--- title: "EPA Diesel DEF Fix Promises Millions in Savings for Family Farms" url: "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2025/08/epa-def-fix-promises-millions-in-savings-for-family-farms/" publisher: "Pickup Truck + SUV Talk" content_signal: "search=yes, ai-input=yes, ai-train=no" author: "Tim Esterdahl" published: "2025-08-12T16:55:50+00:00" modified: "2026-02-06T16:51:23+00:00" image: "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/RM021_008TH-copy.webp" --- # EPA Diesel DEF Fix Promises Millions in Savings for Family Farms By Tim Esterdahl Published: 2025-08-12T16:55:50+00:00 Updated: 2026-02-06T16:51:23+00:00 ![Featured image]() At the Iowa State Fair, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced they are proposing an EPA DEF fix promising millions in savings for family farms. ## EPA DEF Fix The EPA diesel DEF (diesel exhaust fluid) fix will change how the engines operate when they run out of the fluid. This fluid is essential to the operation of diesel engines with [Federally-mandated emissions equipment](). This fix is planned for 2027 models and will change the way the software works to allows farmers and diesel truck operators more time to add DEF fluid and allow them to keep going longer with more power while in limp mode without the fluid. Here are the proposed new changes for levels and timing before the engine reduces power or becomes completely inoperable. ### Motor Coaches | Category | Timing | Level | | --- | --- | --- | | Initial | 3,000 miles / 40 hours | 10% Torque Reduction | | Secondary | n/a | n/a | | Final | 10,500 miles / 200 hours | 50 mph | | **Before** | **4 hours** | **5 mph** | ### HD Trucks | Category | Timing | Level | | --- | --- | --- | | Initial | 650 miles / 100 hours | 15% Torque Reduction | | Secondary | 4,200 miles / 80 hours | 30% Torque Reduction | | Final | 8,400 miles / 160 hours | 25 mph | | **Before** | **4 hours** | **5 mph** | ### HD Pickups and LD Cars | Category | Timing | Level | | --- | --- | --- | | Initial | n/a | n/a | | Secondary | n/a | n/a | | Final | 4,200 miles / 80 hours | 45 mph | | **Before** | **4 hours** | **5 mph** | ### Nonroad | Category | Timing | Level | | --- | --- | --- | | Initial | 36 hours | 25% Torque Reduction\* | | Secondary | n/a | n/a | | Final | 100 hours | 50% Torque Reduction\*\* | | **Before** | **4 hours** | **Idle Only** | \*Nonroad constant speed engines (e.g., agricultural pumps) and gensets do not have an initial inducement step as any torque reduction may limit product functionality. \*\*Nonroad equipment can be restarted with full power 3 times for up to 30 minutes after inducement. This should apply to most diesel engines since 2010 that have used selective catalytic reduction (SCR) systems that inject DEF into the exhaust streams to reduce nitrous oxide (NOx) emissions. “We have heard loud and clear from small businesses across the United States that the current DEF system is unacceptable. It is unacceptable that farmers, truckers, construction workers, and many other small businesses continually experience failures of diesel-powered equipment when they need it most—costing millions of dollars in lost productivity,” said EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin in a [statement](). “Today, we are responding to those concerns by calling on manufacturers to take action to update their software and eliminate the unnecessary sudden loss of power and frustrating shutdowns that too many Americans have experienced.” To be clear, the EPA “issued clear guidance urging engine and equipment manufacturers to revise DEF system software in existing vehicles and equipment to prevent these sudden shutdowns.” It is up to engine and equipment manufacturers as to whether or not they wish to comply. ## Structured page information ~~~json [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Article", "@id": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2025/08/epa-def-fix-promises-millions-in-savings-for-family-farms/#article", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2025/08/epa-def-fix-promises-millions-in-savings-for-family-farms/" }, "author": { "name": "Tim Esterdahl", "@id": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/#/schema/person/82b06f99329f69a069a5ab6caed18593" }, "headline": "EPA Diesel DEF Fix Promises Millions in Savings for Family Farms", "datePublished": "2025-08-12T16:55:50+00:00", "dateModified": "2026-02-06T16:51:23+00:00", "mainEntityOfPage": { "@id": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2025/08/epa-def-fix-promises-millions-in-savings-for-family-farms/" }, "wordCount": 437, "commentCount": 0, "publisher": { "@id": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/#organization" }, "image": { "@id": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2025/08/epa-def-fix-promises-millions-in-savings-for-family-farms/#primaryimage" }, "thumbnailUrl": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/RM021_008TH-copy.webp", "keywords": [ "DEF", "Diesel Engines", "diesel exhaust fluid", "Emissions" ], "articleSection": [ "Emissions Changes", "Featured on Home Page", "News" ], "inLanguage": "en-US", "potentialAction": [ { "@type": "CommentAction", "name": "Comment", "target": [ "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2025/08/epa-def-fix-promises-millions-in-savings-for-family-farms/#respond" ] } ] }, { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2025/08/epa-def-fix-promises-millions-in-savings-for-family-farms/", "url": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2025/08/epa-def-fix-promises-millions-in-savings-for-family-farms/", "name": "EPA Diesel DEF Fix Promises Millions in Savings for Family Farms", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/#website" }, "primaryImageOfPage": { "@id": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2025/08/epa-def-fix-promises-millions-in-savings-for-family-farms/#primaryimage" }, "image": { "@id": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2025/08/epa-def-fix-promises-millions-in-savings-for-family-farms/#primaryimage" }, "thumbnailUrl": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/RM021_008TH-copy.webp", "datePublished": "2025-08-12T16:55:50+00:00", "dateModified": "2026-02-06T16:51:23+00:00", "description": "At the Iowa State Fair, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced they are proposing an EPA DEF fix promising millions in savings.", "breadcrumb": { "@id": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2025/08/epa-def-fix-promises-millions-in-savings-for-family-farms/#breadcrumb" }, "inLanguage": "en-US", "potentialAction": [ { "@type": "ReadAction", "target": [ "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2025/08/epa-def-fix-promises-millions-in-savings-for-family-farms/" ] } ] }, { "@type": "ImageObject", "inLanguage": "en-US", "@id": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2025/08/epa-def-fix-promises-millions-in-savings-for-family-farms/#primaryimage", "url": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/RM021_008TH-copy.webp", "contentUrl": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/RM021_008TH-copy.webp", "width": 1200, "height": 800, "caption": "The EPA DEF fix will include longer time periods for owners to drive after they run out of the needed fluid. 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