Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) Recommendations
DEF with a concentration of either 32.5% or 40% and meeting "ISO 22241-1" must be used.
Caterpillar recommends the use of DEF available through the Cat parts ordering system for use in Cat engines equipped with SCR systems. Refer to Table 1 for part number information:
| Cat Part Number | Container Size |
|---|---|
| 350-8733 | 2.5 gal bottle |
| 350-8734 | 1000 L tote |
In North America, commercial DEF that is API approved and meets all the requirements defined in "ISO 22241-1" may be used in Cat engines that are equipped with SCR systems.
Outside of North America, commercial DEF that meets all requirements defined in "ISO 22241-1" may be used in Cat engines that are equipped with SCR systems.
The owner/operator should provide documentation to prove that the DEF is compliant with the requirements of "ISO 22241-1".
To obtain locations of DEF suppliers, call (888)-598-8186 or (309)-494-7532.
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Cat does not warrant the quality or performance of non-Cat fluids. |
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Do not use agriculture grade urea solutions. Do not use any fluids that do not meet "ISO 22241-1" Requirements in SCR emissions reduction systems. Use of these fluids can result in numerous problems including damage to SCR equipment and a reduction in NOx conversion efficiency. |
DEF is a solution of solid urea that is dissolved in demineralized water to produce a final concentration. DEF concentration of 32.5 percent is optimal for use in SCR systems. DEF solution of 32.5 percent urea has the lowest attainable freeze point of
Consult the Troubleshooting Guide and SOTA for test procedures and tools to measure DEF concentration
Quality of DEF can degrade when stored and handled inappropriately or if DEF is not protected from contamination. Details are provided below.
If quality issues are suspected or a DEF quality fault is active, testing of DEF should focus on urea concentration, alkalinity as NH3 and Biuret content. DEF that does not pass all these tests should not be used.
DEF is corrosive. DEF must be stored in tanks and carried in lines made of corrosion resistant materials. Recommended materials:
Stainless Steels:
- 304 (S30400)
- 304L (S30403)
- 316 (S31600)
- 316L (S31603)
- 409 (S40900)
- 439 (S43035)
Alloys and metals:
- Chromium Nickel (CrNi)
- Chromium Nickel Molybdenum (CrNiMo)
- Titanium
Non-metallic materials:
- Polyethylene
- Polypropylene
- Polyisobutylene
- Teflon (PFA)
- Polyfluoroethylene (PFE)
- Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF)
- Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)
Materials NOT compatible with DEF solutions include Aluminum, Magnesium, Zinc, Nickel coatings, Silver, and Carbon steel and Solders containing any of the above. Unexpected reactions may occur if DEF solutions come in contact with any non-compatible material or unknown materials.
Follow all local regulations covering bulk storage tanks. Follow proper tank construction guidelines. Tank volume typically should be 110% of planned capacity. Appropriately vent indoor tanks. Plan for control of overflow of the tank. Heat tanks that dispense DEF in cold climates.
Bulk tank breathers should be fitted with filtration to keep airborne debris from entering the tank. Desiccant breathers should not be used because water will be absorbed, which potentially can alter DEF concentration.
Follow all local regulations covering transport and handling. DEF transport temperature is recommended to be
- Nitrile Rubber (NBR)
- Fluoroelastomer (FKM)
- Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer (EPDM)
The condition of hoses and other nonmetallic that are used with DEF should be monitored for signs of degradation. DEF leaks are easily recognizable by white urea crystals that accumulate at the site of the leak. Solid urea can be corrosive to galvanized or unalloyed steel, aluminum, copper, and brass. Leaks should be repaired immediately to avoid damage to surrounding hardware.
Note: Refer to SEBU6251Cat Commercial Diesel Engine Fluids Recommendations, "Contamination Control". Section for detailed DEF cleanliness recommendations.
Contaminants can degrade the life of DEF-related components. Care must be taken when refilling or performing service on the DEF system to minimize the introduction of contaminants. Initial operation should include a thorough system flushing with clean distilled water.
Primary DEF filtration is required. Filters must be compatible with DEF and should be used exclusively with DEF. Check with the filter supplier to confirm compatibility with DEF before using any filter. The DEF system primary filter must have a maximum of a 40 micron filtration level with a Beta = 1000 (99.9% Efficient). Check with your Cat dealer for Caterpillar DEF filtration offerings which may meet your application-specific needs.
DEF fluid is stable when stored and handled properly. The quality of DEF rapidly degrades when stored at high temperatures. The ideal storage temperature for DEF is between
The length of storage of DEF is listed in the following table:
| Storage Temperature | Expected DEF Life |
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| Below |
18 months |
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12 months |
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6 months |
| Above |
test quality before use |
Refer to "ISO 22241" document series for more information about DEF quality control.
Note: Dispose of all fluids according to applicable regulations and mandates.
Due to significant variations in the quality and in the performance of commercially available oils, Caterpillar makes the following recommendations:
- Cat DEO-ULS (Diesel Engine Oil Ultra Low Sulfur) (SAE 5W-40)
- Cat DEO-ULS (Diesel Engine Oil Ultra Low Sulfur) (SAE 10W-30)
- Cat DEO-ULS (Diesel Engine Oil Ultra Low Sulfur) (SAE 15W-40)
Cat oils have been developed and tested to provide the full performance and life that has been designed and built into Cat engines.
| Cat Engine Crankcase Fluids (ECF) Definitions | |
|---|---|
| Cat Performance Requirement | Cat ECF Specifications Requirements |
| Cat ECF-3 | API CJ-4 Oil Category performance requirements |
Cat DEO-ULS or oils that meet the Cat ECF-3 specification and the API CJ-4 are required for use in the applications listed below. Cat DEO-ULS and oils meeting Cat ECF-3 specification and the API CJ-4 and ACEA E9 oil categories have been developed with limited sulfated ash, phosphorus, and sulfur. These chemical limits are designed to maintain the expected aftertreatment devices life, performance, and service interval. If oils meeting the Cat ECF-3 specification and the API CJ-4 specifications are not available, oils meeting ACEA E9 may be used. ACEA E9 oils meet the chemical limits designed to maintain aftertreatment device life. ACEA E9 oils are validated using some but not all ECF-3 and API CJ-4 standard engine performance tests. Consult your oil supplier when considering use of an oil that is not Cat ECF-3 or API CJ-4 qualified.
Failure to meet the listed requirements will damage aftertreatment equipped engines and can negatively impact the performance of the aftertreatment devices. The Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) will plug sooner and require more frequent DPF ash service intervals.
Typical aftertreatment systems include the following:
- Diesel Particulate Filters (DPF)
- Diesel Oxidation Catalysts (DOC)
- Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR)
- Lean NOx Traps (LNT)
Other systems may apply.
| Lubricant Viscosities for Ambient Temperatures | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compartment or System | Oil Type and Performance Requirements | Oil Viscosities | °C | °F | ||
| Min | Max | Min | Max | |||
| Engine Crankcase | Cat DEO-ULS Cold Weather | SAE 0W-40 | −40 | 40 | −40 | 104 |
| Cat DEO-ULS SYN | SAE 5W-40 | −30 | 50 | −22 | 122 | |
| Cat DEO-ULS | SAE 10W-30 | −18 | 40 | 0 | 104 | |
| Cat DEO-ULS | SAE 15W-40 | −9.5 | 50 | 15 | 122 | |
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Do not use oil renewal systems in engines equipped with aftertreatment systems. Reduced life or damage to the aftertreatment may occur. |
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These recommendations are subject to change without prior notice. Contact your Cat dealer for the most up to date recommendations. |
Caterpillar has developed a maintenance tool that evaluates oil degradation. the maintenance management also detects the early signs of wear on internal components. The Cat tool for oil analysis is called S·O·S Oil Analysis and the tool is part of the S·O·S Services program. S·O·S Oil Analysis divides oil analysis into four categories:
- Component wear rate
- Oil condition
- Oil contamination
- Identification of oil
These four types of analysis are used to monitor the condition of your equipment. The four types of analysis will also help you identify potential problems. A properly administered S·O·S Oil Analysis program will reduce repair costs and the program will lessen the impact of downtime.
The S·O·S Oil Analysis program uses a wide range of tests to determine the condition of the oil and the lubricated compartment. Guidelines that are based on experience and a correlation to failures have been established for these tests. Exceeding one or more of these guidelines could indicate serious fluid degradation or a pending component failure. A trained person at your Cat dealer should make the final analysis.
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Always use a designated pump for oil sampling, and use a separate designated pump for coolant sampling. Using the same pump for both types of samples may contaminate the samples that are being drawn. This contaminate may cause a false analysis and an incorrect interpretation that could lead to concerns by both dealers and customers. |
Refer to Special Publication, SEBU6251, "Cat Commercial Diesel Engine Fluids Recommendations" to obtain additional information about S·O·S Services oil analysis. You can also contact your local Cat dealer to obtain additional information about the S·O·S Services Oil Analysis program.
| Engine Operating Fluids by Catalyst Design | ||
| Fuel Tolerance - Sulfur (ppm) | DPF | 15 or less |
| Fuel Tolerance - Sulfur (ppm) | Copper Zeolite | 50 or less |
| Fuel Tolerance - Sulfur (ppm) | DOC | 500 or less |
| Fuel Tolerance - Sulfur (ppm) | Vanadia | 1000 or less |
| Oil Tolerance (ash content) | CJ4 or better | |
| Fuel Tolerance - Biofuels (ASTM 6751-075 B100) | B20 or less | |
| NOx Sensors Replace at 9000hrs - 15 ppm S | ||
| NOx Sensors Replace at 3000hrs - 1000 ppm S | ||
Catalyst design and surface treatments have different tolerance levels to sulfur. Cat retrofit SCR systems can be manufactured with various catalyst configurations and the fuel sulfur content is required to meet the lowest ppm level of each system. Consult Table 5 to determine the system fuel sulfur tolerance level.