There are many confusing info circulating the net about DEF fluids, brands to use, etc. Some Sprinter owners have been told by MB dealers to only use an MB
branded DEF fluid "AdBlue" on their Sprinters or the DEF system could
malfunction.
The truth is, if the DEF fluid is ISO-22241 certified then it is
ok to use as per Sprinter operating manual. I've been using "BlueDEF"
brand from my local auto parts store for many years without any problems.
When my Sprinter NOx sensor went south a few years ago, MB dealer even
tested the "BlueDEF" branded fluids in my tank and it passed to their
standards, no surprise there. I'm not claiming I'm a DEF expert, just a user
trying to save a buck from overpriced MB pee (ok, it's not actually a pee but
rather it's a combination of 67.5% deionized water and 32.5% urea.)
Okay enough with the ramblings, here is what I do to make sure I
don't get a bad DEF fluid in my Sprinter. A bad DEF, you asked? Yes, DEF
is regulated and ISO certified, but anything could happen after leaving
the factory.
1.
DEF has shelf life. If the DEF is stored at ambient
temperatures of 75ºF with no major periods of exposure to heat over 86ºF then
the batch of DEF will last roughly two years. If a package of DEF is exposed to
periods of heating the fluid will last approximately one year.
- Don't
pick the DEF boxes that are stored next to the store windows and are exposed to direct sunlight.
- If
you don’t drive your RV much, drain and refill the DEF tank every 2 years.
- Pick
the latest production batches of DEF.
Check the DEF box for a date code: Example,
"BlueDEF" brand uses something like GA203590089. To
decipher the date code, see below.
The date code breaks down to 4 groups of numbers as follows:
GA: The designator of the plant that manufactured the DEF
20: The year of manufacture -1, so this DEF was made in 2019
359: 365-359 = 6, so the 6th day of the year, or January 6th.
0089: The batch code. So this DEF example (GA203590089)
was made on January 6, 2019.
2. The DEF can be contaminated. I’ve read it somewhere
that some really bad people will buy a container of DEF then
replaces the DEF with water and returns it back to the store for a full refund.
Disposable pipettes for extracting DEF sample from container
(to prevent cross contamination):
3. I always top off the DEF tank. I have no scientific data to
backup the claim here, this is just my own opinion and observation. Here is what
I think why you should, when you let the DEF fluid low in the tank, DEF
slushing in the tank when driving especially in really cold weather can
possibly over expose the DEF heater element to air while it’s active and could possible shorten it's service life. The DEF pump also possibly benefits from always full fluid level
to help dissipate heat. Shoot me a comment of what you think. Happy Trekking.
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