Will john deere quit the def
Executive summary
John Deere is not “quitting” diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) across its lineup; the company both sells engines that require SCR/DEF and also markets engine variants and models that meet emissions rules without DEF by using EGR/after‑treatment strategies (e.g., some Final Tier 4/Stage V JD18 and earlier PowerTech engines that eliminate the need for DEF) [1] [2]. Reporting shows John Deere adopted SCR/DEF widely for Final Tier 4 compliance but continues to develop engines and system choices that, in some segments or models, remove the need for a DEF tank or DPF [3] [2].
1. John Deere’s public stance: not a blanket abandonment of DEF
John Deere’s recent product literature and press releases show two parallel technical approaches: many current Final Tier 4/SV engines on higher‑power machines use integrated emissions solutions that include SCR — which requires DEF — while certain engines and models are engineered to meet standards without a DEF system, for example the JD18 in new 9RX tractors that “eliminates the need for diesel exhaust fluid (DEF)” via exhaust‑gas‑recirculation and integrated aftertreatment [1] [3]. John Deere’s announcements therefore indicate selective removal of DEF where engineering choices permit, not a companywide cessation of DEF use [1] [3].
2. Technical reality: multiple emissions strategies in market
Industry coverage and John Deere statements document that OEMs have used either SCR (which requires DEF) or alternative combinations of DOC, DPF, cooled EGR and combustion optimization to meet emissions rules. Farm Progress and John Deere materials note that SCR/DEF became widespread to meet Final Tier 4, but John Deere Power Systems has also introduced engines (e.g., a 4.5L PowerTech variant and JD18 notes) that meet rules without a DPF or without customer‑added DEF by relying on combustion tuning, DOC and SCR integration tradeoffs [3] [2] [1]. The net: emissions compliance is achieved by different technical architectures depending on engine family, power band and cost/packaging tradeoffs [2] [3].
3. Where DEF remains standard: model and historical context
John Deere historically announced it would add DEF to many engines to meet Final Tier 4 standards (farm coverage dating back to 2012 shows John Deere moving to DEF/SCR for many lines), and multiple 5M and other model updates explicitly included DEF/SCR as the chosen aftertreatment for specific engines [4] [5]. Coverage since then confirms that SCR/DEF is still the dominant approach in segments where it best balances fuel economy, power density and regulatory compliance [3] [5].
4. Examples: new 9RX engines and exceptions where DEF isn’t needed
John Deere’s 2025 9RX announcements highlighted the JD18 engine configured as “Final Tier 4/Stage V‑compliant” with exhaust‑gas‑recirculation technology that “eliminates the need for diesel exhaust fluid (DEF),” explicitly framing that as a potential operating‑cost benefit for farmers who otherwise would use hundreds of gallons of DEF per season [1]. Separately, earlier John Deere Power Systems messaging on the 4.5L PowerTech emphasized meeting Final Tier 4 without a DPF and stressed total fluid economy [2]. These are concrete product distinctions, not corporate policy reversals [1] [2].
5. Incentives and tradeoffs: why Deere keeps both paths open
The choice between SCR/DEF and non‑DEF solutions is technical and commercial: SCR systems can reduce NOx effectively and may improve fuel economy, but they require DEF logistics; combustion/EGR solutions can avoid DEF and DPF packaging but can increase engine complexity or affect fuel consumption and cost‑performance tradeoffs. John Deere’s product updates and investor disclosures indicate the company pursues multiple architectures to match customer needs across power classes and regions [2] [6] [3].
6. Misinformation risk: “DEF delete” aftermarket claims
Third‑party aftermarket pages promote “DEF delete” modifications that claim improved reliability or power by removing DEF systems; such content exists online but is not John Deere corporate messaging and often raises legal and warranty issues not detailed in provided reporting [7]. Available sources do not mention Deere endorsing aftermarket deletes; John Deere’s official releases describe factory design choices to meet rules without DEF for certain engines, not encouragement of aftermarket tampering [1] [2].
7. Bottom line for your question — “Will John Deere quit the DEF?”
John Deere will not simply “quit” DEF across its product line; the company continues to sell and support engines that use DEF/SCR where that architecture is optimal, while also designing and offering specific engines and models that meet emissions rules without customer‑added DEF [1] [3] [2]. The correct interpretation of recent reporting is product diversification of emissions strategies — not a unilateral corporate abandonment of DEF [1] [3].
Limitations: reporting in the provided sources is product‑ and model‑specific and does not include an explicit corporate policy statement saying Deere will or will not eliminate DEF companywide; investor filings and product press releases are the basis for the above conclusions [1] [6].