New Cummins Question

[kirkl]

I see there is alot of diesel experts here so I have a couple questions. Just traded in my 2017 6.4 hemi for a 2017 cummins. I had a 2003 cummins before the hemi so this new cummins and guages are a little different. Is there anything special I should know about the turbo boost or exhaust brake guages? Like dont run them high for long periods of time when towing? My 03 never had that stuff so I just drove it and didnt worry.

Thanks

[Walaby]

SweetLou wrote:
My curiosity is getting the best of me. Why spend 50-60K on a diesel truck only to save $2.50 on 2.5 gal of Def by not getting the name brand? I go 1500 miles on 2.5 gal so I just don't understand the cheapness in some people

What is considered a name brand?

Is it just Blue Def, because it has DEF in their name?

Or is Peak 'ok' as a name brand?

If I fill up DEF at a diesel pump, is that name brand or not? Am I too cheap if I do that (even though I believe the cost is actually higher)?

What is a name brand for diesel fuel? If I buy my diesel at Shell because I have reward points, am I buying name brand diesel?

Mike

[cummins2014]

kirkl wrote:
What kinda DEF fluid are you guys using? i havent had to fill it yet but just wondering. Salesman told me to fill it when it gets down to half first time then I can just fill it whenever.

I use Peak, from whoever has it when I need it. Usually thats Walmart. You need to be careful ,and not get an old box from someone, DEF does age out. Personally I wouldn't buy any thats over six months old. Walmart usually has it thats a month or less. Peak has a date code that you have to know how to read.

Here is a date code from Peak, from early 2017 that I purchased " GA18297075" Heres how to read it

GA = Where it was manufactured

18= The year plus 1 ,so it was manufactured in 2017

297= The days left in the year ,so 365- 297 = 68 days into the year , so manufactured on
March 9, 2017

075= Batch number

[ShinerBock]

Turtle n Peeps wrote:


Because DEF is built the API standards. You are saying the your Advil Ibuprofen is better than Costco's Ibuprofen. They are both the same but with different labels.

Exactly! My wife is an R&D Chemist for a major pharmaceutical company that makes both the name brand and generic version of many drugs. The main difference between a generic drug and a name brand is quality control standards bell curve is slightly less stringent with the generic version, but both still meet the FDA standards.

[Bedlam]

Jim2007 wrote:
Hi.. I agree with idaD. I use the cheapest I can find with API certified. Super tech. Is usually the cheapest at walmart. I have a 2016 that has about 31K. Cost about 9 dollars for a 2.5 gallon jug. Jim2007.

X3 on using Supertech. There just are not that many bulk DEF pumps where I live otherwise I would would most likely look at those first. Buying name brand does not guaranty quality, but it does guaranty you pay for the marketing of that brand.

[Turtle_n_Peeps]

SweetLou wrote:
My curiosity is getting the best of me. Why spend 50-60K on a diesel truck only to save $2.50 on 2.5 gal of Def by not getting the name brand? I go 1500 miles on 2.5 gal so I just don't understand the cheapness in some people

Because DEF is built the API standards. You are saying the your Advil Ibuprofen is better than Costco's Ibuprofen. They are both the same but with different labels.

[ShinerBock]

I agree with IdaD, as long it is certified and tested to API standards then use the cheapest you can find. What really matters is its shelf life and the temp it was stored at which dramatically effects shelf life.

Although if you are "silly" like me and tune or "chip" your truck with the emissions system intact then be prepared to use more DEF in place of the increased fuel economy(about 2 mpg) and power. Most intact emissions equipment tuners will reduce the use of the EGR or shut it off completely and just use the SCR to reduce NOx. Similar to what Cummins will be doing with some future engines.

[SweetLou]

My curiosity is getting the best of me. Why spend 50-60K on a diesel truck only to save $2.50 on 2.5 gal of Def by not getting the name brand? I go 1500 miles on 2.5 gal so I just don't understand the cheapness in some people

[Cummins12V98]

I will be traveling 2,700 miles to TX and back towing our home starting Saturday. I will buy two boxes of Peak tomorrow at WM add one to tank and keep the other box in the toolbox along with a 5 full of diesel. I will be getting most if not all of my fuel and DEF at TruckStops along the way.

It will be mostly boring driving with few grades along the Southern Boarder but being able to tow 75 most of the way will make it go by faster.

Road trip, I love em!!!

[Jim2007]

Hi.. I agree with idaD. I use the cheapest I can find with API certified. Super tech. Is usually the cheapest at walmart. I have a 2016 that has about 31K. Cost about 9 dollars for a 2.5 gallon jug. Jim2007.

[IdaD]

kirkl wrote:
What kinda DEF fluid are you guys using? i havent had to fill it yet but just wondering. Salesman told me to fill it when it gets down to half first time then I can just fill it whenever.

Whatever you can get cheapest. As long as it's API certified that's all that's required, and I've never run across any that wasn't. I generally get it at the pump anymore because it's a bit cheaper and I can get a full top-off but I've also used the Supertech stuff from Walmart with no issues. I don't see any advantage to spending more on a name brand since it's all the same.

[LIKE2BUILD]

Me Again wrote:
In 37K and 2 plus years I have only used Peak Blue DEF and all the 2.5 gal boxes have come from WM except one.

Same here. Filled with cheap stuff from a farm store once and started getting engine lights for inefficient catalyst. Got home from the trip, drained the def tank, refilled with Peak Blue and it's never happened again.

You will LOVE the OEM exhaust brake when towing. I pulled
My 5er in the Rockies this summer and traversed some tricky 10% grades on winding roads. That EB worked so well I sometimes had to give it throttle because I was slowing down too much.....without using the brake pedal.

KJ

[Me_Again]

In 37K and 2 plus years I have only used Peak Blue DEF and all the 2.5 gal boxes have come from WM except one.

When the meter reads 1/2 my truck will take a 2.5 box. Don't bother to store it, it is available everywhere.

[kirkl]

What kinda DEF fluid are you guys using? i havent had to fill it yet but just wondering. Salesman told me to fill it when it gets down to half first time then I can just fill it whenever.

[Cummins12V98]

Start engine, turn on EB and TH then run the HE!! out of it!

Also use Mopar/FleetGuard filters and don't do anything silly like add a K&N filter or chip it.

No the smile on your face will not go away. :B

[ShinerBock]

While there is no EGT guage, there is an EGT/Pyro sensor post turbo that you can view with a monitor like the EDGE Insight or Bully Dog. I recommend the EDGE since you can see a lot of othet parameters like exhaust backpressure, regen status, and turbo speed to name a few.