DEF Maintenance Tip

It is prudent for fuel site operators in cold-weather climates to test the heater/temperature controls of the Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) dispensing/storage system to make sure they are working properly and will prevent the DEF from freezing. Operators should also check the DEF dispenser filter and housing for evidence of damage that may result from frozen DEF.

DEF freezes around 12°F. While the quality of DEF is not affected when it freezes, (DEF can be used as soon as it liquefies), frozen DEF does put DEF storage and dispensing equipment at risk because the volume of DEF in a frozen state is higher than a liquid state. As a result, closed containers and equipment storing or dispensing frozen DEF may rupture.

Operators should also check if the DEF filter needs to be changed at this time. DEF containing urea crystals or other contaminants can affect the performance of SCR (selective catalytic reduction) systems and cause on-board urea/DEF filters to reach filtration capacity prematurely. If the maximum dispensing rate has begun to drop, it is likely that the filter needs to be changed.

PetroClear recently expanded its line of quality dispenser filtration products to include DEF dispenser filter housing and DEF dispenser filter elements. DEF dispenser filters that provide 1 micron particulate removal capture the smallest particulates. However, this level of filtration diminishes the service life of the filter. PetroClear DEF filters provide efficient 5 micron (absolute) or 10 micron (absolute) particulate removal, striking a balance between effective filtration and manageable filter replacement intervals.

To learn more about PetroClear DEF filters, contact PetroClear Business Director Bob Ingham at Robert.Ingham@champlabs.com or call him at (419) 377-4652.