Real world fuel & DEF log

[Javi]

For the record... here is my log on DEF usage in my 2015 F350 dually


I refill mine at my first opportunity after seeing the less than 1/2 full warning... I did the same thing with my 2012 with close to the same results...

And for those interested... real world mileage log... you can clearly see when I'm towing or staying in town

[Tbos]

Thanks for the info. In the event we upgrade to a 5er and get a new TV it will be useful.

[notanlines]

Javi, because I'm trying to read the chart on a POS very small laptop, tell me how many gallons of DEF you used in the 20,700 miles. I know none of this will change anything, but for us old farts it is infinitly interesting.

[Javi]

Originally Posted by notanlines

Javi, because I'm trying to read the chart on a POS very small laptop, tell me how many gallons of DEF you used in the 20,700 miles. I know none of this will change anything, but for us old farts it is infinitly interesting.

6 fills x 2.5 gallons = 15 gal

Javi

[Desert185]

At that rate, (if I had DEF) it would cost me ~$96/yr, including tax.

[Javi]

Originally Posted by Desert185

At that rate, (if I had DEF) it would cost me ~$96/yr, including tax.

Wished I had time to drive 40K a year.. but then I'd never be able to actually camp...

[jsmith948]

We recently completed a cross country trip of 9251.8 miles - (7580.7 towing and 1671.1 empty). Filled the DEF on the day we left and on the day we returned - used a total of 9.5 gallons. That's 973.9 miles per gallon of DEF. Our average cost per gallon was 3.58 for a total of 34.05. Our cost per mile for DEF was .368 cents per mile.
Our actual, hand calculated fuel mileage over the entire trip was 12.88 mpg.
That kind of fuel mileage more than offsets the cost of DEF. BTW, our truck is a 2011 6.7L Ford FWD with the 6 spd auto and 331 gears. After we left California we traveled at 60-62 mph. Our combined weight for this trip was 18000#.

[Desert185]

Originally Posted by Javi

Wished I had time to drive 40K a year.. but then I'd never be able to actually camp...

20,700 miles a year that was quoted, for $90 or so, of DEF. Not too bad, but better for me if I don't have to pay it.

[Javi]

Originally Posted by Desert185

20,700 miles a year that was quoted, for $90 or so, of DEF. Not too bad, but better for me if I don't have to pay it.

That was from March 2015 until Nov 2016

I'm paying around $12 for a 2.5 gal jug although I've gotten it for $2.79 a gallon too...

[Desert185]

Originally Posted by Javi

That was from March 2015 until Nov 2016

I'm paying around $12 for a 2.5 gal jug although I've gotten it for $2.79 a gallon too...

I was applying the usage/cost rate to my situation where I drive 20,000 miles/year. 20 months @ $2.79/gal is much better than what I would drive and pay per gallon.

Cost per mile vs cost per year. I think of the cost per year like registration/licensing tax/fees.

[JRTJH]

I buy my DEF at WalMart for $8 for 2.5 gallons. That comes out to about $3.20 a gallon, which is about the same price as most truck stops with "at the pump" dispensers. My DEF usage is about the same as both Javi and jsmith948. I've got roughly 25,000 miles on my truck and have used about 18 gallons of DEF. That equates to about 1400 miles per gallon. At $3.20 per gallon, so far it's cost me about $58 for 2 years of DEF.

So, driving about 12,500 miles a year, DEF cost (for me) is about $29 a year.

If I bought the more expensive DEF (Blue DEF @ $12 per 2.5 gallons) it would increase the annual cost to about $43 per year.

Honestly, DEF costs are negligible when compared to the diesel fuel that was burned in previous "exhaust technology" to do almost the same thing (clean the catalyst) ...

[Desert185]

That's not bad. I understand the cost of technology.

To be fair and balanced 😃, I don't have a cat and my mileage is consistently 20-22 MPG. Just an old, tuned, 24V Cummins that doesn't blow a lot of smoke and gets the job done.