Seeing way more DEF system issues on trucks from the Midwest this winter

Last week at our shop in Toledo, we had three different rigs in with frozen DEF lines and failed heaters. A month ago it was maybe one a week. Back in 2021, we hardly saw any. The cold snap seems to be killing these parts faster than they used to. Anyone else up north dealing with this spike?

4 comments

4 Comments

mason5312mo ago

Gotta disagree, the parts are the same quality they've always been. The real problem is people not driving enough in extreme cold. These systems need heat from the engine running to stay happy. Short trips just let everything freeze solid.

fionanguyen28d ago

Hot take: They're cutting corners. Totally seeing this in Minnesota too. The parts are absolutely not the same. The plastic gets brittle faster and the heater elements are weaker. It's not just about short trips. We had a truck that ran all day, every day, and the DEF line still split open. The cold is bad, but the stuff they're building with now can't handle it like the older systems could. It's a cost saving thing that's biting everyone in the butt.

wesleyfox2mo ago

Yeah, that cold snap is brutal on DEF systems. We're seeing the same thing in Michigan. Had a Ford F-250 last week where the DEF line cracked right at the injector. The heaters just can't keep up when it gets that cold for that long. It feels like the parts they're using now are cheaper than they were a few years back.

kevin_lane2mo ago

Ugh, tell me about it. I've had good luck wrapping that whole injector area with the foil-backed insulation tape before winter hits. It's cheap and gives the factory heater a fighting chance. Just make sure you don't cover any drain holes.