Posted by Patrice Polite

As an Inside Salesperson for Airgas AiRx™ Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) I get many calls inquiring about gravity-feeding verses attaching a DEF pump to the top of the tote. When DEF first came on the market the best and safest way to dispense was known to be attaching a DEF specified pump to the top of the tote to maintain DEF purity requirements. As the DEF market grows more and more we have received increasingly more request to dispense from the bottom valve on the tote.

Which is better?  Well let’s compare…

Pumping System attached to top of tote

-----Spillage control of DEF is maintained well, less accidents and loss of product. There are pumps on the market that pump and shut-off on demand---our best-selling pump is an on-demand pump for totes and drums.

-----Less opportunity for contamination of product, most DEF ...

Posted by Mark Yura

Posted by:
Mark Yura
Scott Bryers

“Keeping your diesels rolling” in winter means protecting your diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) supply from freezing temperatures. Our AiRx team is actively involved in helping our partners gear up for the cold, with solutions that suit their operations. Following is a sampling of common questions we receive, with answers we think you’ll find useful:

 

Q: What if my DEF freezes in its package?
A: Move packaging to a warmer environment until the DEF thaws completely. DEF freezes at 11 degrees Fahrenheit. But remember that freezing will occur first in the hose and nozzle, which will prevent dispensing – even if the tank/tote/drum/jug has not frozen yet.

Q: Will product quality be compromised after freezing?
A: No, the product concentration and quality will remain acceptable and within API Certification specifications.

Q: Where should I store my DEF product?
A: It is always best to ...

Posted by Kelli Williams

Whether you’re running a mature Diesel Exhaust Fluid operation, or you’re just getting started, committing to ongoing process improvements and best practices is a fact of life. It’s what you do to protect your organization’s investment in equipment, supply, and the protocols that keep your operation streamlined.

Over time, best practices become a mindset that leads to improved efficiency, better service, and ultimately, a positive return on investment.  

We invite you to download our one-page checklist called DEF Best Practices with 14 useful tips for any DEF operation. Use it to help you maximize your DEF storage and dispensing, take proper care of your equipment, and build maintenance schedules into your program. 

We apply these DEF best practices to servicing our own fleet, and we’re always learning and applying new efficiencies. Return to the DEF Solutions blog soon to read about preparing your DEF operation ...

Posted by Scott Bryers

Customers often ask me, “What are the factors that influence the cost of my Diesel Exhaust Fluid (or DEF) and how available will it be as DEF use increases?”

DEF is a high-purity, urea solution designed to reduce NOx emissions in new diesel vehicles. Urea is also a popular solid nitrogen fertilizer because of its high nitrogen content, with almost 90% of output going into fertilizers both here in the United States and around the world. In many industrialized countries, a growing volume of liquid product is consumed in the production of nitrogen solution fertilizers, and in liquid cattle feeds. As a result, DEF manufacturers and distributors like Airgas compete with the agricultural markets in the U.S. and around the world for the urea needed to produce DEF. It is a true supply-and-demand environment and costs will fluctuate based on U.S. and global agricultural demand and ...

Posted by Jason Mays

Diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) equipment can be overwhelming to sort through with all the various pump and dispensing options available. At Airgas, we understand that, as you grow your fleet’s Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) headcount, you want to have reliable supply and support in addition to minimizing costs. The last thing you want is an equipment bottleneck that prevents you from efficiently dispensing DEF. The goal is to grow modularly with your DEF demand. Prices decrease with higher volume packaging with an ultimate price point for bulk DEF, roughly 5,000 gallon deliveries.

So you’re ready to start taking advantage of the most common DEF packages available today: the 55-gallon drum and the 330-gallon IBC tote. There are two common styles of pumps for these packages: “external” pumps that connect via a coupler/insert and dip tube system, and “internal” or “stick” pumps that are physically inserted into ...

Posted by Kelli Williams

The recent announcement of new fuel efficiency standards for trucks affects every fleet in the country, including our own. So we’ve been evaluating what the standards mean and projecting how it could affect fleets over the long run.

As with most “new standards,” we tend to approach announcements like this with a degree of skepticism or concern – especially if fleets are left to pick up the bulk of the tab. But these new standards come with an encouraging level of industry buy-in, with the common issue being the current and projected price of fuel.

Rare Cooperation

On the regulatory side, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) appear to be on the same page and have actually agreed to a single standard. We’re also encouraged by the initial reaction of the big players in our industry, including the American ...

Posted by Kelli Williams

As demand for DEF increases, more and more operations are deciding to increase capacity by installing a bulk tank. If a transition to bulk storage is in your future, consider the items below to guide your planning:

1. Do you have the DEF volume to support bulk? Underestimating volume is a big factor. You want to be as realistic as possible to not have to replace your storage quicker.
2. Don’t undersize the bulk tank. Most DEF tankers will hold between 4,800 and 5,200 gallons, and buying full truckloads is the most economical way to go. Make sure when you size your tank you give yourself cushion to reorder. Tanks in the range of 6,000 to 8,000 gallons work well.
3. Do you have space for the bulk tank? Space requirements should consider both area as well as height limitations.
4. Above-ground vs. below-ground bulk tank. Available space, cost, and ...

Posted by Jeff Lewis

Since 2010, with the EPA’s new limits on NOx emissions for new diesels, businesses around the country have had to adapt to stay competitive. The growing diesel exhaust fluid marketplace affects everyone from the smallest distributors to the largest fleets – each with a stake in keeping SCR-equipped diesels on the road.

As the AiRx business manager for Airgas, I’ve met with fleet professionals and distributors in nearly every state. And there’s no shortage of opinions about SCR technology and DEF – especially when government regulations are involved. At the same time, people are looking to make smart decisions and establish best practices. They have questions, but they have very few resources they can turn to for answers.

That’s why we’ve started the DEF Solutions Blog.

Our AiRx team is in a unique position to share valuable industry information. We’re in the field every day, so we ...