If you’ve ever wondered how the United States manages to have so many big trucks on the road at once with no strong smell of fumes, you have three letters to thank.
DEF saves our noses and our lungs.
Which leads to the question, what is DEF? What does DEF stand for? What is DEF fluid, and what is DEF fluid made of?
Keep reading to learn the answer to these questions and many more.
What Is DEF?
DEF stands for Diesel Exhaust Fluid. It is a component that allows big machinery and heavy-duty trucks to operate within strict federal emission guidelines.
Chemists explain DEF as a combination of urea and deionized water. These components work together to transform hazardous nitrous oxide emissions into harmless gas and water.
In 2010, the EPA adjusted its standards for truck emissions, making a product like DEF essential for medium and heavy-duty diesel vehicles. The EPA required diesel-burning engines to lower their pollution output to historically low levels.
Then the EPA extended its standard to include generators, off-road vehicles, and many other types of engines. As a result, individuals use DEF more than ever. If the EPA continues to increase its regulations, DEF will continue to be a critical product in keeping engines operating within legal standards.
DEF is not a fuel additive. Rather, your engine will inject it into the exhaust stream of diesel vehicles so it can transform harmful emissions into harmless water and nitrogen.
Why Do You Need DEF?
Legally speaking, you need DEF to stay within the given EPA standards. But DEF does more than just make you comply with the law.
First, it reduces pollution from diesel equipment and vehicles.
Secondly, if you have a DEF tank, your engine won’t run without DEF in the DEF tank. When the tank runs dry, the engine shuts down. Thus, you need DEF to operate.
The amount of DEF you need depends on the miles per gallon your diesel truck gets. A light-duty truck typically uses 2 to 3 gallons of DEF per 800 miles. Trucks that get 20 or more miles per gallon need about 10 gallons of DEF for every 8,000 to 10,000 miles.
Some trucks even have a “low DEF ” light, so you know that you need to fill up.
Not all filling stations carry DEF. Some companies specialize in DEF delivery. For example, you can visit here to find such a company.
What Needs DEF?
All diesel engines need DEF to stay compliant with EPA standards. Thus you will find most constructions companies need it along with heavy-duty trucks.
Heavy-duty equipment like backhoes, bulldozers, and cranes would all require DEF. Commercial vehicles, as well as generators, are on the list as well.
Look For Delivery
If you own a construction company and do not want to constantly be on the lookout for places with DEF, look for services that will deliver fuel and DEF directly to your job site.
Good delivery companies will deliver diesel and DEF to sporting and cultural events that require generators, construction sites, and manufacturing plants.
Buy and Comply
After learning what is DEF is and how it operates, you can now understand its importance. Many people have attempted to find a workaround solution, but when you just buy DEF, you comply with the EPA standards and can rest easy that you’re doing your part to keep air clean legally.
Did you find this article helpful? Keep visiting our site. We aim to provide our readers with informative articles daily.
