Earlier this month, nine California oil companies joined forces with Mansfield Oil DeliveryONE network to provide diesel exhaust fluid, also known as DEF, to counties throughout the state.
DEF is a liquid agent used in diesel-engine fleet vehicles and natural gas engines to meet the strict standards that are mandated by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Clean Air Act.
When a stream of hot exhaust is moved from the diesel particulate filter towards the Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) system, it is injected with DEF. As exhaust and DEF pass through the SCR, the smog-forming nitrogen oxides (NOx) are converted in to nitrogen and water vapor.
DEF is comprised of the chemical urea, which is also used in fertilizer in agriculture, and purified water.
Yara International, an oil company based in the Netherlands, provides the DeliveryONE network with Air1, the company’s brand of DEF.
“These nine distributors are the perfect partners to bring diesel exhaust fluid to California,” said Chad Dombroski, Air1 Director of North American Operations, Yara in a press release. “Their understanding of DEF, a history of outstanding client service, the strength of their teams and the depth of their commitment to educating customers about this year’s Clean Air Act requirements make them the go-to distributors for DEF in California.”
To become Air1-certified distributors, representatives from all nine companies went through training sessions provided by Mansfield and Yara.
“This is a brand new product that is mandated and there is nothing worse than having to buy something you don’t understand,” said stated Douglas S. Haugh, Executive Vice President at Mansfield. With the expert support available from these companies across the state customers now have a local resource to help them get comfortable with the adoption of DEF.”
Like normal vehicles that require fluids to be changed regularly, drivers must refill the DEF tank periodically in order for the engine to work properly and smoothly. According to Air1, Drivers must carry a refill tank of DEF on their trucks.