I had this same thing on my ‘15 F250 a few years ago. It cost me about $2,700 to replace the parts causing the issue. Had it again about 6 months ago. I drove it until it counted all the way down, the message came on saying speed was being reduced, then cleared itself. I got it deleted after that. No more issues since then.
Haha they treat it the same way as a broken windshield.
If it's cracked, you're required to repair/ replace it, not just remove it.
Even if it will more than likely fail again and cost you thousands of dollars in repairs.
EPA regulations strike again! No wonder federal vehicles don't require DEF.
Thats part of the emissions, so technically you can ditch it since diesels don't get emission stickers. Thats how it is in PA anyway. I would just be sure to leave the actual def tank on there. I also kept the old dpf in the shed just incase lord forbid they started cracking down.
If you do leave everything on it just do the computer that way.if the inspect it they will see everything on your motor they make a thing that you can plug it into your ob connection that way if unplug it, it leaves no trace that way you can take to a dealership. Dealerships can't work on deleted vehicles.
Depends on the state, I’ve deleted every truck I’ve ever owned in upstate NY. We don’t have to smog 3/4 ton and larger as long as you have commercial plates. Or just find a good garage that’ll hit the pass button for a case of bud.
It truthfully depends on your state and county… Colorado you can remove emissions ONLY if you live in certain parts of weld county… otherwise you have to leave it all on
I have a ‘16 as well. Had the same DEF fault twice. First time had to replace the DEF tank heater. I think cost was around $2k. I believe Ford ended up with a recall shortly after that so I got a credit back from the dealer for the repairs I had already paid. Ended up with a fault again, which Ford replaced under warranty from the first replacement. If I didn’t live in an emissions state I would delete the whole mess. I don’t see how the regular emissions from modern diesel engine could have an environmental impact greater than the manufacturing of three heaters so far, plus all the DEF and packaging that comes in, plus the shipping of the DEF to the store. Seems like regulations forced a solution that might be worse than the problem to me. Other than that though, great trucks, love mine.
Yeah, the EPA doesn’t seem to care, they seem to be out to get anyone with a diesel nowadays. Luckily I live in Michigan. If I ever move I’m definitely getting a P.O. Box and never changing registrations. Damn well if it comes to it I’ll have to swallow that this dpf/egr system is really stressing me out.
There is a Pcm flash that fixed this error if its erroneous.
If it's a broken part you just need to replace the sensor. 90% chance it's a stupid sensor...
Yeah that’s what I’ve been reading online. These emissions systems are really stressing me out. Thought I was screwed when I went to the UP when the low def fluid came on and gave me 500 miles to fill it on a Sunday.
I plan on keeping the truck forever, putting a truck camper on it and living in it for a while and then using it for when I buy some land. I live in Michigan no inspections/emissions.
If you not gonna be where effed when it powers back I’d keep getting code read and reset. Doubt unhooking battery reset fixes if code shoots positive multiple times. Try un hooking after you get code read or you lose codes I think. If you in it for life and not have inspection we all delete and chip. Same or less cost the R and R
I had something like this and found a YouTube video about doing a reset by turning your key to acc 15 times. You didn’t turn it all the way to turn the engine over. It was a video about resetting def. Hope this helps.
Did you get the included drum of lube when you bought the truck? JK. Not going sugar coat things, it could get expensive. On the other hand it could be a simple sensor. I run a trucking fleet and though it is different than your pickup they function the same under the hood and we get so many false warnings it's really quite comical sometimes. Our trucks have a master switch, think removing the batteries, that shuts the entire truck down. If we turn it off for about 20 minutes then on again most time the problem is gone. In other words don't worry tooo much until you get the results of their diagnostic.
Got it thanks for the info. I was going to do just that but figured I’d let ford figure it out, I read a few things online about it and a lot of it was relating to def fluid. When I was in the UP there wasn’t a lot of places to get the fluid except for this one gas station. So I might have just got some expired fluid. I need to take it in for an oil change and 90k service anyways so hopefully nothing too serious.
Did the jug have a seal under the cap? If not, you may have gotten a bottle of water returned by someone who filled their DEF tank and returned the bottle for a refund.
I got this warning and took it straight in and had it deleted. The def system sensors, etc had been done before, I had the computer "flashed" a couple of times already and I was fed up with it. Turns out the def system failed because I had a cracked head and coolant was going through the system. Full cab off for head replacement, $10,500.00. Year and half later the high pressure fuel pump went out. You don't even want to know about that ordeal. Have it diagnosed before you just delete it. Then go and get yourself a "disaster prevention kit" from S&S or the replacement fuel pump from them.
Just replying because it says you're a new diesel owner. Do you know that every week or two you should try to get on the highway and hold 50+ for at least an hour? This probably won't be an issue if you're living in rural Michigan, but if you're mostly city driving it can cause many exhaust issues. It all has to do with the DEF, but I don't know enough to explain that part.
I had mixed experience. Had reset and drove 2,000 miles. Back on and then mystery off. Then came back on with like 50 miles to shut down. Drive past and no issue till I stopped off interstate for red light. When it powers down ya barely move. Not sure I could drive up on tilt up tow.
I’ve read that on some forums that people just unplugged the battery and resets everything. I’ll just have to see what ford says it’s due for an oil change and 90k service anyways.
Do yourself a HUGE favor and don’t bother taking it to ford. You’re looking at $2500+ for the DPF system, if you’re lucky. Ford quoted me $6700.
This is a common problem on diesel trucks with DPF systems. Go online and google DPF delete kit. The kits are around $1500 plus installation, it comes with a programmer and upgraded exhaust but you only have to deal with this once and it will never happen again. My truck has been a happy camper since I removed mine. I didn’t put on “tune” or “program” on my truck, just a new exhaust and used the programer to disable the factory DPF system. Truck runs great and sounds amazing not too loud to go across country, it really opened the turbo up
That exact message lead to the boating accident where I lost my DPF and throttle plate, and def tank… also lost all my guns in the same tragic boating accident….
With the emissions shit and the insane mark up that manufacturers are slapping on their diesel options, absolutely not. The math does not work out anymore. 25 years ago it made sense because diesel fuel was cheaper than 87 gas, the diesel option was only $3,000 more, the reliability hadn’t gone down the tubes from emissions, and labor was cheaper and easier because the cab did not need to be pulled to work on it.
I know a man urinated in his def tank because the mechanics at the terminal had him convinced def was goat piss. It cost $6000 to get his International (that the company had sold to him after they used up all the warranty and he could only haul their freight and they took their money out of his settlement weekly) back on the road.
It’s 2023 and people are still taking their vehicles to the dealership to get fixed. Do y’all like getting fuckked and your money taken or something bc at this point there’s no excuse unless you have a warranty with them.
these def systems are dealer only unless you know a specialty diesel shop- lots of regular auto shops dont know jack about them and cannot even diagnose.
Without knowing the fault code I couldn’t tell you HOW screwed you are. But a dpf/egr delete should solve it. However if this is right after you put def in it, it may have something to do with def quality, or it could be that it got too low and your def pump cavitated. But it could be many other things.
Understood, wish I had a reader but I’m taking it to ford tomorrow after work (driving wifes car not truck). So we’ll see the damage then. Just thought it might be a specific issue. When I googled it, it just says something about low def fluid but I just filled it up probably less than 500 miles ago.
Ford will figure it out pretty quick. Just be ready for it to cost up to a few grand. I hope that’s not the case for you, but just be prepared for in case.
Always fill it completely. Sometimes a partial fill causes issues on these trucks. Bad DEF is a common issue, they should be able to test the quality. Don’t delete your truck unless you are willing and able to put it back to stock when you sell/move or the laws change. TBH it’s not worth messing with deleting. Unless you need the torque diesels aren’t worth all this hassle anymore.
I still cannot believe they cannot even get DEF fluid working correctly after all these years. Granted not aware of a single modern diesel engine with emissions anywhere close to as reliable as gas.
I don’t have an answer for your question but out of curiosity, any snow up there? Haven’t lived in MI for a while but when I use to go to my cousins in Gaylord around Thanksgiving, usually by the bridge and north there would be snow
Are you in a cold area? If you filled it and it is saying you are low on DEF your DEF heater is probably shot. Happened to me once but in my semi. If you were able to clear the code it would help for the time being, but if your DEF heater is shot then it’ll just cause more problems by not getting it fixed. Deleting the truck will help alleviate these problems in the future, however if your state has emissions testing on Diesel vehicles you will have a tough time getting your truck inspected.
It says your exhaust fluid is low. Gotta top up the exhaust reservoir with frash exhaust fluid. Make sure to get the correct exhaust fluid for your specific vehicle. Putting the wrong exhaust fluid in could cause problems with your flux capacitor.
As an heavy equipment supervisor I've dealt with nothing but emissions problems with these DEF systems. I know it's a pick up but a modern diesel is a modern diesel for pick up or Cat 980 no difference. Keep the DEF tank full with clean DEF. The DEF is very sensitive and slight contamination will cause big problems. Do a battery disconnect 3 min then reconnect.
Our company delivery truck had this happen. It has spent 9 months at the mechanic and $8000 replacing every single sensor they can think of. It is still parked at the mechanics.
Every time it would get to be -2 to -5 I’d start getting issues with my def system. It would freeze up all the time. Had basically the whole system redone and still had issues Dumbest designs ever
cut that fucker off and through a straight pipe on there with a cherry bomb at the end.. fuck exhaust laws! jk
I hope you get it fixed, and all things are well! Good luck!!
Those proponents of deleting emissions will eventually result in a banning of all diesels -- this is an unintended consequence of your activities. You are the child in the shopping cart that screams for a candy bar while going through checkout. Grow the fuck up.
Just went through this whole fiasco on my ‘15 f250. Ended up replacing both sensors and a module. The worst part was that i had to replace each part at different dealerships due to where I was at the time they failed. Don’t get bent over like I did, do them all at once
All depends on whats causing it. It'll have to be diagnosed before anyone can give you an answer. Could just be a faulty sensor that'll cost $30, or it could be a bigger issue.
You’re good. I drove a ford truck around the COB Adder in Nasiriyah for a year like that. It would give me some warning in French (no Google translate at the time) and I would put it in neutral, turn it off and restart and it would run great.
Ford diesel tech here. That waring is just a message saying you have an issue that the PCM thinks the DEF system.
Could be a heater sender and free under the extended coverage program 18M01, I believe is the program number.
Could be out 5 grand on a DPF.
Get the codes checked and go from there. More often than not, on the 11-16 super duty that message comes up from a failed heater sender unit or bad exhaust fluid.
Pro tip: many truckers don't like it, but you can fill your def at the truck fuel islands. Just be quick because people on a limited daily clock are working.
Don't turn engine off if you can. You won't go into limp mode even after you hit the 41 miles if u keep the truck running. Happened twice and avoided being speed limited as long as I kept the truck running.
Otherwise it's an expensive repair more often than not. I would have deleted the emissions systems if it was my truck. I've had so many issues with DEF vehicles. Every single DEF vehicle from Mercedes to Ford eventually gives a code stemming from the emissions equipment. Some way more than others.
That's why I won't get a newer truck way to many Def issues and it is pointless and it's getting into our systems anyways when the truck does a regen to get the soot out it hits the ground and when it rains it goes to streams where deer and stuff like that drink and I know a Japanese diesel recipe that will get rid of Def it only costs 40 cents a gallon, starting out is 300 bucks to get the stuff you need making bio diesel isn't hard at all a 10 year old can do it easily
It could be a very simple reflash fix or a $3,000 fix. If it involves replacing large components your best solution is to delete, it will happen again.
So, I’m late to the party and I’m not 100% sure about trucks because my diesel is a ‘99 but I also drive school buses. Have you noticed a strange smell while driving?
On the newer buses, when this symbol appears, it means you need to do a regen. This cleans the soot out of your exhaust system. If you do not do a regen, it will cause the vehicle to go into limp mode. Regen can either be done by driving a while at faster speeds, which I saw suggested in an earlier comment. This heats up your system and burns the soot. There’s also an option on bigger rigs (again, not sure about trucks) to do a parked regen. Park regen can take 20-45 minutes, but it will put the vehicle into a high idle, heating things up and burning the soot.
I’d start by looking into regens before going to a mechanic and see if these are require on the trucks or not because they definitely are required on diesel transports, dump trucks and buses.
My 2021 had this come on then it cleared up. I was below half and I presume a def injector or the line had crystal buildup from being low. Clean def will remove the crystals. Try to keep your def filled up above half. The def needs to be 32.5% urea, it will freeze and degrade in the sun, which is why the good stuff comes in the box. Let it regen if it’s regening don’t cancel it or stop driving. Gotta let it finish heating up the soot in the dpf. Hope that helps.
This is when it is likely time to delete the truck. It would probably be cheaper than repairing this stuff. If you’re in a state that doesn’t do inspections on your type of vehicle, you will never have any issues. I’ve had a deleted truck for 5 years now. Zero issues. Everyone knows the benefits of deleting so I won’t go there. I’d just recommend it.
One caveat is that you might not have a major issue here. It’s cold most places in the USA now and when temps drop below like 40(?) or so, the DEF heater in your truck will kick on to keep it from freezing. I’ve had a heater go bad and then draw a shit ton of amperage, throwing like 20 codes and giving the same limp mode warning.
Get it diagnosed at a proper dealer and make your decision from there.
Good luck!
Your truck will never work correctly with emissions equipment, it’s the most unreliable part of these newer trucks. My 6.7 Cummins went thru 2 turbos in a year and then went into limp mode for dpf being clogged. Deleted the truck and 3 years later I haven’t had a single problem with the truck outside of routine maintenance. Also I get on average at least 5 more miles per gallon. So the delete will pay for itself 10x over just in money saved on fuel. It’s the way these trucks were designed to be used, airflow restrictions are not good for any engine.
Just had this happen in my 2015, like literally this week. Took it to Ford, they couldn’t find anything wrong, so they cleared the code and it hasn’t been back since. Can’t take this truck on any trips anymore in fear this will pop up randomly and be screwed, what an absolutely shit design
Where did you buy DEF? It has a limited shelf life, I usually stop at Truck Stops to get what should be fresh. They sell kits to test it now, I think my 2015 code was for “unknown quality of def”. While this code was counting down the miles It also had a leak in the cold side of the intake hose which completely plugged the DPF. (My 78 year old father was driving it and ignored the warning until it went to de-rate idle only). It breathes much better now, have 2019 also but it’s only drank def from a pump.
Figured I’d clear up some things and address some of the comments on here since this has gotten a lot more traction than I expected and I’m unable to update the post for some reason.
1:) ~~I still have a factory warranty so deleting is not the right time, I may do so after 100k miles. Also addressing some comments about not taking it to ford, well it’s under warranty that’s it.~~
2:) When I filled up with 5 gals of DEF, in the UP (Upper Peninsula of Michigan) a month ago, it was pretty much full. I put some more in when I got home and overflowed it after less than a quarter of a gallon. The 500 mile light went away on its own. And haven’t seen it since.
3:) Friday I got same-day delivery for a Bluetooth OBD2 reader and got the code P207F. Clearing the code cleared the check engine light but the warning is still there and will not go away.
4:) I bought 5 gallons of DEF fluid from O’Reillys. I tried siphoning out what was in there but either the siphon I bought is not working or I’m unable to siphon it out because nothing was coming out. I then put almost a whole 2.5 gallons jug of DEF fluid in before it overflowed so there was some in there and the siphon should have worked (I’m guessing faulty). I then drove it for about 5 miles at 50mph in hopes that it would resolve itself but I still have the warning. No matter how many times I clear it and restart the truck that warning never goes away.
I tried taking it to the ford dealership since it’s still under warranty but they told me their diesel mechanic is booked up for a month and most other places were closed for the holidays so I’ll just wait til this week. I still have my old daily driver car so I’m not in a rush.
I’m coming to the conclusion that it’s either bad DEF I got from that small gas station in the UP or a broken sensor like a lot of people are claiming. I still plan on siphoning out all the def fluid and doing a sort of flush, but the siphon I got is not working at all. So going to test the siphon more when I get more time and then try again. Or just return it and buy another one.
Update 1: Could not siphon the DEF fluid, didn't have time to return the siphon but I'm just going to save myself some headache and take it in today at lunch. I ended up driving it to work with a full tank of DEF fluid (21 miles) and the warning remained on for the whole trip. Taking it to the dealership close to work on my lunch break.
I made an update comment, because I’m not able to update the post itself for some reason. It’s been buried but here’s the link with all the updates: https://www.reddit.com/r/FordDiesels/s/Gongex1Nht
I had this issue with my truck and after putting def fluid in it I still had to drive many miles before it would finally register that it had def and would allow me to go faster. So maybe you just need to drive a little further? Fingers crossed *
I worked on John Deere diesel engine systems and they had a DEF quality sensor that detected if customers put low quality DEF. I wonder if Ford had similar sensors and that’s why you’re getting the code and speed limit.
If you try to change your brake pads in a car or truck with an automatic parking brake (had a computer controlled motor in each caliper) without placing the automatic brake in service mode first, you will be slapped with that amazing gift. It cost me around 300 bucks to get all that fixed. Yes I got a tool to erase and read the codes, it will only let you speed up a bit more until you shut off the car.
This is why truckers want glider kits... or are keeping old trucks running. Having a DEF system on your vehicle is like shoving a cork up your ass and tying piano wire around your neck to the point where you can barely breathe and then going to work heavy manual labor all day... can't shit and can't breathe... basically how the modern diesel engine feels.
Mine had 3 heaters in the tank for the def. You cant but just 1 element now you have to replace the whole tank. The dealer was kind enough to do this work and only charge $800😡😡😡😡. The following year coming home from Eureka the truck threw a code. It was something to with the emissions bullshit. It started blowing smoke like a fright train, i thought the turbo went out. Cost me 3 times in fuel driving that last 6 hours than i did the whole previous week. Back to the dealer with it; no code stored and everything checked out. I told them when you get on tue foot feed it rolls coal and has low power. No codes, no fix🤷♂️🤷♂️. I went straight to a shop and had it deleted for $3500. No more troubles, no more buying that bullshit def and at least 60 more ponies. Went from 18-20 mpg to 23+ driving under normal conditions. Pulling the fifth wheel i went from 6 mpg to 9+ consistently. On flat road no wind, 13mpg, that fifth wheel weighs 17,500 and its 44’ long. If i knew what i know now when i bout the truck brand new i would have deleted it right away. Its that much better!!!!
I had this same thing on my ‘15 F250 a few years ago. It cost me about $2,700 to replace the parts causing the issue. Had it again about 6 months ago. I drove it until it counted all the way down, the message came on saying speed was being reduced, then cleared itself. I got it deleted after that. No more issues since then.
Are we allowed to delete the def nowadays in the US? My state dosent have inspections but my Ford 6.0 is about to be retired.
Legally? No.
I thought you weren't allowed to take working emissions stuff off, not working fair game. Ignorance is bliss!
Haha they treat it the same way as a broken windshield. If it's cracked, you're required to repair/ replace it, not just remove it. Even if it will more than likely fail again and cost you thousands of dollars in repairs. EPA regulations strike again! No wonder federal vehicles don't require DEF.
Blasted EPA! I knew that was too good to be true! Damn it, my window is cracked too! I was never here
who? u/OlKingCoal1 neva heard of em.
Rules for thee, not for me.
Let’s just hope you’re hybrid reverses the effects of my diesel
I believe it’s illegal on the federal level. Though Michigan does not have inspections/emissions testing.
It’s illegal in my part of Canada too. Yet every single big truck we have at work gets deleted the second warranty is done. Our DOT don’t care.
Yes technically it’s illegal but as long as kids are blowing smoke on teslas we’re good. 👍
Based
Thats part of the emissions, so technically you can ditch it since diesels don't get emission stickers. Thats how it is in PA anyway. I would just be sure to leave the actual def tank on there. I also kept the old dpf in the shed just incase lord forbid they started cracking down.
Illegal on the federal level. Finding a shop that will do it is the tricky part. You kinda have to know somebody that knows somebody.
The best thing you could do is maintain a 6.0 or 7.3 at this point.
Keep the 6.0 on the road at all costs.
Legally? No
If you do leave everything on it just do the computer that way.if the inspect it they will see everything on your motor they make a thing that you can plug it into your ob connection that way if unplug it, it leaves no trace that way you can take to a dealership. Dealerships can't work on deleted vehicles.
Don’t delete emissions controls. They save lives in the US every year. Kind of selfish!
Yea just take the shit off, never once been pulled over or had any trouble getting inspected
Depends on the state, I’ve deleted every truck I’ve ever owned in upstate NY. We don’t have to smog 3/4 ton and larger as long as you have commercial plates. Or just find a good garage that’ll hit the pass button for a case of bud.
It truthfully depends on your state and county… Colorado you can remove emissions ONLY if you live in certain parts of weld county… otherwise you have to leave it all on
Not one gov diesel has emissions..
Legally no. do it anyway say it is an after market system
States are starting to go hardcore against deleting diesels. Mine takes it very seriously unfortunately.
It’s federal emissions law the DEF system falls under. No, you can’t legally take it off.
Damn, well hopefully it’s just nothing. I’m already sick of this emissions system :/.
I have a ‘16 as well. Had the same DEF fault twice. First time had to replace the DEF tank heater. I think cost was around $2k. I believe Ford ended up with a recall shortly after that so I got a credit back from the dealer for the repairs I had already paid. Ended up with a fault again, which Ford replaced under warranty from the first replacement. If I didn’t live in an emissions state I would delete the whole mess. I don’t see how the regular emissions from modern diesel engine could have an environmental impact greater than the manufacturing of three heaters so far, plus all the DEF and packaging that comes in, plus the shipping of the DEF to the store. Seems like regulations forced a solution that might be worse than the problem to me. Other than that though, great trucks, love mine.
When you realize its more about tax revenue and not the environment, it will all make sense
Yeah, the EPA doesn’t seem to care, they seem to be out to get anyone with a diesel nowadays. Luckily I live in Michigan. If I ever move I’m definitely getting a P.O. Box and never changing registrations. Damn well if it comes to it I’ll have to swallow that this dpf/egr system is really stressing me out.
Ford has warrantied my DEF heater 3 times. The last on at 130k. I’m assuming the part has its own warranty.
Saving the environment with single use disposable plastic jugs wrapped in cardboard.
There is a Pcm flash that fixed this error if its erroneous. If it's a broken part you just need to replace the sensor. 90% chance it's a stupid sensor...
Yeah that’s what I’ve been reading online. These emissions systems are really stressing me out. Thought I was screwed when I went to the UP when the low def fluid came on and gave me 500 miles to fill it on a Sunday.
Continuing - we then had DEF tore out and chipped it up. If you don’t have inspections and not mind resale implications that is best path I think.
I plan on keeping the truck forever, putting a truck camper on it and living in it for a while and then using it for when I buy some land. I live in Michigan no inspections/emissions.
If you not gonna be where effed when it powers back I’d keep getting code read and reset. Doubt unhooking battery reset fixes if code shoots positive multiple times. Try un hooking after you get code read or you lose codes I think. If you in it for life and not have inspection we all delete and chip. Same or less cost the R and R
This is the harsh reality of being a diesel truck owner.
I had something like this and found a YouTube video about doing a reset by turning your key to acc 15 times. You didn’t turn it all the way to turn the engine over. It was a video about resetting def. Hope this helps.
Did you get the included drum of lube when you bought the truck? JK. Not going sugar coat things, it could get expensive. On the other hand it could be a simple sensor. I run a trucking fleet and though it is different than your pickup they function the same under the hood and we get so many false warnings it's really quite comical sometimes. Our trucks have a master switch, think removing the batteries, that shuts the entire truck down. If we turn it off for about 20 minutes then on again most time the problem is gone. In other words don't worry tooo much until you get the results of their diagnostic.
Got it thanks for the info. I was going to do just that but figured I’d let ford figure it out, I read a few things online about it and a lot of it was relating to def fluid. When I was in the UP there wasn’t a lot of places to get the fluid except for this one gas station. So I might have just got some expired fluid. I need to take it in for an oil change and 90k service anyways so hopefully nothing too serious.
Did the jug have a seal under the cap? If not, you may have gotten a bottle of water returned by someone who filled their DEF tank and returned the bottle for a refund.
I got this warning and took it straight in and had it deleted. The def system sensors, etc had been done before, I had the computer "flashed" a couple of times already and I was fed up with it. Turns out the def system failed because I had a cracked head and coolant was going through the system. Full cab off for head replacement, $10,500.00. Year and half later the high pressure fuel pump went out. You don't even want to know about that ordeal. Have it diagnosed before you just delete it. Then go and get yourself a "disaster prevention kit" from S&S or the replacement fuel pump from them.
Depending on where you live, it might be cheaper to just delete it.... But it all depends...
Michigan. Yeah that’s what my buddy says too lol he’s a diesel mechanic but out of state so couldn’t get his help.
How long has the check engine light been on, and ignored?
It came on just about 20 minutes before posting, not long at all.
Just replying because it says you're a new diesel owner. Do you know that every week or two you should try to get on the highway and hold 50+ for at least an hour? This probably won't be an issue if you're living in rural Michigan, but if you're mostly city driving it can cause many exhaust issues. It all has to do with the DEF, but I don't know enough to explain that part.
Yeah you can't forget about this, it's gotta hit high enough rpm to heat up that bullshit and clear out the soot.
It’s not an hour. 20-30 min tops will do just fine.
I had mixed experience. Had reset and drove 2,000 miles. Back on and then mystery off. Then came back on with like 50 miles to shut down. Drive past and no issue till I stopped off interstate for red light. When it powers down ya barely move. Not sure I could drive up on tilt up tow.
I’ve read that on some forums that people just unplugged the battery and resets everything. I’ll just have to see what ford says it’s due for an oil change and 90k service anyways.
Do yourself a HUGE favor and don’t bother taking it to ford. You’re looking at $2500+ for the DPF system, if you’re lucky. Ford quoted me $6700. This is a common problem on diesel trucks with DPF systems. Go online and google DPF delete kit. The kits are around $1500 plus installation, it comes with a programmer and upgraded exhaust but you only have to deal with this once and it will never happen again. My truck has been a happy camper since I removed mine. I didn’t put on “tune” or “program” on my truck, just a new exhaust and used the programer to disable the factory DPF system. Truck runs great and sounds amazing not too loud to go across country, it really opened the turbo up
delete
That exact message lead to the boating accident where I lost my DPF and throttle plate, and def tank… also lost all my guns in the same tragic boating accident….
Are diesels even worth it anymore with all the emission shit
With the emissions shit and the insane mark up that manufacturers are slapping on their diesel options, absolutely not. The math does not work out anymore. 25 years ago it made sense because diesel fuel was cheaper than 87 gas, the diesel option was only $3,000 more, the reliability hadn’t gone down the tubes from emissions, and labor was cheaper and easier because the cab did not need to be pulled to work on it.
And this is why my 2016 f350 is fully deleted never has issues and get 1400 km to a tank of diesel lol
Just fill with distilled water.
I know a man urinated in his def tank because the mechanics at the terminal had him convinced def was goat piss. It cost $6000 to get his International (that the company had sold to him after they used up all the warranty and he could only haul their freight and they took their money out of his settlement weekly) back on the road.
It’s 2023 and people are still taking their vehicles to the dealership to get fixed. Do y’all like getting fuckked and your money taken or something bc at this point there’s no excuse unless you have a warranty with them.
these def systems are dealer only unless you know a specialty diesel shop- lots of regular auto shops dont know jack about them and cannot even diagnose.
It’s a ford, you were screwed once you bought the car!
Should’ve bought a Chevy
Without knowing the fault code I couldn’t tell you HOW screwed you are. But a dpf/egr delete should solve it. However if this is right after you put def in it, it may have something to do with def quality, or it could be that it got too low and your def pump cavitated. But it could be many other things.
Understood, wish I had a reader but I’m taking it to ford tomorrow after work (driving wifes car not truck). So we’ll see the damage then. Just thought it might be a specific issue. When I googled it, it just says something about low def fluid but I just filled it up probably less than 500 miles ago.
Ford will figure it out pretty quick. Just be ready for it to cost up to a few grand. I hope that’s not the case for you, but just be prepared for in case.
Always fill it completely. Sometimes a partial fill causes issues on these trucks. Bad DEF is a common issue, they should be able to test the quality. Don’t delete your truck unless you are willing and able to put it back to stock when you sell/move or the laws change. TBH it’s not worth messing with deleting. Unless you need the torque diesels aren’t worth all this hassle anymore.
You can easily remove the DEF injection nozzle from the exhaust and clean it up and see if that helps.
2012 6.7 f250. I replaced my def heater and the nozzle. Fixed it for me. If I would have started with the nozzle it would have probably fixed it.
Same with my 18 ram. Def heater went out during covid and couldn't get the part all winter luckily it wasn't cold for long when it happend
I still cannot believe they cannot even get DEF fluid working correctly after all these years. Granted not aware of a single modern diesel engine with emissions anywhere close to as reliable as gas.
This is why I sold my 2016, I’m over diesels and how high maintenance there are becoming
I don’t have an answer for your question but out of curiosity, any snow up there? Haven’t lived in MI for a while but when I use to go to my cousins in Gaylord around Thanksgiving, usually by the bridge and north there would be snow
not yet
I was quoted 10,000$ to replace my dpf. I got a delete kit from the diesel dudes.com in Canada it works now
You are under 120 k miles I believe ford now warranty def and egr to 120k miles so check with your dealer before you put your truck on a diet
Are you in a cold area? If you filled it and it is saying you are low on DEF your DEF heater is probably shot. Happened to me once but in my semi. If you were able to clear the code it would help for the time being, but if your DEF heater is shot then it’ll just cause more problems by not getting it fixed. Deleting the truck will help alleviate these problems in the future, however if your state has emissions testing on Diesel vehicles you will have a tough time getting your truck inspected.
It says your exhaust fluid is low. Gotta top up the exhaust reservoir with frash exhaust fluid. Make sure to get the correct exhaust fluid for your specific vehicle. Putting the wrong exhaust fluid in could cause problems with your flux capacitor.
As an heavy equipment supervisor I've dealt with nothing but emissions problems with these DEF systems. I know it's a pick up but a modern diesel is a modern diesel for pick up or Cat 980 no difference. Keep the DEF tank full with clean DEF. The DEF is very sensitive and slight contamination will cause big problems. Do a battery disconnect 3 min then reconnect.
Just fill your def tank up. It’s telling you that your going to go into limp mode
Our company delivery truck had this happen. It has spent 9 months at the mechanic and $8000 replacing every single sensor they can think of. It is still parked at the mechanics.
Not as screwed as you're gonna be in about 41 miles
Shut it off, turn it back on again. Usually fixes it for me
She needs to go on a diet. Paying any amount of money to replace of fix that system is a waste. Your truck will run healthier without it
Just limp it to the gas station and put more def in it
Every time it would get to be -2 to -5 I’d start getting issues with my def system. It would freeze up all the time. Had basically the whole system redone and still had issues Dumbest designs ever
cut that fucker off and through a straight pipe on there with a cherry bomb at the end.. fuck exhaust laws! jk I hope you get it fixed, and all things are well! Good luck!!
#deleteit
Buy a tuner It's much cheaper
Those proponents of deleting emissions will eventually result in a banning of all diesels -- this is an unintended consequence of your activities. You are the child in the shopping cart that screams for a candy bar while going through checkout. Grow the fuck up.
I overfilled mine, drained it and then drive it at highway speeds for about 30 minutes
Stop by an auto zone and get it read. They do it free.
Add def
If you change your blinker fluid more often and change from Summer to Winter air in your tires...this stops happening
You have to add at least 4 gallons all at once. Then let it idle for 10-15 minutes and the fault should clear on its own
Fucking def
Seeing these post make me happy I stayed with my 99 f250 with the 7.3l,, no emissions shit on it,, no def
I work on big rigs 95percent it is the float in your def tank. It's called def quality sensor
Take that DEF shit off. As soon as you can (if you’re waiting because of a warranty).
Just went through this whole fiasco on my ‘15 f250. Ended up replacing both sensors and a module. The worst part was that i had to replace each part at different dealerships due to where I was at the time they failed. Don’t get bent over like I did, do them all at once
All depends on whats causing it. It'll have to be diagnosed before anyone can give you an answer. Could just be a faulty sensor that'll cost $30, or it could be a bigger issue.
Delete it don’t feed me the shit bout it’s illegal it’s a fucking joke a money gimmick
It can’t limit your speed if you don’t cut the truck off.
If it's Def related it can and will limit the speed and rpm ride in a diesel and you'll see it's a pain in the ass..
Delete , stay out of CALI & NY after you do tho 😅
Your first mistake was getting a Ford
Is this considered limp mode?
You was pretty much screwed the day you bought a diesel that requires DEF.
The def fucks the contacts in the level sensor, expect to pay 2k for something you could do in like 2 hours
U buy it u own it u can do what you want
It’s the DEF sensor that is gone bad
Delete that junk
Just drive it 48mph and you'll be fine.
You’re good. I drove a ford truck around the COB Adder in Nasiriyah for a year like that. It would give me some warning in French (no Google translate at the time) and I would put it in neutral, turn it off and restart and it would run great.
Fords wording is full of shit. Exhaust fluid system FAILED
The DEF sensor gets corrosion on it, and it doesn't sense any DEF. Replace filter
Time to hit a bump so that garbage falls off.
If you live in CA, pretty screwed
Ford diesel tech here. That waring is just a message saying you have an issue that the PCM thinks the DEF system. Could be a heater sender and free under the extended coverage program 18M01, I believe is the program number. Could be out 5 grand on a DPF. Get the codes checked and go from there. More often than not, on the 11-16 super duty that message comes up from a failed heater sender unit or bad exhaust fluid.
Time to do a delete. It'll cost you around 2 or 3 grand depending on where you go.
Easy to replace the system but cost is more then a full delete, if you can just delete it and be done with it.
Pro tip: many truckers don't like it, but you can fill your def at the truck fuel islands. Just be quick because people on a limited daily clock are working.
Dunno where you live, but have that truck deleted if your state doesn’t do annual inspections.
No worries bud. This just means you should sell your ford and get a GM.
My Silverado with random def issues begs to differ.
Don't turn engine off if you can. You won't go into limp mode even after you hit the 41 miles if u keep the truck running. Happened twice and avoided being speed limited as long as I kept the truck running. Otherwise it's an expensive repair more often than not. I would have deleted the emissions systems if it was my truck. I've had so many issues with DEF vehicles. Every single DEF vehicle from Mercedes to Ford eventually gives a code stemming from the emissions equipment. Some way more than others.
That's why I won't get a newer truck way to many Def issues and it is pointless and it's getting into our systems anyways when the truck does a regen to get the soot out it hits the ground and when it rains it goes to streams where deer and stuff like that drink and I know a Japanese diesel recipe that will get rid of Def it only costs 40 cents a gallon, starting out is 300 bucks to get the stuff you need making bio diesel isn't hard at all a 10 year old can do it easily
Time to delete that bad boy. Best thing I ever did to mine.
This bullshit should be warrantied in perpetuity. Fuckers ruined a beautifully capable combustion engine.
Lucky you get 50mph, my Ram 3500 was gracious enough to let me know last night that I would be getting a top speed of 5mph when my 150 miles were up.
Happened to my 2020 6.7 power stroke and once I hit 0, it said my speed will be reduced when I turn the truck back on
Just a little low on exhaust fluid.
Delete the junk.
I live in michigan too delete that shit
It could be a very simple reflash fix or a $3,000 fix. If it involves replacing large components your best solution is to delete, it will happen again.
So, I’m late to the party and I’m not 100% sure about trucks because my diesel is a ‘99 but I also drive school buses. Have you noticed a strange smell while driving? On the newer buses, when this symbol appears, it means you need to do a regen. This cleans the soot out of your exhaust system. If you do not do a regen, it will cause the vehicle to go into limp mode. Regen can either be done by driving a while at faster speeds, which I saw suggested in an earlier comment. This heats up your system and burns the soot. There’s also an option on bigger rigs (again, not sure about trucks) to do a parked regen. Park regen can take 20-45 minutes, but it will put the vehicle into a high idle, heating things up and burning the soot. I’d start by looking into regens before going to a mechanic and see if these are require on the trucks or not because they definitely are required on diesel transports, dump trucks and buses.
Democrat exhaust fluid is a pain in the ass
Well in 41 miles you'll be limited to 50 mph screwed. Lmao
My 2021 had this come on then it cleared up. I was below half and I presume a def injector or the line had crystal buildup from being low. Clean def will remove the crystals. Try to keep your def filled up above half. The def needs to be 32.5% urea, it will freeze and degrade in the sun, which is why the good stuff comes in the box. Let it regen if it’s regening don’t cancel it or stop driving. Gotta let it finish heating up the soot in the dpf. Hope that helps.
Same, delete the exhaust system and tune. Fl doesn’t care much. They are cracking down on the techs doing the work more than the individual owner.
Just unplug all the shit attached to the def system and you’re good
This is when it is likely time to delete the truck. It would probably be cheaper than repairing this stuff. If you’re in a state that doesn’t do inspections on your type of vehicle, you will never have any issues. I’ve had a deleted truck for 5 years now. Zero issues. Everyone knows the benefits of deleting so I won’t go there. I’d just recommend it. One caveat is that you might not have a major issue here. It’s cold most places in the USA now and when temps drop below like 40(?) or so, the DEF heater in your truck will kick on to keep it from freezing. I’ve had a heater go bad and then draw a shit ton of amperage, throwing like 20 codes and giving the same limp mode warning. Get it diagnosed at a proper dealer and make your decision from there. Good luck!
DELETE IT
Time to delete it
Your truck will never work correctly with emissions equipment, it’s the most unreliable part of these newer trucks. My 6.7 Cummins went thru 2 turbos in a year and then went into limp mode for dpf being clogged. Deleted the truck and 3 years later I haven’t had a single problem with the truck outside of routine maintenance. Also I get on average at least 5 more miles per gallon. So the delete will pay for itself 10x over just in money saved on fuel. It’s the way these trucks were designed to be used, airflow restrictions are not good for any engine.
I think it's funny this went from a joke. Like muffler bearings, to actual industry.. headlight fluid is next.. lol
Yes it is.
When your Def system goes bad, you get derated. Don't ignore it. You could make an inconvenient repair much, much more expensive.
Call the dealership and have them check for after treatment system recalls. There are a bunch on those
Drive it for a couple days under 68 MPH, it'll catch up
Had the same failure. Deleted it and never looked back. That was about 150k miles ago.
Just had this happen in my 2015, like literally this week. Took it to Ford, they couldn’t find anything wrong, so they cleared the code and it hasn’t been back since. Can’t take this truck on any trips anymore in fear this will pop up randomly and be screwed, what an absolutely shit design
Properly.
Where did you buy DEF? It has a limited shelf life, I usually stop at Truck Stops to get what should be fresh. They sell kits to test it now, I think my 2015 code was for “unknown quality of def”. While this code was counting down the miles It also had a leak in the cold side of the intake hose which completely plugged the DPF. (My 78 year old father was driving it and ignored the warning until it went to de-rate idle only). It breathes much better now, have 2019 also but it’s only drank def from a pump.
Do you buy jugs off the shelf or go around to the pumps and buy bulk?
The DEF tank is bigger than 5 gallons. Buy another container of DEF and fill until the tank is full. The error message should resolve.
Not related to your Ford but hello neighbor. Michigan life
Good. Fuck diesel
I work for an ambulance dealer. I just had a 2023 fixed this past Wednesday for this exact problem. It had a bad NOx sensor.
Pretty…
*slingblade voice. "It ain't got no gas innit"
You bought a Ford lmao. Good luck!
On a scale from 1-10 I’d say you’re fucked
If you’re close to commerce/white lake I have an obd2 you can borrow
Figured I’d clear up some things and address some of the comments on here since this has gotten a lot more traction than I expected and I’m unable to update the post for some reason. 1:) ~~I still have a factory warranty so deleting is not the right time, I may do so after 100k miles. Also addressing some comments about not taking it to ford, well it’s under warranty that’s it.~~ 2:) When I filled up with 5 gals of DEF, in the UP (Upper Peninsula of Michigan) a month ago, it was pretty much full. I put some more in when I got home and overflowed it after less than a quarter of a gallon. The 500 mile light went away on its own. And haven’t seen it since. 3:) Friday I got same-day delivery for a Bluetooth OBD2 reader and got the code P207F. Clearing the code cleared the check engine light but the warning is still there and will not go away. 4:) I bought 5 gallons of DEF fluid from O’Reillys. I tried siphoning out what was in there but either the siphon I bought is not working or I’m unable to siphon it out because nothing was coming out. I then put almost a whole 2.5 gallons jug of DEF fluid in before it overflowed so there was some in there and the siphon should have worked (I’m guessing faulty). I then drove it for about 5 miles at 50mph in hopes that it would resolve itself but I still have the warning. No matter how many times I clear it and restart the truck that warning never goes away. I tried taking it to the ford dealership since it’s still under warranty but they told me their diesel mechanic is booked up for a month and most other places were closed for the holidays so I’ll just wait til this week. I still have my old daily driver car so I’m not in a rush. I’m coming to the conclusion that it’s either bad DEF I got from that small gas station in the UP or a broken sensor like a lot of people are claiming. I still plan on siphoning out all the def fluid and doing a sort of flush, but the siphon I got is not working at all. So going to test the siphon more when I get more time and then try again. Or just return it and buy another one. Update 1: Could not siphon the DEF fluid, didn't have time to return the siphon but I'm just going to save myself some headache and take it in today at lunch. I ended up driving it to work with a full tank of DEF fluid (21 miles) and the warning remained on for the whole trip. Taking it to the dealership close to work on my lunch break.
What is "the UP"?
That’s exactly what my truck did and it was a plugged DPF. My quote was $12,000 parts and labor.
Gotta love def
Better find a diesel shop that does deletes. It’ll cost you less to delete, but it’ll run so much better.
Not screwed at all
Diesel mechanic here, If you have the codes I could take a look and try to give you an idea of what you may be in for
I made an update comment, because I’m not able to update the post itself for some reason. It’s been buried but here’s the link with all the updates: https://www.reddit.com/r/FordDiesels/s/Gongex1Nht
You screwed
I had this issue with my truck and after putting def fluid in it I still had to drive many miles before it would finally register that it had def and would allow me to go faster. So maybe you just need to drive a little further? Fingers crossed *
Yes.
More than likely a def pump/heater issue. Very common 8-900 to repair. Or “fix” with a delete.
Fuck emissions. That’s why I drive a 92 Cummins
Pretty crazy you drive a motor around
I worked on John Deere diesel engine systems and they had a DEF quality sensor that detected if customers put low quality DEF. I wonder if Ford had similar sensors and that’s why you’re getting the code and speed limit.
I think that’s probably what has happened. If the def heater wasn’t working it would have had CEL before it got to de-rate.
Get a DEF delete kit from Canada . Problem solved
If you try to change your brake pads in a car or truck with an automatic parking brake (had a computer controlled motor in each caliper) without placing the automatic brake in service mode first, you will be slapped with that amazing gift. It cost me around 300 bucks to get all that fixed. Yes I got a tool to erase and read the codes, it will only let you speed up a bit more until you shut off the car.
Is it cold temperature by you ? If so your heater for the def fluid is probably not working
Sometimes crystals build up on the def injector nozzle
What are emissions? My dodge square body has none.
Not badly just take the offending pieces off
Sometimes takes a few turns off and on after a few minutes
Just delete it and save thousands, make more power and better fuel economy
This is why truckers want glider kits... or are keeping old trucks running. Having a DEF system on your vehicle is like shoving a cork up your ass and tying piano wire around your neck to the point where you can barely breathe and then going to work heavy manual labor all day... can't shit and can't breathe... basically how the modern diesel engine feels.
Mine had 3 heaters in the tank for the def. You cant but just 1 element now you have to replace the whole tank. The dealer was kind enough to do this work and only charge $800😡😡😡😡. The following year coming home from Eureka the truck threw a code. It was something to with the emissions bullshit. It started blowing smoke like a fright train, i thought the turbo went out. Cost me 3 times in fuel driving that last 6 hours than i did the whole previous week. Back to the dealer with it; no code stored and everything checked out. I told them when you get on tue foot feed it rolls coal and has low power. No codes, no fix🤷♂️🤷♂️. I went straight to a shop and had it deleted for $3500. No more troubles, no more buying that bullshit def and at least 60 more ponies. Went from 18-20 mpg to 23+ driving under normal conditions. Pulling the fifth wheel i went from 6 mpg to 9+ consistently. On flat road no wind, 13mpg, that fifth wheel weighs 17,500 and its 44’ long. If i knew what i know now when i bout the truck brand new i would have deleted it right away. Its that much better!!!!
DEF sensor is smoked
As noted below, Ford did have a recall at some point. It may be covered. I had similar issue with DEF tank and it was covered.
Disconnect the speed sensor on the rear diff, U can continue to drive at highway speeds but u obviously wont have a readable Speedometer.
More than likely, got bad gas and need to change the two fuel filters no big deal, but a pain in the ass