DEF "contaminated"?

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

dbphillips

Full Access Member
Joined
May 4, 2022
Posts
143
Reaction score
60
Tahoe threw a code yesterday when heading out with 1 segment of the DEF level gauge highlighted (1/8 tank?) and got a DEF contaminated (can't remember if that was the exact word) error and an admonition we'd be held to 65 MPH in 100 miles. Well, I stopped at the one Costco in the area without Peak and walked away empty handed. When I restarted the truck, no code and ran 150 miles with no more issues (picking up a jug of Peak at another Costco along the way). It's been sitting quite a bit the past few months, so I'm guessing the DEF got a little crystallization and once it sloshed around a bit, everything got mixed back up and reabsorbed, making the sensor happier.

Anyone else see this?
 

Stbentoak

Full Access Member
Joined
Jul 20, 2020
Posts
1,633
Reaction score
1,836
While anything is possible, I have a seasonal vehicle that has had the same DEF in it for two years. No DEF related issues. It's highly unlikely that it crystallized in anything less than a year's time. It could have been getting low and maybe left the sensor exposed or something like that. Don't get hung up on Peak DEF. Go to Walmart and buy it (Super Tech) anywhere for less than nine bucks. It's all the same stuff, been running it for 20 years.

As soon as you get the first warning at roughly 1000 miles, go buy a 2.5, dump it in and keep motoring....
 

Forum statistics

Threads
131,443
Posts
1,851,110
Members
95,552
Latest member
Ninabru

Latest posts

Top