELD CC 6.7 PSD 400HP 800ft/lbs "270k Miles"
'16 Sprinter 319MKS "Wide Body"

Lwiddis
Explorer II
Explorer II
"DEF is highly regulated in the formula" x2
Winnebago 2101DS TT & 2022 Chevy Silverado 1500 LTZ Z71, WindyNation 300 watt solar-Lossigy 200 AH Lithium battery. Prefer boondocking, USFS, COE, BLM, NPS, TVA, state camps. Bicyclist. 14 yr. Army -11B40 then 11A - (MOS 1542 & 1560) IOBC & IOAC grad

ktmrfs
Explorer II
Explorer II
yes, DEF is highly regulated in the formula. Every mfg must follow the same formulation.
2011 Keystone Outback 295RE
2004 14' bikehauler with full living quarters
2015.5 Denali 4x4 CC/SB Duramax/Allison
2004.5 Silverado 4x4 CC/SB Duramax/Allison passed on to our Son!

agesilaus
Explorer III
Explorer III
I'm a retired chemist and we used to buy DEF by the tank car load. It's all the same the $8 stuff is the sames as the $20 stuff.
Arctic Fox 25Y Travel Trailer
2018 RAM 2500 6.7L 4WD shortbed
Straightline dual cam hitch
400W Solar with Victron controller
Superbumper

IdaD
Explorer
Explorer
DEF is DEF. Pump, Supertech from Walmart or Peak. Just my opinion.

I use Peak for the most part but that's just because Costco carries it and I'm there weekly for groceries/etc. and don't have to make a special trip to Walmart or a pump. The convenience is worth a few bucks extra. It's $10 a few times a year, which means nothing.
2015 Cummins Ram 4wd CC/SB