Comments have been made that DEF searches don't reveal much. I have found that when using key words of only 3 letters (eg. acronyms) the advanced search seems to work best.
Anyway. This sticky should help those looking for DEF information.
First my opinion as a parrot of the forum.
Any good quality DEF is fine. Diesel Exhaust Fluid is a standard commodity chemical.
Be very careful not to spill the DEF when filling. DEF is extremely corrosive and loves to eat copper. If unable to neatly clean an area, flush any spills with copious amounts of water. Not all DEF jugs are created equal when it comes to the spout/fill design. Some members like the convenience of the bulk dispensed product found at truck plazas.
Based upon experience, some members recommend not waiting for the DEF level warning light. Apparently the DEF monitor system is finicky and low level can trigger misadventures. DEF does have a shelf life. Those same members feel that it is better to keep topped up than to worry about the fluid aging.
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ADDED:
October 8, 2020 Added official information provided by Bobnoxious.
"MB's solution to Reset AdBlue related "No Start Countdown"?
"Drive adaptation cycles" may be the possible solution right under everyone's nose, clear codes allow OBD II do what is supposed to do, check everything out.
Owners of Sprinters needing/using DEF should skim the PDF.
nhtsa . gov information
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A 1 gallon refill to address the DEF level warning may not be enough. Some good input from Sailquick Roger.
A TEMPORARY 10 Starts Fix.
Thanks and a hat tip goes to Dennis Lindenengineering.
Photo courtesy JFloFoto.
Added:
The years the work-around applies to may be limited.
**************
Back to the original DEF thread starting here:
Some links.
Interesting AdBlue event
https://sprinter-source.com/forums/showthread.php?t=48399
When to add DEF
http://www.sprinter-source.com/forum/showthread.php?t=40367
DEF light ON even though reservoir is full
https://sprinter-source.com/forums/showthread.php?t=16560
vic
From a recent thread.
I ass-u-me'd that all DEF would be created equal. Maybe not...
Some research from SSTraveler.
Apply as you feel appropriate.
Some Insight about repairs to the SCR Selective Catalytic Reduction aka DEF System.
Thanks goes to all contributors and of course Lindenengineering Dennis.
Anyway. This sticky should help those looking for DEF information.
First my opinion as a parrot of the forum.
Any good quality DEF is fine. Diesel Exhaust Fluid is a standard commodity chemical.
Be very careful not to spill the DEF when filling. DEF is extremely corrosive and loves to eat copper. If unable to neatly clean an area, flush any spills with copious amounts of water. Not all DEF jugs are created equal when it comes to the spout/fill design. Some members like the convenience of the bulk dispensed product found at truck plazas.
Based upon experience, some members recommend not waiting for the DEF level warning light. Apparently the DEF monitor system is finicky and low level can trigger misadventures. DEF does have a shelf life. Those same members feel that it is better to keep topped up than to worry about the fluid aging.
****
ADDED:
October 8, 2020 Added official information provided by Bobnoxious.
"MB's solution to Reset AdBlue related "No Start Countdown"?
"Drive adaptation cycles" may be the possible solution right under everyone's nose, clear codes allow OBD II do what is supposed to do, check everything out.
Owners of Sprinters needing/using DEF should skim the PDF.
nhtsa . gov information
****
A 1 gallon refill to address the DEF level warning may not be enough. Some good input from Sailquick Roger.
Mark Cooperstein,
How much DEF Fluid did you add?
Did you get the low DEF Fluid / Add DEF Fluid notification BEFORE you added the DEF @ Love's?
Did you only put in 1 gallon of DEF, or a 2.5 gallon DEF "KIT"?
One gallon is NOT enough to reset the low DEF warning message. It takes 2 or more gallons to
reset the warning.
There should be some MB Sprinter dealers fairly near where you are.
If you still have the 5 year/100k mile emissions warranty, repairs to the SCR/DEF system should
be covered by the warranty.
Hope this helps,
Roger
A TEMPORARY 10 Starts Fix.
Thanks and a hat tip goes to Dennis Lindenengineering.
To avoid crawling under the truck, the NOX sensors may be able to be unplugged as shown in this video.Well Gents you will have this info here & ONLY Here !
(except maybe if you are in the my back workshop by the de-grease tank!)
By a bit of shop experimentation if you want to kill your "no starter in ten", and continue your trip with less worries about getting stranded far from a dealer or lunatic like me
then--read on!
If or When your CEL comes on with a DEF light fault--like a tank heater fault--simply remove the FRONT NOx sensor and let it dangle in the wind but don't disconnect it!
If the missus says it's indecent letting it dangle down then clip it up with a zip tie and carry on & then pester a dealer workshop later at your leisure. As for the threaded hole in the bazooka tube! ,don't worry about it you will hardly hear the whoosh!
In short it confuses the system and it won't lock out nor even put the CEL back on if your clear it!
I tried in for the 6th time on 6 Blurrtecs yesterday and after more than 100 miles of stop staring & mixed highway running --NO LIGHT--No fault!
Being Mr pollution control conformist (unlike my Gloucestershire ancestors who were Non conformist ) you heard this from the elvers alright!.
Dennis
Elvers?, elvers" :-
Look it up as a Gloucestershire delicacy ate with eggs and maybe bacon --some says its an old remedy for vigour & cost a lot less than Viagra!
Photo courtesy JFloFoto.
Added:
The years the work-around applies to may be limited.
I suggest that BlueTec owners review the entire thread.In short 2010 thru 2013.
Dennis
**************
Back to the original DEF thread starting here:
Some links.
Interesting AdBlue event
https://sprinter-source.com/forums/showthread.php?t=48399
When to add DEF
http://www.sprinter-source.com/forum/showthread.php?t=40367
DEF light ON even though reservoir is full
https://sprinter-source.com/forums/showthread.php?t=16560
vic
From a recent thread.
Added:...
Regarding the countdown:
I had the same problem twice. If you have a hard stop the [DEF] fluid all goes forward in the tank and somehow out of the reservoir and shows the sensors not wetted. Bam there goes the 10 start countdown. ...
That sounds like another factor to support the theory of keeping the reservoir full and not waiting for the dash warning before filling.
vic
I ass-u-me'd that all DEF would be created equal. Maybe not...
Some research from SSTraveler.
Apply as you feel appropriate.
Added 20171125I found this explaination researching on the internet, "Independent blenders of DEF can be registered with the API and not meet all the ISO 22241 standards for testing every batch and therefore some batches are not meeting the very strict ISO 22241 standards.
This can happen for a number of reasons, but primarily due to the type and purity of urea is not the Pharmaceutical Grade Urea but rather the Agricultural Grade Urea which contains impurities like aldehydes and excessive levels of biuret in relation to the ISO 22241 standards which are poisonous to the SCR systems. The other area that will cause critical failures for the manufacturing of DEF is the water purity. De-Ionized water is critical to the manufacturing of DEF. The slightest amount of metals/contaminants found in the water will cause the fluid to not meet the ISO 22241 specification and these elements will be poisonous to the SCR system. Elements like: Calcium, Zinc, Magnesium, Iron, Chromium, Nickel, Sodium and Potassium. All are found in varying quantities/concentrations in typical tap water."
The containers of Walmart DEF, in my area, are labeled API certified but are not labeled "DEF ISO 22241." ISO defines a strict level of quality and purity going into the manufacturing of the DEF. If Walmart's doesn't include the compliance with ISO standard on its labeling then you get DEF but possible not high quality/purity manufactured DEF. I don't want to take this risk to save a couple of bucks. It's just one more thing to worry about and expensive to repair! Walmart DEF falls into the "Buyer Beware" category, use may come with some risk.
Some Insight about repairs to the SCR Selective Catalytic Reduction aka DEF System.
Thanks goes to all contributors and of course Lindenengineering Dennis.
Last week I added two bottles of Def to the tank and the next day I got the countdown message. Made it through the week until I could get it in for service. The countdown actually reset one day while I was driving back to 16 starts. I had it in for service today for a fuel filter and to check the Def system. I was hoping for a resolution but ended up with a $7600 quote for stuff that doesn't need to be done. I left with fewer starts then I got there with and no hope. I'm still not sure what caused the countdown to start as there is still fluid in the tank. They said a hose was pinched which was not the case as I checked it myself by lowering the tank a bit. What I'm wondering is if the problem is resolved with the system reset itself and will the countdown go away? The CEL is also on for nox codes. Is the Def system at related to cel? Or are they separate issues.
Last week I added two bottles of Def to the tank and the next day I got the countdown message. Made it through the week until I could get it in for service. The countdown actually reset one day while I was driving back to 16 starts. I had it in for service today for a fuel filter and to check the Def system. I was hoping for a resolution but ended up with a $7600 quote for stuff that doesn't need to be done. I left with fewer starts then I got there with and no hope. I'm still not sure what caused the countdown to start as there is still fluid in the tank. They said a hose was pinched which was not the case as I checked it myself by lowering the tank a bit. What I'm wondering is if the problem is resolved with the system reset itself and will the countdown go away? The CEL is also on for nox codes. Is the Def system at related to cel? Or are they separate issues.
As always clicking on the blue arrow icon within any quote box will take you to the original post/thread. There is further discussion found there as to the reliability of various suppliers.I feel to compelled to comment on these two post experiences.
Let me first state that you CANNOT even as an enthusiastic DIY'r fix this system properly unless you have access to factory style scanners and abilities to down load programs called SCN coding!
Yes there are some things you can fix but overall MB has locked you out of it; even shops who fix this stuff for a living can't access it either unless they have the factory tool access and --yes SCN coding downloads !
As an overview the whole system needs to be seen & treated as a complete system which has many functions.
Yes DEF levels and the heater unit, you can replace yourself.
BUT
Unless you have a suitable scanner you cannot do function tests on the DEF supply system.
Your best best if you suspect the fluid is to change it, because it too will affect the way the system, works if the concentration is incorrect!
Is this important? --well yes!
If you have the system apparently back up and running you need to see if it will develop 5000 HPa of delivery pressure--and that it will run down to a reserve or ready line pressure.
Having assured yourself it's running as it should the next step is the check delivery pressure at the dosing nozzle and spray distribution pattern.
Yes you can replace the DEF injector as a DIY operation.
Testing it is another matter
That entails setting the system with again a FACTORY style scanner in injection qty test procedures, collecting the resultant and measuring the DEF liquid dispensed with a burette.
You need 80 millitres minimum over the prescribed test.
Now as to the exhaust SCR Cat--the hard parts. The bazooka tube!
Yes an easy DIY job just a fiddle to remove and replace.
Again after you have done, what about the differential pressure sensor, what's it reading?
Does it need an updated sensors or socket modification kit?
Dealer visit?
With all that in hand its only left to concentrate on the NOx sensors themselves --Now on their 5th iteration. the latest ones are NGK's not Bosch!
Yes you can DIY install them but they will be needing a factory SCN encode adaption which is the problem you will encounter with this particular DIY practice. You will need to approach a dealer for the adaptation., Cost is about $150 .
Now with all that down your last task is to do health check with scanner and make sure the NOX reduction is at least 70%.
Of Course fail to do this and make sure you get full adaption and monitor drive cycle closure will put the light on between 80- to 220 miles and you will be back to square one most likely about to scream in frustration at the attempts to DIY fix it!
Hope this helps with an overview of understanding.
Dennis
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