DEF Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Do you find yourself confused by the many Diesel Exhaust Fluid brands out there?
Not Sure what sets each brand apart?
We made this page to answer our DEF related frequently asked questions
What is Diesel Exhaust Fluid?
Diesel Exhaust Fluid or “DEF” is a product that was made to offset the negative environmental impact of engines that run Diesel Fuel. The composition of DEF should be 32.5% solution of technically pure urea in purified water. Diesel Exhaust Fluid has become standard in diesel vehicles manufactured after 2010. Your DEF using vehicles is built to slow down and eventually stop if you do not have DEF in your tank. Some vehicles use clear language explicitly saying you are running out of DEF and others use the symbol pictured below to express a need for Diesel Exhaust Fluid.
When You are Running Low on DEF, This is the symbol you’ll see. Source: CarParts.com
Should I Use the DEF Brand Stated in my Manual?
If your manual recommends “AdBlue” DEF, it can be scary to consider any other brand. The bottom line is: if your vehicle is still under the manufacturers warranty, It is safest to stick to the recommended brand. This is because if you put a low quality DEF in your vehicle, you will likely get an error notification and the cost of clearing that error falls on you. However, much like gasoline, DEF has a set of international standards. This means that any certified DEF manufacturer needs to meet strict specifications in order to call their product DEF. The standard for DEF set forth by the International Organization for Standardization and DEF is classified as ISO 22241. If the brand you are looking at meets these standards, there is no need to worry about the quality of the product. If, For Example, you have 2 Liters of Adblue in your DEF tank and you would like to top off your tank before getting back on the road but the service station only has CBluO available, you can put the CbluO into your tank without worry because both products are mainly composed of 32.5% technically pure urea and 67.5% purified water. If you are at a service station and you do not know the brand of DEF available, don’t be afraid to ask the staff, they should be able to give you an answer.
What Are the DEF Brands and What is the Difference?
The American Petroleum Institute has a DEF Fluid certification program. On their site, you can find all certified North American DEF Manufacturers. Since we are a Canadian company, below we have compiled two lists, the first is a list of Canadian DEF Manufacturers and the Second is popular American Brands that you can find in Canada.
If the American Petroleum Institute has approved the product, you can feel comfortable using it. You can find Blue Leaf DEF at all of our service stations.
HELP! I’ve Put DEF in my Diesel tank or Diesel in My DEF Tank
Often, the DEF tank and Diesel tank are right beside each other. This can lead to a simple but critical mistake: You’ve put the wrong product in the wrong tank. Whether you put DEF in a diesel tank or Diesel in a DEF tank, the first step is do not turn your vehicle on. If you start your vehicle when your tank is contaminated, the cost of this mistake increases greatly. You must call a diesel mechanic and they will help you solve the problem.
