Good morning Neil....
An update on DEF for you.....
DEF is basically 32% Urea with propolyene Glycol to keep it from freezing. It combines with diesel engine byproducts of combustion, raises the exhaust temperature to ignition and burns off the particulates. Problem is, with the tier 4 standards, the exhaust emissions have to be particulate free so even burning them, you get ash and the ash is captured in a labrynith cannister that has to be changed out and the cannister either cleaned or disposed of in an approved hazardous waste landfill.
The cleaning machine is upwards of 20 grand. We have one at the shop and the vacuumed ash still has to go to a haz-mat approved landfill.
You are probably aware that Caterpillar got out of the on-road engine market last fall, just for that reason. We have a few late model 3406 style cats and they don't even look like a diesel engine or sound like one and the fuel efficiency is in the toilet as it is for any Tier 4 engine. That was all well and good back when fuel was 30 cents a gallon, but at $4.00 (on road) and $3.25 (off road), it don't work, well, it does. The cost is passed on to the consumer in the product cost. We all pay in the end for the government folly. It's Regan's 'trickle down' economics at it's best---and worst.
DDEC (Detriot Diesel), Cummins, Vol-Mack and MB all have DEF injection in the on road arena. because of mandated emission compliance, they have all dropped the standard 500K/5year engine warranty to 200/2. The engines all run ver hot. I'm seeing lots of catalyist failures, perforated head gaskets, failed overheads and lubrication problems as well as failed oil coolers.
The new extended life coolant, when it mixes with engine oil, turns to a vaseline consistency goo that destroys an engine internally and it's rather quick. Earlier this year we had literally dozens of puked engines on shipping stands lined up in the shop and replacement engines coming in by the semi load.
When the engine is compromised, it loads the radiator (and sometimes the ATA) as well, with goo so you replace everything.
We had one engine, a DDEC that Detroit wanted short blocked and the accessories installed on a re-man short block. The tech's were pulling the accessories (compressor, oil cooler, water pump, injection modules) and the goo was running on the floor plus that accessories were loaded as well. That was abandoned in favor of a complete reman.
These engines aren't running a couple hundred thousand or a few hundred hours, they are puking in a month of being new. We had one truck come in that was going to another dealer that puked in route and needed a new engine. I wonder if they told the buyer it was on the second engine prior to delivery.
DDEC is using compound supercharging plus DEF plus a catalyist plus EGR and Cummins is using basically the same minus the compound supercharging as is MB.
The DDEC engine has an LED array on the fuel distribution/fuel filter module to alert the operator of any malfunction plus, if an error code is generated in operation, the engine immediately derates to 15% of available torque and horsepower. DEEC uses a shaft driven (from the turbocharger) to drive a vane type supercharger behind the turbo to increase available boost ro around 42PSI the ram additional air into the combustion chamber and create a leaner (and hotter) burn. All this, coupled with ULSD is destroying engines. Remember, even the red dyed (off road) diesel we burn is ULSD.
As the emissions criteria tightens, you see the influx of NG engines, not only in on road trucks, but in Ag tractors as well. All the players already have NG capable engines. They are used in atmospheric hazardous locations such as oilfield power and marine.
DEF is nothing but a stop-gap solution to Tier 4 standards. None of the new generation diesels are efficient no matter what emission criteria.
The blue filler cap (next to the fuel cap) will be a common place thing in the coming couple years.
It's all about global warming and protecting yourself from yourself.
I'm waiting for the generated dust emissions standards to come out, concerning combines. That will be a hoot.
DEF has one good attribute. You can fertilize your garden with it. It's available in our parts department for 6 bucks for 2 gallons and most truck stops are refitting for dispensing in bulk.
