Pre DEF Diesel Trucks: What Year Was DEF Required In Engines?
If you do not like DEF, the best solution would be to buy a truck or vehicle that was built prior to the year it became mandatory for automakers to install DEF systems. This mandatory benchmark is not that long ago and pre-DEF trucks, etc., are still quite modern.
It is a long story as the 1970 Clean Air Act started the ball rolling. Over the years new regulations from the EPA came into effect making it harder for engine builders to meet current standards. It was in 2010 when DEF installed systems became mandatory
To learn more about this topic, just continue to read our article. It explores the topic so you can find the right year of the vehicle if you do not like the DEF system. It can be an expensive system to repair and all it takes is one little mistake to ruin it.
Pre-DEF Trucks
What is Pre-DEF?
If you are not sure, the prefix ‘pre’ simply means ‘before’. When we are talking pre-DEF diesel trucks, etc., we are referring to those trucks, etc., that were built before it became mandatory to install DEF systems on diesel engines.
You may have some leeway when looking for a used pre-DEF as there were many 2010 models that were built without this system. That is because the new truck and auto year usually starts around September roughly of the previous year.
What that means is that the 2011 models were the ones that all had the DEF system installed. Those 2010 units that were made in 2009 would not have this system unless the manufacturer decided to get a jump on the regulation.
What this means is that you can still get some very nice used trucks that will tow a heavier trailer and spare you the DEF headache. We should mention that there are more DEF trucks out there that do not cause their owners any grief than there are that do.
You only hear about the bad stories because that is what makes the news. When people have problems with their DEF system, it is usually a simple user mistake that causes it and is not system-generated.
Pre-DEF Diesel Trucks
We will talk about a few truck models in this section but first, we should warn you about sticker prices. It seems that many of these older trucks are either holding their value or costing a lot of money to buy.
Or the used truck dealers are taking advantage of the situation and raising their prices sky-high. We mention this as we cannot guarantee you will get an affordable price on the following used trucks.
Two that were recommended were the 2006 and the 2007 Duramax. They are said to be a couple of the best pre-DEF trucks you can buy. Just as a reminder, these selections are made on personal opinion and experience and you may like a different pre-DEF truck.
Another option would be the 2007 6.7 Dodge without DPF and the regular 2006 5.9 Dodge was also said to be a good truck. There was a split opinion on the Ford 6.0 and 6.4 engines as some do not like that truck while others thought the 2006 & 07 were great vehicles to drive.
There was a split recommendation on the 2004 Cummins engine. Some did not like it while others did but did not like the truck it was placed in. Your experience with your pre-DEF truck may have you agreeing or disagreeing with these picks.
Let’s just say you have a lot of models from that era made by different brands to choose from. Pick the model that fits your needs the best.
What Year Was DEF Required in Diesel Engines?
The date was January 1st, 2010 when DEF became mandatory. But this date does not mean that all 2010 vehicles equipped with diesel engines got this system. There are legitimate reasons for this missed deadline.
Truck manufacturers as well as RV makers have pre-built chassis from 2009, and 2010, that were not required to have the DEF system installed. This means that you can find some 2010 truck and RV models that are pre-DEF even though they were assembled after that January 1, 2010 date.
Winnebago was one of those RV makers that was in this situation. You can find a few 2010 Winnebago models with no DEF system installed. Smaller Cummins engines met emission standards without installing DEF so those motors did not receive one till 2012.
Those engines were installed in Dodge Ram trucks. Eventually, it was 2011 before almost every diesel engine had the DEF system installed. When it comes to manufacturing, change is not instantaneous.
It takes time for these companies to reconfigure their engines, design the DEF system and then install it in a way that it will do the most good. It also takes time to get the production line altered to meet this new mandatory installation requirement.
When Did Peterbilt Start Using DEF?
The best answer to this would be, at the same time every other truck manufacturer started placing DEF systems on their trucks. We checked the Peterbilt website and looked through their history but they do not make any mention of this change.
We also checked other websites that record the Peterbilt history and they leave this information out as well. The time they had to switch would be January 1st, 2010. Exactly when they switched is not known at this time.
Some people get confused with the DPF system that was required earlier. Many trucks came with DPF long before DEF was required. DPF was the forerunner of the SCR or selective catalytic reduction system.
The DPF was required in about 2006 or 2007 and was installed soon after the new EPA laws came into effect. The two systems are not the same even though the DEF works with the SCR or DPF to reduce emissions.
The DEF focuses on NOx or nitrous oxide fumes which are quite hazardous. There were only 3 options available to reduce those NOx fumes- NOx absorbers, exhaust gases recirculation, and selective catalytic removal.
Of course, truck makers picked the last one or SCR to do the work. It seems to work as there are not as many complaints about this system later on.
What Year Did Cummins Start Using DEF?
As reported earlier, Cummins made a few smaller diesel engines that met all the EPA’s emission standards without having the DEF system installed. They were given a grace period and Cummins did not start putting DEF on their smaller motors until 2012.
One of those smaller engines was the 340 hp ISB. But you could say that Cummins started installing the DEF system for the 2011 model year which would have taken place late n 2010.
With the leeway factor involved, it is hard to pin down an exact date especially since most auto and truck manufacturers start their new model year halfway through the previous year.
When the truck makers started selling and making trucks with a Cummins engine, the DEF has been said for the 2011 model year. There were exceptions to the rule as we have mentioned already.
Ford, GM, and Dodge did start selling DEF trucks in 2011 but the complete changeover did not take place till the 2012 model year. A word should be said about the EPA mandate.
While there were some exceptions made, the target date of January 1st, 2010 was not negotiable. Trucks with diesel engines had to have the DEF system installed in 2010. That meant that most 2010 trucks did not have this system installed.
Their chassis, etc., were built in 2009 and could be sold without the DEF the next year.
Are Pre-DEF Trucks Better?
In looking at the facts, so far DEF has helped mileage in post-DEF trucks. You should get more miles per tank helping to offset the cost of the DEF. The trucks that saw the boost in fuel economy were the Duramax and Powerstroke models.
Another advantage DEF has is that it has helped reduce the number of regens that had to be done to reset your truck and get it going again. Those are the good points most people look at when they are trying to decide which truck to buy.
The bad side is the cost of the truck as well as repair costs are much higher on these vehicles than on pre-DEF diesel trucks. Also, the reliability seems to have dropped off as well.
These are factors you need to consider. Keep in mind, that the latter two are not a problem for most owners. They do not report any problems with their DEF trucks, etc. There will be a lot of those stories out there.
So far, they are the lucky ones as when one mistake hits, they will be looking at expensive repair costs. Those costs can range between $4000 and $8000 depending on your vehicle.
You get to decide which version of a diesel truck is better than the other. There are good and bad points for both types of vehicles. Those points will influence your judgment.
How Much Can I Save By Buying a Pre-DEF Truck?
This is hard to say but you may have noticed that used diesel trucks are very expensive these days. Doesn’t matter if they are pre or post-DEF, just being a diesel truck means a higher price tag.
Here are some reasons why you are going to pay more for a diesel truck:
- Diesel engine life expectancy can be two or more times longer than a gasoline truck equivalent.
- The new diesel truck sale price is typically $10,000 or more than gasoline trucks driving many prospective buyers to consider used versus new.
- Market demand, as long as there is a willing buyer, the sale price is supported.
- The hassles and maintenance of new emission trucks make the pre-emission diesel trucks highly desired by diesel enthusiasts.
- Recreational use buyers are willing to pay more for a lightly used truck as they are not needing a daily driver. **taken from https://dieseltruckreport.com/why-are-old-diesel-trucks-so-expensive/
Then it is hard to say how much you will say as DEF costs are different depending on the retailer who is selling it. Also, repair costs need to be factored in so you may or may not save a lot of money on repairs.
One thing is for certain, a pre-DEF truck is cheaper to repair than a post-DEF truck. We should mention that the DPF and SCR systems that were installed in roughly 2006 will boost repair costs if anything goes wrong.
The best thing to do is look at the purchase prices for both sets of trucks, factor in those costs we just mentioned and see which one is the best financially to buy.
Diesel Engines Over The Years
Pre-1993- no emission controls but did not have the power of today’s diesel engines. Easy to repair and you probably had room under the hood to work.
1994 to 2002- the era of electronic fuel delivery began. Many problems with this system as engineers were learning as they go
2003 to 2007- the beginning of the EGR era and not the best addition to the engine. The EGR had a lot of problems
2007 to 2010- the DPF era began and this system was very expensive to repair.
2010 to present- the era of the sensitive DEF. It is easy to contaminate this fluid and give you repair headaches as well as possible limp mode activation.
Some Final Words
There are still plenty of pre-DEF trucks on the road today. If you do not like the new system or are worried you will contaminate it, these trucks may be the right option for you.
The biggest problems with DEF are that one, it can freeze on you, and two, it is costly to repair or replace. But the EPA doesn’t care about those factors. It just wants lower emissions.
