Is there any l5p def tank issues?

Dixon700 · January 28, 2018

I'm looking at a new hd truck, and I'm wondering if anyone's had issues with the giant def tanks that hang very low under the passenger door?

redwngr · January 28, 2018

You mean punctures I assume.

I've been a regular follower several other active duramax forums since before the LML was released in 2011. I can only think of one poster that has had a problem in all that time, but of course hundreds of 'experts' predicting tragedy.

(of course there may have been others, but its certainly not the issue that the internet is predicting)

Certainly doesn't mean it can never happen, but IMHO the odds are low.

Biggest issue is the visibility due to it's location.

FWIW, the fuel tank also has the bottom flush with the bottom of the frame.

dmax_ty · January 28, 2018

This ^^

99.9% of the problems are from the eyesore it is.

wuznme · January 29, 2018

I just got a one and other than it looking like a toolbox hanging down, it should be okay the tank actually sits up a little higher and has a shield covering it.

doverarjim · January 29, 2018

I am the "one in a Million" I did knock a hole in my DEF tank. I have never found what I hit or how I hit it but my tank got a hole in it. I don't off road so it either happen on the highway or in a pasture (my guess). I did watch two different ford trucks knock holes in their DEF tanks, the first one got stranded and the second one came to pick up the crew and tools so the tow truck could get it, the guy driving the second truck said I just followed your tracks!! We got to looking and found a buried pipe that they both got into.

Dixon700 · January 30, 2018

On 1/28/2018 at 5:57 PM, redwngr said:

You mean punctures I assume.

I've been a regular follower several other active duramax forums since before the LML was released in 2011. I can only think of one poster that has had a problem in all that time, but of course hundreds of 'experts' predicting tragedy.

(of course there may have been others, but its certainly not the issue that the internet is predicting)

Certainly doesn't mean it can never happen, but IMHO the odds are low.

Biggest issue is the visibility due to it's location.

FWIW, the fuel tank also has the bottom flush with the bottom of the frame.

The '17 3500 I was just looking at last week. The def tank sure looked lower than the frame. It hangs like 8" below the rocker panel.

On 1/28/2018 at 7:06 PM, wuznme said:

I just got a one and other than it looking like a toolbox hanging down, it should be okay the tank actually sits up a little higher and has a shield covering it.

I didn't lay on the ground, but it looked to be below the frame, it also looked to be the lowest hanging object on the truck other than axle and front control arms... Couldnt they of just made it lower and tucked it in the rocker??

On 1/28/2018 at 8:27 PM, doverarjim said:

I am the "one in a Million" I did knock a hole in my DEF tank. I have never found what I hit or how I hit it but my tank got a hole in it. I don't off road so it either happen on the highway or in a pasture (my guess). I did watch two different ford trucks knock holes in their DEF tanks, the first one got stranded and the second one came to pick up the crew and tools so the tow truck could get it, the guy driving the second truck said I just followed your tracks!! We got to looking and found a buried pipe that they both got into.

Hell it looked to only be 12" off the ground...

I'm concerned driving through the ditch and pulling around the back of my barn that something may happen to the tank. I would be afraid to take the truck off-road... Heck hunting season to get my deer out of the woods I drug the frame in several spots of my 02 gmc, I would be very worried to take one of these new trucks down the same road relying a on a 1/16" thick of plastic gm calls a skidplate to protect the tank....

redwngr · January 30, 2018

I've now moved but I farmed and my stock height stock tired LML spent most of it's life working on the farm.

Based on the 1000's of LML posts I've read I still believe most of the concern is from folks who don't have one saying how bad it is.

This 'disaster prediction' has been around since the LML was displayed at the first introduction auto shows, but is most definitely not common.

LML's have had lots and lots of emission system issues, but tank punctures is not one of the items on the list. I'm expecting L5P to be the same.

They are ugly. The rectangular GM boards do a reasonable job of hiding it.

crankman · January 31, 2018

Its not appealing to my eye when looking at it. Dont know anyone that has sheared it off but ugly it is.

EJCarter · February 1, 2018

Just FYI...ProFormance Diesel in Bakersfield, Ca has a DEF Tank Relocation Kit. It allows you to move it to the bed or inside a bed-mounted toolbox...

From their website - Pro-Formancediesel.com

PROFORMANCE DIESEL 2017 DEF RELOCATION KIT (UNIVERSAL)

The factory DEF tank on a 2017+ Duramax truck is very vulnerable to standard driving elements and very obvious. This tank also hinders the ability to install some aftermarket steps. Our current kit is a universal relocation of the factory DEF tank allowing you to have the factory functionality, but hidden away. We recommend mounting in the bed or a tool box but you have other options to be creative with the mounting of the tank.

FULLY PLUG AND PLAY!

Kit includes:

-Universal mounting brackets custom formed to factory DEF tank

-Extended factory based DEF hose

-Extended factory DEF harness

-Necessary hardware for brackets

-Instructions and guidelines for install

**This kit may void factory warranty for modifying factory DEF tank. Check with your dealer!

Dixon700 · February 5, 2018

On 1/30/2018 at 5:01 PM, redwngr said:

I've now moved but I farmed and my stock height stock tired LML spent most of it's life working on the farm.

Based on the 1000's of LML posts I've read I still believe most of the concern is from folks who don't have one saying how bad it is.

This 'disaster prediction' has been around since the LML was displayed at the first introduction auto shows, but is most definitely not common.

LML's have had lots and lots of emission system issues, but tank punctures is not one of the items on the list. I'm expecting L5P to be the same.

They are ugly. The rectangular GM boards do a reasonable job of hiding it.

The lml tank was in the same place? I never noticed it on my friends '13 and his truck is lifted so it would be easier to see...

On 2/1/2018 at 4:28 PM, EJCarter said:

Just FYI...ProFormance Diesel in Bakersfield, Ca has a DEF Tank Relocation Kit. It allows you to move it to the bed or inside a bed-mounted toolbox...

From their website - Pro-Formancediesel.com

PROFORMANCE DIESEL 2017 DEF RELOCATION KIT (UNIVERSAL)

The factory DEF tank on a 2017+ Duramax truck is very vulnerable to standard driving elements and very obvious. This tank also hinders the ability to install some aftermarket steps. Our current kit is a universal relocation of the factory DEF tank allowing you to have the factory functionality, but hidden away. We recommend mounting in the bed or a tool box but you have other options to be creative with the mounting of the tank.

FULLY PLUG AND PLAY!

Kit includes:

-Universal mounting brackets custom formed to factory DEF tank

-Extended factory based DEF hose

-Extended factory DEF harness

-Necessary hardware for brackets

-Instructions and guidelines for install

**This kit may void factory warranty for modifying factory DEF tank. Check with your dealer!

Whole point of buying a new truck is so I don't have to work on it and have a warranty. If I wanted to work on my truck I'd keep fixing my nasty compound turboed dodge. Also I'm not going to give up bed space for a dumb def tank.

redwngr · February 5, 2018

3 hours ago, Dixon700 said:

The lml tank was in the same place? I never noticed it on my friends '13 and his truck is lifted so it would be easier to see...

Whole point of buying a new truck is so I don't have to work on it and have a warranty. If I wanted to work on my truck I'd keep fixing my nasty compound turboed dodge. Also I'm not going to give up bed space for a dumb def tank.

Yes, the def tank has always been on the same place on the outside of the frame under the passenger door.

The rectangular gm boards camo it reasonably well. IMHO, location is not a big deal.

Any chance your friend 'deleted' the emissions stuff on his LML? If it's a 'tuned' truck, then it likely was also had emissions removed.

Dixon700 · February 8, 2018

His tank is removed I asked him about, but he said the tank on his lml didn't hang as low as it does on the l5p, and I never noticed it on any of the lml trucks I've looked at, but it sticks out like a sore thumb on these new trucks.