DEF with Easy To Use Filler Tube

Its available at the parts stores around me. I forget the pricing, saw it recently and posted it though, I don't think it was more than that truck stop price for the no name brand. Might be less hassle for some to just go to a parts store.

Originally Posted by rmorin49

OK, but the shipping is $24.44 so this means you are paying over $12 for each bottle. I bought mine for $8 from the VW dealer. You only need to buy one of the bottles with the refill tube and then just refill it with bulk DEF at less than $3/gallon. It's available at virtually all big truck stops. I know for sure the Pilot near me sells it for $2.59/gallon. I'm going to buy 5 gallons tomorrow.

Noted, R. My point was more that Kruse makes AdBlue for all N.A. OEM's that use DEF. I agree with your method, as that's what I did to my single Kruse bottle so I could refill it from bulk, if needed.

Regards,
D.

Originally Posted by DnA Diesel

Noted, R. My point was more that Kruse makes AdBlue for all N.A. OEM's that use DEF. I agree with your method, as that's what I did to my single Kruse bottle so I could refill it from bulk, if needed.

Regards,
D.

Again, thanks to you and rmorin49 for helping all of us fellow "d" owners with this information. Here is my question, I have a Pilot truck stop about an hour away that I can go and buy the ad blue next time I am up there. How do I know what to buy? Can you or Rmorin post the exact name of the brand you guys are buying? Also, please tell us how you manage to refil the 1/2 hallon bottle...from the looks of the picture on ebay that bottle is all in one piece. Am I wrong?

The fluid is chemically the same so it should not be a matter of "knowing" which DEF to buy. Of course as with anything there is always a chance of a bad batch. Why drive an hour away though? I could walk to the Autozone near my house and buy the stuff for at basically the same prices quoted for truck stops. Guess I am assuming an auto parts store is close to you than an hour away. I bet if the auto parts store lacks it that they will order it from their warehouse for you at no cost. Just seems a lot easier route to take.

Originally Posted by Snipe656

The fluid is chemically the same so it should not be a matter of "knowing" which DEF to buy. Of course as with anything there is always a chance of a bad batch. Why drive an hour away though? I could walk to the Autozone near my house and buy the stuff for at basically the same prices quoted for truck stops. Guess I am assuming an auto parts store is close to you than an hour away. I bet if the auto parts store lacks it that they will order it from their warehouse for you at no cost. Just seems a lot easier route to take.

I see. Sure there is an autozone/pep boys within 10 minutes from me. I was more concerned with making sure that I purchased good quality DEF. I hate to waste money, but I also am wary of buying stuff too cheap to dump into my 55k BMW if you know what I mean. If I get bad DEF no savings is worth what will happen after that.... I figured I would stick with a brand that one of you guys have tried and used successfully. So, what do you use Snipe? I know you must have gone through a bit of DEF by now since you drive a bit in your "d".

Originally Posted by Alpine300ZHP

I see. Sure there is an autozone/pep boys within 10 minutes from me. I was more concerned with making sure that I purchased good quality DEF. I hate to waste money, but I also am wary of buying stuff too cheap to dump into my 55k BMW if you know what I mean. If I get bad DEF no savings is worth what will happen after that.... I figured I would stick with a brand that one of you guys have tried and used successfully. So, what do you use Snipe? I know you must have gone through a bit of DEF by now since you drive a bit in your "d".

I have yet to have to buy a drop of it. If I ever do then I will buy one of these half gallon bottles everyone is mentioning and I will keep it as a funnel. Then I will just go to Autozone to buy any more, if the need comes up. When I was at Autozone they had basically no name stuff then brand name stuff. Both were cheap enough as far as cost but the no name was more in line with these truck stop prices being posted.

I was able to remove the complete cap assembly from the 1/2 gallon bottle so it can be refilled. You have to twist it very hard as it is one of the caps that clicks to lock it in place but it can be removed. I am going to the Pilot Truck stop in about an hour to buy some bulk DEF. I'll update this post when I get home but I was quoted $2.59/gallon over the phone, no minimum and no maximum purchase required. She said they go through over 1000 gallons a week so it should be "fresh stuff". Apparently the new big rigs have DEF tanks that hold 50 - 100 gallons.

Originally Posted by rmorin49

I was able to remove the complete cap assembly from the 1/2 gallon bottle so it can be refilled. You have to twist it very hard as it is one of the caps that clicks to lock it in place but it can be removed. I am going to the Pilot Truck stop in about an hour to buy some bulk DEF. I'll update this post when I get home but I was quoted $2.59/gallon over the phone, no minimum and no maximum purchase required. She said they go through over 1000 gallons a week so it should be "fresh stuff". Apparently the new big rigs have DEF tanks that hold 50 - 100 gallons.

Update: Well, quite an experience buying DEF this evening at the local Pilot Truck Stop. I pulled into the Auto lanes looking for a DEF pump and couldn't find one so parked the car and went inside. I was told that the only DEF pump was in the truck area in the first lane so I pulled around and got in line behind a couple of big rigs. Decided that they were probably getting fuel so I put the wife behind the wheel and I got out with my 5 gallon tote and walked up to the pump marked "Diesel Exhaust Fluid". No sign of a nozzle anywhere. After looking more closely at some printed directions I realize the pump is hidden behind a sliding door that has to be raised up to reveal the pump. I put my credit card in the slot, removed it quickly as directed and then a message came up "See Cashier Inside". So, I went inside and she said that since I was using a personal credit card and not a commercial trucking company card, she would need to hold the card and turn on the pump for me. Went back outside and pumped $6.00 worth of DEF into my tote. Went back inside and she ran the purchase through on my card. Next time will be much smoother as I now know where the pump is, how it works and how to pay.

I will add the DEF tomorrow after work and let everyone know how much DEF it takes to fill my passive tank. BTW, the price was $2.59/gallon as I was quoted over the phone. This quite a bit cheaper than the $8.00 for 1/2 gallon I paid at the VW dealer in the container with a filler tube.

I now think that cutting off the lower third of the 1/2 gallon container and using it as a funnel might be a better method than refilling and adding 1/2 gallon at a time. It is a bit difficult to remove the entire cap so the funnel method should be easier IF you have a second person to hold it in place while you pour DEF into the funnel. One person can easily add it using the 1/2 gallon container as it is designed. I am expecting to add about another 1/2 gallon tomorrow as I have already put 1/2 gallon into my car. It has 4500 miles on the clock.

I've posted my refill stories in the past, but a couple of picks might help with the current questions.

My funnel (fits snug).


My DEF.

Originally Posted by dunderhi

I've posted my refill stories in the past, but a couple of picks might help with the current questions.

So, tell us. Where did you buy that funnel and DEF? Also, does the Valvoline DEF have the same specs as OEM/Krause DEF?

Originally Posted by Alpine300ZHP

So, tell us. Where did you buy that funnel and DEF? Also, does the Valvoline DEF have the same specs as OEM/Krause DEF?

1. Bought a generic funnel at Ace Hardware. I sanded it down a bit for a better fit.

2. I ordered the DEF on the internet for $12 if I remember correctly. Anyway DEF is DEF. It has a bunch standards stuff on the bottle that says it meets the DEF requirements.

thats the same def that I used on my f250 for 12.99 per 2.5 gallons from the local napa store, the funnel looks like a winner!!

I watched my DEF tank being topped off at the dealer when the warning appeared ahead of CBS oil change. They had one of the smaller bottles with the special cap adapter. A rectangular section had been cut away from the side of the cylindrical bottle. This opening was at the top when the bottle was attached to the DEF fill tube. The bottle was empty.

One person supported the bottle. A second person poured DEF From a larger container into the cutaway section of the container that was attached to the car. It looked like nothing spilled. I didn't watch the entire procedure as I became distracted by the new alpine B7 engine that was nearby waiting to be put into a car after the original engine committed suicide. This new engine cost something like 1.5x the amount I paid for my well equipped 335d. It looked massive.

Sorry about the late reply, guys, but here are pics showing my quick mod to the BMW 1.89L / .5 gal bottle. The bottle is the same as VW, Audi and MB, since Kruse N.A. makes it for all German OEMs here in North America. The local VAG dealer was out of the $12 stuff, so my parents were kind enough to bring one of the $26 bottles from my out-of-town dealer when they came to visit. Thanks Mom & Dad!

Any way, the photos show the bottle, then some in-between pics where I used some diagonal cutters to snip a few 3/16" cuts in the lower lip of the cap, to get the cap off, then trimmed the cap lip to make it nice and neat when (if) I need to fill the car up next time.

The bottle:


Close up of label (note, there is no BMW p/n on the label):


Close up of the locking nibs on the inner lip of the cap: (sorry about the fuzzy pic...forgot to focus...


First few snips to few the cap from the locking lugs:


Cap off, ready to trim:


Cap fully trimmed:


Cap back on the bottle, ready to be filled for next time:


Overall, pretty easy to refill. I'll use the bottle as it, vice cutting it into a funnel, since I don't mind refilling it from a larger jug if needed, and it will probably be a bit neater than a funnel...not that it's difficult or anything.

Honestly, it's as easy if not easier than topping up the engine's oil.

Cheers
D.

Originally Posted by DnA Diesel

Sorry about the late reply, guys, but here are pics showing my quick mod to the BMW 1.89L / .5 gal bottle. The bottle is the same as VW, Audi and MB, since Kruse N.A. makes it for all German OEMs here in North America. The local VAG dealer was out of the $12 stuff, so my parents were kind enough to bring one of the $26 bottles from my out-of-town dealer when they came to visit. Thanks Mom & Dad!

Any way, the photos show the bottle, then some in-between pics where I used some diagonal cutters to snip a few 3/16" cuts in the lower lip of the cap, to get the cap off, then trimmed the cap lip to make it nice and neat when (if) I need to fill the car up next time.

The bottle:


Close up of label (note, there is no BMW p/n on the label):


Close up of the locking nibs on the inner lip of the cap: (sorry about the fuzzy pic...forgot to focus...


First few snips to few the cap from the locking lugs:


Cap off, ready to trim:


Cap fully trimmed:


Cap back on the bottle, ready to be filled for next time:


Overall, pretty easy to refill. I'll use the bottle as it, vice cutting it into a funnel, since I don't mind refilling it from a larger jug if needed, and it will probably be a bit neater than a funnel...not that it's difficult or anything.

Honestly, it's as easy if not easier than topping up the engine's oil.

Cheers
D.

I am able to get the cap off of my bottle without any trimming bit it is difficult. After seeing your pics I will do some trimming to make it easier. Thanks for the pics and advice. I could only add a few more ounces to my far today so it used 1/2 gallon of DEF in 4500 miles. What is the total capacity of the passive tank?

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R, I think the passive is something like 4.5 gal, and the active is 1.6 gal.

Cheers
D.

Originally Posted by DnA Diesel

R, I think the passive is something like 4.5 gal, and the active is 1.6 gal.

Cheers
D.

Thanks, I should be able to go over 20K miles before needing a refill based on current usage. My driving is about 85% highway so this may be the reason for my low usage rate.


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Originally Posted by rmorin49

Thanks, I should be able to go over 20K miles before needing a refill based on current usage. My driving is about 85% highway so this may be the reason for my low usage rate.


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As I understand it the effectiveness of the fluid goes down with age and exposure to temperature cycles. So chances are you would probably see increased usage of it as you get lower in the tanks. What I'd be curious to know is if the crystallization effect many have witnessed is intensified with older fluid over newer fluid. If age is any sort of contributor to that then probably would be best not to top off these DEF tanks until they are very low.

Originally Posted by Snipe656

As I understand it the effectiveness of the fluid goes down with age and exposure to temperature cycles. So chances are you would probably see increased usage of it as you get lower in the tanks. What I'd be curious to know is if the crystallization effect many have witnessed is intensified with older fluid over newer fluid. If age is any sort of contributor to that then probably would be best not to top off these DEF tanks until they are very low.

Hmm, I wonder. Perhaps it would be better to add newer fluid to the old in order to "freshen" it up. The old fluid laying in the bottom of the tank may be more likely to crystallize. Inquiring minds want to know. Has the DEF fluid been used in Europe longer than the US? What is their experience?


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Originally Posted by rmorin49

Has the DEF fluid been used in Europe longer than the US? What is their experience?


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DEF is not used in Europe on passenger vehicles. I believe it has recently been introduced, or will soon be introduced, on commercial vehicles.

This morning I put another 1/2 gallon in using the bottle in the pics above. I thought I'd need to cut the bottom, but was able to unscrew the top and refill it with a funnel.

I like the yellow funnel Dunderhi posted and will try to find one. I am at 23 K nd got the warning again, so have now added 1 gallon since 13K service refill.

I drive a little more than 20K per year. In my case I think it is best to wait for the warning, even let the level go down to close to empty (<500 miles left perhaps) , then fill everything up. My reasoning is that DEF has a limited shelf life so I want as little of the old stuff as possible.

For folks who drive less, I wonder if you should avoid completely filling the system so the fluid never ages out?

FYI...IIRC the Urea solution can not be stored indefinitely so do go out buy gallons and gallons of the stuff. It's not like motor oil.

I just filled mine up, but I'm still getting the warning on the OBD about such and such miles before no start. Is there a period of time you have to wait before it updates?

EDIT: NM...just had to drive the car a little bit for the warning to go out.

It varies. IIRC mine reset after about 1 mile the first time and in about 10 miles after the second fill.