javamon-JAY
Senior Member
Been back for a week now and got some time to sit down and share this DEF experience. Rig came thru the trip in good shape but I could not believe the dust from the ALCAN. It got everywhere! I've been cleaning for a week!
Heading north in June, I just filled-up in Great Falls, MT and when I started up I got a the yellow engine light and my DEF level indicator had one red bar. Knowing that my DEF level was at least 3/4 full I kept going and within 30 minutes the DEF level indicator returned to one green bar and then eventually to 4 green bars. I figured this was probably crystalizing built up on the level indicator mechanism in the tank. Concerned I had a crystalizing problem I religiously kept the DEF tank full while we were travelling thru Alaska. No further issues until approx. 3,000 miles later on my way from Palmer to Fairbanks.
In early August about 100 miles south of Fairbanks, it started again after a fill-up (no DEF). I got the normal yellow engine light, but this time the single red bar was flashing. I pulled over, shut-down, turned the ignition on and cleared the code with my SCAN Gauge and continued on. After about 5 minutes, the code would re-occur and I would repeat the process again. After three cycles of this I decided to pull over and install my simulator. I was really concerned that if it went into derate, I would not be able to clear it with the SCAN gauge. The simulator took all of 5 minutes to install and I continued on to Fairbanks and then to Panama City (4,861 miles) with no issues using the simulator.
Next week I plan to disconnect the simulator, start up and see what happens. This simulator obviously saved my butt and I'm hoping to convince anyone sitting on the fence to buy one. I'm sure the tow alone from where I was to Fairbanks would have been in the $1,000 range. I purchased mine from Jeff at "jeff_whitney@hotmail.com" in January of this year. He had it built and out the door the next day. Price included the Cummins adapter cable and FedEx (standard) shipping. It is high-quality built and comes in a very rugged case. And most importantly, it got me from Fairbanks to Panama City!!
Heading north in June, I just filled-up in Great Falls, MT and when I started up I got a the yellow engine light and my DEF level indicator had one red bar. Knowing that my DEF level was at least 3/4 full I kept going and within 30 minutes the DEF level indicator returned to one green bar and then eventually to 4 green bars. I figured this was probably crystalizing built up on the level indicator mechanism in the tank. Concerned I had a crystalizing problem I religiously kept the DEF tank full while we were travelling thru Alaska. No further issues until approx. 3,000 miles later on my way from Palmer to Fairbanks.
In early August about 100 miles south of Fairbanks, it started again after a fill-up (no DEF). I got the normal yellow engine light, but this time the single red bar was flashing. I pulled over, shut-down, turned the ignition on and cleared the code with my SCAN Gauge and continued on. After about 5 minutes, the code would re-occur and I would repeat the process again. After three cycles of this I decided to pull over and install my simulator. I was really concerned that if it went into derate, I would not be able to clear it with the SCAN gauge. The simulator took all of 5 minutes to install and I continued on to Fairbanks and then to Panama City (4,861 miles) with no issues using the simulator.
Next week I plan to disconnect the simulator, start up and see what happens. This simulator obviously saved my butt and I'm hoping to convince anyone sitting on the fence to buy one. I'm sure the tow alone from where I was to Fairbanks would have been in the $1,000 range. I purchased mine from Jeff at "jeff_whitney@hotmail.com" in January of this year. He had it built and out the door the next day. Price included the Cummins adapter cable and FedEx (standard) shipping. It is high-quality built and comes in a very rugged case. And most importantly, it got me from Fairbanks to Panama City!!
