DEF Draining

oldsankey · 11-19-2013, 07:50 AM

Has anyone drained their DEF tanks? Apparently there's a tee splitter line that you can separate to drain the fluid under the trunk area...Any photos would be much appreciated.

digitaldav · 11-19-2013, 08:09 AM

I think that would be a good idea to do. As we all know this was done at every service interval the first year or two. BMW at one point determined it was needed and then discontinued for what ever reason which was probably cost.

F32Fleet · 11-19-2013, 11:36 AM

Haven't considered it.

TDIwyse · 11-19-2013, 12:28 PM

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=518983

post #4 by montr has a pdf on the "official" procedure for draining DEF.

oldsankey · 11-19-2013, 01:16 PM

Thank you! I need to empty out before a hard freeze and running out of time.

TDIwyse · 11-19-2013, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldsankey

Thank you! I need to empty out before a hard freeze and running out of time.

Good luck. Please let us know how it goes. I'm considering doing this as well.

TDIwyse · 12-01-2013, 04:10 PM

oldsankey, how did this work out for you?

I was able to gravity drain (it took a long time) 3.5 gallons out of the passive tank this afternoon. Let it drip/drain into 1 gallon washer fluid containers. Having something that would pull a vacuum would make it go a lot quicker.

Quasimodem · 12-01-2013, 04:32 PM

I dont see the benefit here unless you drop the tanks and clean them out with some kind of solvent after draining them.

TDIwyse · 12-01-2013, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quasimodem

I dont see the benefit here unless you drop the tanks and clean them out with some kind of solvent after draining them.

Hypothetically, if the urea was no longer needed, carrying around the extra weight would not be a benefit...

montr · 12-01-2013, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quasimodem

I dont see the benefit here unless you drop the tanks and clean them out with some kind of solvent after draining them.

If I remember correctly, to clean the DEF and prevent crystallization, you just need to flush with distilled water.

Quasimodem · 12-01-2013, 07:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by montr

If I remember correctly, to clean the DEF and prevent crystallization, you just need to flush with distilled water.

Yes, I see that crystalization every time I spill, err fill, my tank. My concern about emptying the tank and then merely refilling it is that it may cause more crystalization in the tank then there was first. If I was to do that I would want to flush it out after draining it. If DI water is the best flush, that's great.

montr · 12-01-2013, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quasimodem

Yes, I see that crystalization every time I spill, err fill, my tank. My concern about emptying the tank and then merely refilling it is that it may cause more crystalization in the tank then there was first. If I was to do that I would want to flush it out after draining it. If DI water is the best flush, that's great.

Here is the bulletin on extracting the DEF. They do not mention flushing the system directly. Here is what is said:
"Always rinse the tools, lines, and fittings with water after each use"

This is not a BMW bulletin but Cummins recommend flushing the system with distilled water
http://www.mcicoach.com/fyiFromMci/m...tters/1012.htm

F32Fleet · 12-02-2013, 08:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldsankey

Thank you! I need to empty out before a hard freeze and running out of time.

Urea freezes at 19F. In addition the active tank is heated. Why would you drain?

Puerto Rican 335d · 12-03-2013, 05:16 AM

dont worry mines will be removed eventually!!!

vlad7777 · 11-30-2017, 03:49 PM

Any place I could se pictures or better video of the SCR Metering valve location/ removal/replacement?
Thanks

aaddam2 · 12-05-2017, 05:56 AM

how easy or hard is it to remove tanks? i just deleted, and plan on draining vs removing tanks... unless its pretty simple.

Torqu3 · 12-05-2017, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aaddam2

how easy or hard is it to remove tanks? i just deleted, and plan on draining vs removing tanks... unless its pretty simple.

If you gutted the SCR, then you have to drop the whole exhaust. After that it's pretty easy. Took me 2 hours, and I didn't use a guide. Just jumped in.

Obviously if you need help, just shoot me a message!

Legaci335 · 03-06-2018, 12:04 PM

Is there a fuse I can pull to disarm the DEF pump? Or should I just unplug it? Just did my deletes and it looks like its pressurizing intermittently.

Torqu3 · 03-06-2018, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Legaci335

Is there a fuse I can pull to disarm the DEF pump? Or should I just unplug it? Just did my deletes and it looks like its pressurizing intermittently.

What tune do you have? Some require you to pull fuses.

Legaci335 · 03-15-2018, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Torqu3

What tune do you have? Some require you to pull fuses.

Custom CA homie tune

Lambobimmer · 03-19-2018, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Torqu3

Quote:

Originally Posted by aaddam2

how easy or hard is it to remove tanks? i just deleted, and plan on draining vs removing tanks... unless its pretty simple.

If you gutted the SCR, then you have to drop the whole exhaust. After that it's pretty easy. Took me 2 hours, and I didn't use a guide. Just jumped in.

Obviously if you need help, just shoot me a message!

Do you have to remove the rear bumper to remove the tank.

Torqu3 · 03-19-2018, 12:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lambobimmer

Do you have to remove the rear bumper to remove the tank.

If you're comfortable with just cutting the fill tubes and leaving the filler necks on the car then you can leave the rear bumper on.

11-19-2013, 07:50 AM	#1
oldsankey New Member 3 Rep 22 Posts Drives: 335D Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: US iTrader: (0)	DEF Draining Has anyone drained their DEF tanks? Apparently there's a tee splitter line that you can separate to drain the fluid under the trunk area...Any photos would be much appreciated.
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11-19-2013, 08:09 AM	#2
digitaldav Private First Class 25 Rep 145 Posts Drives: 2009 335d Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Lansdale, Pa iTrader: (0)	I think that would be a good idea to do. As we all know this was done at every service interval the first year or two. BMW at one point determined it was needed and then discontinued for what ever reason which was probably cost.
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11-19-2013, 11:36 AM	#3
F32Fleet Lieutenant General 3566 Rep 10,346 Posts Drives: 2015 435i Join Date: May 2005 Location: Southeastern US iTrader: (0)	Haven't considered it.
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11-19-2013, 01:16 PM	#5
oldsankey New Member 3 Rep 22 Posts Drives: 335D Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: US iTrader: (0)	Thank you! I need to empty out before a hard freeze and running out of time.
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12-01-2013, 04:10 PM	#7
TDIwyse Colonel 614 Rep 2,410 Posts Drives: 2011 335d Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: MidWest iTrader: (0)	oldsankey, how did this work out for you? I was able to gravity drain (it took a long time) 3.5 gallons out of the passive tank this afternoon. Let it drip/drain into 1 gallon washer fluid containers. Having something that would pull a vacuum would make it go a lot quicker. Attached Images
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11-19-2013, 12:28 PM	#4
TDIwyse Colonel 614 Rep 2,410 Posts Drives: 2011 335d Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: MidWest iTrader: (0)	http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=518983 post #4 by montr has a pdf on the "official" procedure for draining DEF.
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12-01-2013, 04:32 PM	#8
Quasimodem Colonel 145 Rep 2,383 Posts Drives: 335d Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: California iTrader: (0) Garage List 2009 335d US [0.00]	I dont see the benefit here unless you drop the tanks and clean them out with some kind of solvent after draining them.
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12-03-2013, 05:16 AM	#14
Puerto Rican 335d Brigadier General 229 Rep 3,489 Posts Drives: Montego Blue 335d Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Puerto Rico(Dominican Republic 03/2017) iTrader: (0)	dont worry mines will be removed eventually!!! __________________ RENNtech Flash(Lenny Wu)/WAGNER IC Enkei Rajin 18"/Execuhitch Hitch/Koni FSD Soft Ride Bike Rack/Brava Synthetic Motor Oil(Made in Puerto Rico)/Meth(in the works)/CBU done w Andrew EGR Race Pipe (whoa! what an animal it is now)
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11-30-2017, 03:49 PM	#15
vlad7777 New Member 0 Rep 5 Posts Drives: 2022 BMW X5 xDrive 4.0i Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Delaware USA iTrader: (0)	Any place I could se pictures or better video of the SCR Metering valve location/ removal/replacement? Thanks
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12-05-2017, 05:56 AM	#16
aaddam2 Private First Class 32 Rep 153 Posts Drives: '11 e90 335d M-Sport Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Chicago, IL iTrader: (0)	how easy or hard is it to remove tanks? i just deleted, and plan on draining vs removing tanks... unless its pretty simple.
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03-06-2018, 12:04 PM	#18
Legaci335 Enlisted Member 4 Rep 35 Posts Drives: 2011 335d , 2007 335i (sold) Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Austin TX iTrader: (0)	Is there a fuse I can pull to disarm the DEF pump? Or should I just unplug it? Just did my deletes and it looks like its pressurizing intermittently.
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