Diesel exhaust fluid is typically what’s used to reduce emissions in trucks without losing power. Selective catalytic reduction (SCR) is the process in trucks that reduces toxic emissions and the diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) is typically used as the key component in reducing emissions by breaking down nitrogen oxide (NOx) into just nitrogen and water. DEF is beneficial to the environment because it significantly reduces gas emissions that lead to air pollution and allows vehicle manufacturers to comply with federal emission regulations, but diesel exhaust fluid distributors also want you to know that the fluid can benefit your vehicle as well. Here’s what you need to know about DEF benefits for your vehicle.

Fuel Efficiency

The major advantage of DEF is how it maximizes your vehicle’s fuel efficiency. DEF is made of 1/3 urea and 2/3 de-ionized water, so it has high oxygen levels that allow your truck to not only have cleaner nitrogen and water emissions, but the combustion itself is more efficient, so you’ll use less fuel. The SCR system most trucks use utilizes an optimal design so that the engine performs efficiently with cleaner emissions. In fact, some truck manufacturers claim that using DEF can increase fuel mileage by up to 5%.

Increased Power

An initial concern when introducing SCR and DEF was that trucks would be unable to provide optimal power. However, when manufacturers were able to worry less about emissions because of the use of SCR and DEF, they found that engine improvements actually made it possible to get more power from the engine.

Less Maintenance

The efficiency of an SCR engine that uses DEF allows you to worry less about engine maintenance now and in the future. Since the engine runs so efficiently, there’s less wear and tear on engine components reducing the likelihood of repairs and extending the life expectancy of your truck’s engine.

Additional Considerations

Diesel exhaust fluid suppliers have made it easy to fill the DEF tank when necessary because running on a low or empty DEF tank can cause problems similar to running on a low fuel tank. Fortunately, it’s easy to find DEF in auto parts stores and a simple search for diesel exhaust fluid near me will yield numerous options for where to purchase more.