Truck drivers and fleet managers haven’t had to worry about smog-proofing their vehicles for years. In 2008, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) mandated that all three-quarter-ton and bigger vehicles be equipped with diesel particle filters.
The EPA then tightened the rules even more in 2010. The EPA mandated medium- and heavy-duty trucks to take it up a level by using DEF to reduce engine emissions, particularly NOx and particulate matter (PM).
What year did diesel trucks require DEF?
Since 2010, most diesel-powered passenger cars and trucks have been required to use DEF. To help them comply with DEF requirements, most of these cars and trucks are equipped with Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR).
When did def fluid become mandatory?
When the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) enforced the use of selective catalytic reduction in diesel engines in 2010, diesel truck enthusiasts, long-haul truckers, and especially fleet managers all had a Chicken Little moment.
Why? Because the consumable fluid that allows SCR to work is termed diesel exhaust fluid, owners of diesel automobiles would have to add it to their vehicles. Nobody wants to spend extra money on something that is inconvenient.
Can you run a diesel without DEF?
SCR is quickly becoming one of the most critical components in diesel automobiles. With tougher pollution restrictions and regulations, diesel vehicle owners need make sure their SCR systems are in good working order.
It’s also critical to check that the diesel exhaust fluid level is enough. Without DEF, modern trucks will not run. As a result, diesel truck owners must check their fluid levels on a regular basis. Everyone should strive to reduce pollution. Maintaining your vehicle will also help you save money on emissions and DEF.
What diesel engines require DEF?
We get a lot of questions about DEF and how to use it effectively on your forecourt, so we asked the expertise of Danny Seals, a forecourt solutions expert, to provide us with some simple answers.
What is DEF?
DEF is a urea-water solution that is injected into the exhaust stream of diesel automobiles to convert NOx gases (harmful emissions) into nitrogen and water. Vehicle manufacturers introduced a Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) technology to meet EPA emissions limits in 2010. This is a strategy to achieve the requirements without sacrificing engine performance or fuel economy. DEF isn’t a fuel additive, and it’s kept in its own tank.
Who needs DEF, why?
DEF is required for medium and heavy-duty vehicles equipped with diesel engines manufactured after 2010. To meet emissions rules, the vehicle is configured to inject DEF into the exhaust stream. The engine performance will be diminished and lower speeds will be imposed if the vehicle is allowed to run out of DEF.
What are the different delivery modes of DEF?
DEF is available in a variety of forms. A driver can purchase jugs/containers in a variety of sizes. This necessitates the driver physically transferring the DEF into the car. When installed, DEF can also be dispensed into the vehicle using a fueling dispenser.
Which retailers should offer DEF and what indicators can they use to decide?
Because there is such a vast population of automobiles on the road, DEF is an excellent product for all c-stores to offer. Retailers who sell diesel at their gas stations can utilize the volume sold to estimate the number of diesel customers they have. DEF is required by the majority of today’s heavy-duty trucks. Locations with a separate large truck filling station might think about putting DEF in the dispensers. Because they buy DEF in quantity to keep in their tanks, this results in higher profit margins. Some places that sell a lot of diesel on their forecourt should also consider a dispenser option.
How can Gilbarco help retailers get into DEF?
Since the inception of DEF requirements, Gilbarco has been the industry leader in DEF dispensers. Over the years, we’ve worked with large stores to provide dispenser functionality, and we’ve established the industry standard for this service. Gilbarco assists merchants in entering the DEF dispensing market by providing factory-installed options and retrofitting existing dispensers where DEF is stored in bulk.
What year did Duramax start using DEF?
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) began introducing laws in 2007 to drastically cut diesel emissions from heavy-duty trucks 1.
By 2013, most heavy-duty diesel pickups were equipped with SCR (Selective Catalyst Reduction) and DEF (Diesel Exhaust Fluid). Some manufacturers, like as GM, started using the technology earlier, with the Duramax receiving it in 2011.
Does a 2011 Cummins use DEF?
2011 Ram HD Trucks have been on the ground for a few months now, but the major news with the diesels is what isn’t included.
Without the use of diesel exhaust fluid, the Cummins 6.7L Turbo Diesel passes strict 50-state pollution criteria. The 2011 Ram is the ONLY diesel truck available in the United States for 2011 that does not require DEF. The elimination of DEF will save Ram owners time and money over the course of the truck’s life. (DEF-equipped trucks will not start unless the tank is full of DEF.)
The 6.7 has an EGR (exhaust gas recirculation) system, a variable geometry turbocharger (VGT), and a diesel particulate filter that reduces diesel particulate matter by more than 90% to meet these criteria. The Bosch direct injection system is replaced with a new, higher-pressure variant.
The 6.7 L Cummins is the most recent of the B-series engines, having been released in the middle of 2007. It’s also the most powerful B-series ever, with 350 HP and 650 lb-ft of torque at only 1500 RPM. It also comes with a standard exhaust brake that is segment-exclusive.
Check out the new 2011 Ram Trucks at your local Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram dealer.
Does a 2008 6.4 Powerstroke have DEF?
Another advantage of removing the DPF systems on more current Powerstrokes is that you no longer need to buy urea to fill the aux tank for the DEF system to run on.
Because the 6.4L does not employ a DEF system, there is no need to worry about it in the first place; once the DPF is removed from the exhaust and the tune is flashed, you are practically done.
Conclusion
Hopefully, you now have a decent understanding of what it takes to remove these systems from your truck, as well as a sense of which parts are best for the job.
As always, we’d love to hear from our readers if they have any questions or comments, so please leave them in the comments section below. Thank you for taking the time to read this!
What year did Cummins start using DPF?
This engine used a dual overhead cam configuration until 2010, with one cam controlling the injectors and the other controlling the valve train. HPI (high pressure injection) is an injection system in which the injectors are cam-actuated to provide injection pressure. To feed fuel to the injectors, the fuel system uses an Integrated Fuel System Module (IFSM) with a lift pump, gear pump, pressure regulators, shutoff valve, metering, and timing actuators. It has a one-piece valve cover that is either plastic or chrome plated steel, also known as the Signature 600 or ISX CM570 on previous models.
The ISX CM870 introduced cooled exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) in 2002, which recirculates exhaust gas back into the engine’s intake, decreasing combustion chamber temperatures and limiting NOx generation.
Cummins introduced the ISX CM871 engine in 2008, which included a Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) to catch particulate matter or “soot” produced in the engine. During a process known as regeneration, the soot trapped in the DPF is oxidized and transformed to ash with the help of the Diesel Oxidation Catalyst (DOC). This engine was offered in motorhomes with 600 or 650 horsepower.
Exhaust Gas Recirculation, Diesel Particulate Filter, and Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR), commonly known as Urea Injection, are all included in the current EPA 2010 version, known as ISX15 CM2250. SCR is made up of a DEF (urea and water) injection system, which includes a holding tank, pump, controller, and injector, as well as an SCR catalyst brick. DEF is heated, pumped, and fed into a decomposition tube, where it combines with the exhaust and reduces NOX emissions. Due to the introduction of the common rail fuel system, the injector camshaft has been removed from the ISX15 CM2250 and CM2350. The fuel is compressed from a high pressure, multiple piston pump, transmitted through tubing to a rail, and stored under extremely high pressures up to 35,000 psi.
Can you use water instead of DEF fluid?
It’s unlikely that removing the urea from the DEF — that is, running water through the injectors instead — will harm the system because the level and quantity of corrosive reactants inside the stainless steel SCR system will be reduced.