DEF with Easy To Use Filler Tube

Originally Posted by dnaer

I thought people from the Pacific NW eat granola, drive Subaru's and only wear Patagonia/NorthFace. You must not be a local

I have a Patagonia fleece coat, 3 pairs of NorthFace Hyvent ski/sb pants. I hate Subies for some reason, and don't eat granola. I *do* wear REI long johns/base wear items, have a 6-digit REI membership number (my wife's # is lower). I have two chain saws and a log splitter.

I was born and raised in WA state - never lived anywhere else!

I've got almost 7K on my 'd and I topped up the DEF this evening. I removed the lower cap on the tank (the one marked with the green label that said "DEF Fill" or something) and, using a funnel, I poured my DEF in very slowly from a 2-gallon jug. After less than 1 gallon, it started spewing fluid. Should I not try to fill the other tank? Am I only adding to the active tank? Seems to me it should have taken a lot more.

Originally Posted by FlyingLow78

I've got almost 7K on my 'd and I topped up the DEF this evening. I removed the lower cap on the tank (the one marked with the green label that said "DEF Fill" or something) and, using a funnel, I poured my DEF in very slowly from a 2-gallon jug. After less than 1 gallon, it started spewing fluid. Should I not try to fill the other tank? Am I only adding to the active tank? Seems to me it should have taken a lot more.

My attitude is to wait for the warning light.That's what I'm doing with my Bluetec...almost 12K miles and no warning yet.I assume that's because 90% of my miles are driven at a steady 70mph.

Do you folks in Blightey have the "free" maintenence like we do here? If you do it seems that waiting for the light or for a routine maintence visit would be the most logical choice.

Originally Posted by cliffj

I topped off the active tank, and put the remainder of the 2.5 gal in the passive tank. .

Interested in how you filled the passive tank.... was it through the upper port?

Originally Posted by dnaer

Interested in how you filled the passive tank.... was it through the upper port?

Yup

Will this work?

Buy 1 BMW bottle. Empty into car.

Cut hole in bottom of bottle when empty and fill with cheaper DEF from another source using funnel.
Cover hole with duct tape and empty into car. Repeat as needed.

Originally Posted by stan01

Will this work?

Buy 1 BMW bottle. Empty into car.

Cut hole in bottom of bottle when empty and fill with cheaper DEF from another source using funnel.
Cover hole with duct tape and empty into car. Repeat as needed.

Or you can just use the funnel to pour into the car.

Originally Posted by stan01

Will this work?

Buy 1 BMW bottle. Empty into car.

Cut hole in bottom of bottle when empty and fill with cheaper DEF from another source using funnel.
Cover hole with duct tape and empty into car. Repeat as needed.

It might work,I've never tried it but some have done so.What I *know* will work is: get a 1/2 gallon bottle (with the special filler) at a VW dealer

Empty it into the DEF tank

Then cut near the crimp area of the blue part of the bottle (the crimp is all that keeps the blue adapter from being removed),the blue part will then easily screw on and off.

Repeatedly refill that bottle from a 2.5 or 5 gallon jug without special adapter (quite cheap).

Success

dnaer - like dunderhi stated "yup". Active tank on the bottom and passive on the top. My understanding is that the active tank is approx. 1.5gal, and Passive approx. 4.5 gal. In BMW's documentation, it states that the active tank will transfer from the passive when approx. 3 liters are used from the active. I had a total of 3 gallons of DEF. 1/2 gal BMW bottle, and 2.5 gal jug from Autozone. The active tank took a little over 1/2 gallon, and I just put the rest in the passive tank. I probably didn't' completely fill both tanks with only 3 gallons. I had about 900 miles remaining on the low DEF warning indicator. I suspect it will take 4-5 gallons to completely fill both at that point.

There are pro's and con's of using a funnel vs. re-using a modified BMW or VW bottle. I have only tried using the 1/2 gal BMW bottle by continually refilling and screwing onto the fill port of the car. The advantage of this method is that it is easy for one person to fill the tanks by supporting the weight of the bottle with your hands so it doesn't stress the connection point. Also, once the tank is full, the bottle will stop draining and you can simply unscrew the bottle adapter and remove without any spillage. The BMW bottle will close the fill port of the bottle when you unscrew it from the connection point. The disadvantage of this method is that it will probably take slightly longer to fill the tanks. Now that I have done it once, it should only take about 15mins to top both off. Not a big deal at all.

Thanks Cliff.... very helpful. Was going to do it this weekend but went skiing instead; that was an easy decision to make. Bought two 2.5 gallon jugs and will give it a go this coming weekend.