DEF Rant

It's a scam of epic proportions... To make matters worse, using DEF not only doesn't work... It's actually more harmful than not using it. Notice the scum film on your stacks? It doesn't scrub off does it? That, my friend, is nitric acid, a side chemical reaction of urea. Nitric acid aerosols are some really nasty, dangerous stuff... And I'm no nature nazi environmentalist either.

 

It's all garbage.....I was just sitting here listening to how rough the idle is on these new trucks. Sounds awful! We can thank our state Trucking Associations, Congress and yes the engine and truck manufacturers for not taking a stand against this emissions garbage. I've been towed twice since September in two different new trucks due to DEF and emissions issues. Seems the only winners here are the towing companies, (so they tell me). Business is really up for them.I have to hand it to CAT for getting out of the truck engine market. Too bad the others don't do the same, then the laws would have to change since no one would be producing this garbage. That won't happen though, and engine manufactures will continue to put a faulty product on the market. I can't see how they make money though. The fleet I work for has all new freightliners with DD 13's in them and by the time they hit 20k they've all been in the shop at least three times for emissions issues. If you're in the market for a truck and are looking at buying one of these you must either be uninformed or out of your mind.

 

Less pollution? Maybe, but what about all those def containers I see laying all over the place?
What about all the extra power and energy it took to manufacture all those plastic def containers?
Seems we are taking one step forward and two steps back.

 

The funny think is is construction equipment is starting to run these emissions systems now, so I'm wondering what cat is using on there off road equipment and since they have to make it anyway will they get back in the on highway truck market. The scary thing about the gliders is will OweBama or Uncle Scam one day decide all 49 states are going to adopt the CARB regs? The sales tax generated by forcing all those new truck sales and retrofit emissions kits alone would be worth it for the government. I remember passing the port of Baltimore and seeing all the used condo trucks waiting to be exported in the past. I trust the government just slightly less then I trust a crackhead.

Adam

 

States have the option of following CARB guidelines or the federal EPA guidelines. I don't see the federal government giving all that control over to the states.

 

Key to DEF is keeping the tank full. That white stuff is crystals from the DEF drying. If the tank gets low , once or twice a day it may splash up to the sides and top of the tank then dry. Forming the crystals, that stop up the plumbing. Also wipe the crystals off before topping off, to keep them out of your tank. Try this and is if it works better for you.

 

And that is a bad thing? I would love to get a new chassis body from the OEM's, minus engine and trans, and be able to drop in one of the older high performance crate engines. The new stuff just doesn't excite me in cars and pickups nowadays. Abosolutely nothing being put out in cars and pickups moves me anymore. It is just a matter of trying to find what will do what I need done at the best sale price I can get it for. Things are not improving, they are getting just as ridiculous with autos and pickups as they are with semi engines. The 5.3L in my 2013 Silverado, I have had to spend a bunch of money modifying things that OEM did that are more of a detriment than a help. knowing what I know now, I would have searched out an earlier model in excellent condition. Deleting the AFM function on the engine thru ECM programming, putting a oil separator on the PCV line to catch the increased oil going thru the PCV to the intake.

So, considering the new stuff in semi trucks, it was a no brainer to get a 2013 glider and drop in a pre-emission engine. Best truck I have ever had, from a cost of operation and maintenance standpoint.

 

the sad thing is semis still make the old engines.

they don't make the old engines for cars anymore. i don't think. not worth it to keep old machinary around for a chev 454 or 350 that might get ordered once in awhile. or even the older engines, before pcv's and egr's came out.