In the last few of years, there has been a dramatic decrease in the amount of pollutants that new cars are allowed to produce. The most recent Euro 6 regulations required a 67 percent reduction in nitrogen oxides (NOx) in diesel car exhaust emissions.
Selective catalytic reduction and exhaust gas recirculation are the two methods used by automakers to achieve these regulations.
The first step breaks down NOx in exhaust gases into harmless components before it is evacuated from the car using an exhaust fluid, often AdBlue.
The second lowers the quantity of nitrogen that can be converted into NOx by using a recirculation system to swap out some of the exhaust gas with intake air. Owners of vehicles equipped with this kind of device are exempt from using AdBlue.
In This Article...
What is AdBlue and what does it do?
A specific kind of diesel exhaust fluid is known by the trade name AdBlue. It is kept separate from the car’s fuel in a tank that is filled with a solution of urea and deionized water.
Tiny amounts of AdBlue are sprayed over the exhaust gas created when the car’s engine is running, converting the NOx into nitrogen and water.
Can I restock AdBlue on my own?
Can I top off my AdBlue account myself? Yes, you may refill yourself with AdBlue. Standard AdBlue cans in 5L and 10L sizes are available at every TotalEnergies gas station. Additionally, TotalEnergies is gradually installing unique pumps for light vehicles.
What is AdBlue by Audi?
AdBlue is a synthetic, colorless mixture of deionized (also known as demineralized) water and extremely pure urea. Before it exits the car’s exhaust system, the urea reacts with the Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) the engine produces to lessen their environmental impact.
What transpires if AdBlue runs out?
What happens if the AdBlue in your automobile runs out? The engine’s power and performance will be lowered to “limp home” mode while you’re driving in order to cut emissions, and after the engine has stopped, it won’t start again until the AdBlue tank is replaced.
Driving with low AdBlue is possible.
Where is the evidence? When you run out of AdBlue, the engine won’t be harmed. No, the engine won’t shut down, although some engines automatically reduce engine power when AdBlue levels fall below a certain level.
When is the AdBlue tank full, and how do I know?
The most popular diesel exhaust fluid is AdBlue (DEF). It reduces dangerous exhaust emissions from diesel cars and has automotive urea and deionized water as its main ingredients. As soon as the EU implemented the Euro 6 emissions standard in 2015, it became necessary. AdBlue is as essential to your car as petrol, therefore without it, it cannot function.
When there are approximately 1,500 miles of fuel left in your tank, a dashboard warning light will turn on. This provides you ample time to either buy a container and fill it up yourself, or to bring your car to a motorway service station pump or garage. Your car will enter “limp home” mode and you won’t be able to restart the engine once you turn it off if you ignore the warning light and let your tank get low.
If you decide to top out your AdBlue tank on your own, be careful not to mix it with diesel as this could result in costly damage to your vehicle. Do not start the automobile if you combine the two accidently. Instead, contact your recovery service.
What does AdBlue cost in the UK?
AdBlue: If you drive one of the newest Euro6 diesel automobiles with low emissions, it’s likely that you’ve already filled the specific tank on your new car with the additive. But if you’ve never heard of this new material, what does it do for your car’s health, and how frequently do you need to use it to keep it in good condition? The dos and don’ts of using AdBlue are detailed here.
The introduction of the new Euro6 emissions criteria for diesel vehicles in September 2015 (a year later for vans) aimed to reduce the amount of hazardous pollutants associated to respiratory illnesses.
The permitted limits for nitrogen oxides (NOx), which were previously 180 mg/km, have now been reduced to just 80 mg/km under the new regulations. Reduced emissions will have a smaller negative impact on the environment and public health.
A ban on diesel vehicles that don’t adhere to Euro6 requirements is now being considered in many major European cities, including London and Paris.
The procedure known as Selective Catalytic Reduction, which entails the injection of a Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) into current gas circulatory systems and helps to break down toxic NOx, has been generally adopted by car makers to fulfill the new standards. AdBlue is the common name for this DEF.
Clean air zones, like London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone, demand that diesel automobiles and vans meet Euro6 standards in order to enter without paying a daily fee.
AdBlue is essentially a synthetic urea that reduces nitrogen oxide into inert steam and nitrogen to perform its function. Like fuel, it is kept in a tank, and more and more diesel carsusually the ones with bigger enginesare getting tanks for AdBlue. However, other manufacturers might just call it a “Emissions Additive.”
AdBlue is not a gasoline additive that is pumped into the engine. It is included in the car’s exhaust system’s catalyst system.
The amount of AdBlue consumed varies with engine use. An estimated 1.5 litres of AdBlue will be used by a passenger automobile for every 620 kilometers. When you need to top off depends on your driving style, how many miles you travel, and the size of the AdBlue tank, which varies in size. When it’s time to top off, a dashboard warning light will let you know.
Since 2006, when the Euro4 rules for trucks and buses were implemented, AdBlue has been widely used in these types of vehicles.
Like fuel, adBlue is regarded as a consumable. Therefore, it is the driver’s duty to see that the AdBlue tank is always full and to cover any associated costs. Never mix AdBlue into your fuel. Always keep AdBlue in a whole different tank. The AdBlue filler, however, will frequently be situated next to the fuel filler in automobiles.
It should be emphasized that AdBlue misuse, such as adding it to diesel or gasoline tanks or experiencing a breakdown due to low AdBlue levels, will not be covered by maintenance or recovery agreements.
AdBlue expenses are not covered by maintained lease contracts. However, some leasing companies will top off the AdBlue as part of a regular service.
Drivers should read the owner’s manual for their vehicle to become familiar with their obligations.
- AdBlue is a technology for reducing emissions that is only suited to diesel engines and works in conjunction with DPF technology already in place.
- It’s possible that DPF-equipped diesel vehicles lack an AdBlue tank. However, a DPF is always included as part of the complete pollution control system in vehicles equipped with an AdBlue tank.
- The warning lights for the DPF and AdBlue systems are independent of one another and will both illuminate.
- Fuel that is appropriate for consumption receives AdBlue. Therefore, factors influencing usage include driving habits, mode of transportation, engine and vehicle load, and weather conditions.
- Automotive retailers, mechanics, dealerships, select gas stations, and online retailers all provide AdBlue for sale. A 10 litre container of AdBlue typically costs approximately 12.50 at Halfords.
- The position of the AdBlue filling varies by manufacturer and model. The boot, next to the gasoline filler, or under the hood are typical placements.
- The time between top-ups will vary since the size of the AdBlue tank used in automobiles differs between manufacturers and models.
- Depending on the manufacturer, model, and driving style, AdBlue may need to be topped off every 5,000 to 8,000 miles, according to conservative estimates.
- AdBlue may occasionally be given away without charge by some manufacturers, perhaps as a standard service. However, it is extremely doubtful that refills during ordinary service will be enough to maintain AdBlue levels.
- Vehicles with variable servicing need special consideration because an AdBlue top-up before the first service is almost always necessary.
- The driver information system will issue a number of alerts when AdBlue is becoming low. For instance, Audi models show the remaining distance from 1,500 miles until a refill is necessary.
- It is crucial that these alerts are taken seriously right away. The vehicle will operate at reduced power if AdBlue drops below a set threshold. Once stopped, it won’t restart until enough AdBlue has been added. If it happens on the side of the road, you’ll be responsible for paying for recovery.
- Audi, for instance, calls for at least 5.7 litres of AdBlue to restart the car, however the amount varies depending on the brand.
- Never mix AdBlue into your fuel. You should not start the car after adding AdBlue through the fuel filler and should instead call the relevant emergency support number right away.
- The same rules apply if you unintentionally add fuel to the AdBlue tank: don’t start the car, and call the relevant emergency assistance number right away.
Is AdBlue required?
Which vehicles require AdBlue? AdBlue is used in many diesel vehicles registered after September 2015 to cut emissions. The likelihood of AdBlue technology is higher if you drive a Euro 6-compliant diesel Audi, BMW, Citron, Jaguar, Land Rover, Mercedes-Benz, or Peugeot.
Without AdBlue, can diesel engines operate?
The effects on the transportation industry could be very negative. Without AdBlue, the majority of modern diesel engines will de-rate automatically and cease to function once the vehicle has left the road.
If it were logistically possible to re-map the current truck fleet to operate without AdBlue, doing so would also necessitate temporary adjustments to Australian emission requirements.
How long after the AdBlue alert can I drive?
The failure to top off the adblue as soon as the light turns on can result from this lack of experience with adblue.
Some dashboard warning lights cause us to respond in a different way than others. Many of us play a game of brinksmanship when the low gasoline warning light comes on to see how low it can go before we fill up. When the low oil warning light illuminates, we do something we wouldn’t typically do. We are immediately drawn to the oil! The warning about low washer fluid? How many of us will curse, “Come on, officer!” (despite being dry for weeks).
When should the adblue be topped off, then? Most adblue-required automobiles will alert you when there are just about 2-3 litres left. This will offer you a range of between 1,200 to 1,500 miles, depending on the car and how you drive it. Some cars will tell you how many miles are left or how many attempts the car will make to start before giving up. perhaps both. It’s critical to view such alerts as a prompt to top off the adblue right away (like you would with oil), as opposed to a countdown to put off as long as you can (as you “may” be prone to doing with fuel).
This is due to the same factors that led to the usage of adblue in the first place. Manufacturers of motor vehicles are required by law to ensure that their products limit the emission of toxic gases and particulates. Although it is not physically necessary for an engine to function, operating one without adblue will result in car emissions that are higher than what is legally allowed, hence the vehicles are programmed to not start if it runs out. Some will impose performance limitations as the adblue level drops, once more to cut emissions.
If the adblue level is allowed to drop too low or run out, some adblue systems will require a system reset or purging. A principal dealer will nearly always need to handle this. Sometimes the systems are a little too aggressive, and even “slightly low” adblue levels will make the car keep counting down until it refuses to start, even after being topped off. This necessitates a journey to the main dealer, where the possibility of needing rescue if the car won’t start exists.
Remember that going to a dealer to get this reset typically costs $300. Additionally, when the adblue level is low, the diesel particulate filter (DPF), which is a component of the exhaust system, may clog up more quickly or may refuse to “regen” (clean itself). This filter must be replaced if it is more than 50% clogged because it is unable to self-clear. A replacement normally costs $1,500 to complete.
None of the aforementioned items are covered by the warranty, so if a car or van was rented from us, we would ultimately have to pass along the cost, which is something no one wants to do. We won’t comment on whether or not this is an example of a manufacturer leveraging environmental concerns to increase sales. However, it gives us even more justification to heed our Head Technician Kieron Hough’s wise counsel and top off the adblue as soon as the light turns on rather than waiting until the very end of the countdown!
Is AdBlue more affordable at the pump?
Does your truck, coach, bus, or light-goods vehicle require the purchase of AdBlue? Because AdBlue is a high purity urea solution that must be made in accordance with an ISO standard, the first step is to select a reliable source.
This international standard shields your car from contamination that might end up costing hundreds of pounds in repairs. You run the danger of needing expensive repairs if you use a urea solution that is wrong or of low quality and does not adhere to these criteria.
AdBlue brand Air1 from Yara is ISO 22241-certified (ISO 22241-1, ISO 22241-2, ISO 22241-3). It is sold throughout the UK and Ireland by a network of distributors and resellers. These resellers specialize in AdBlue and occasionally offer fuel sales. AdBlue can also be found on highway forecourts. The majority of oil corporations have selected Yara as their AdBlue provider.
The cost of AdBlue will vary depending on how much you order. AdBlue is generally substantially less expensive per litre than gasoline, costing about 50% less per litre.
A network of authorized Air1 AdBlue wholesalers sells the Air1, Yara AdBlue brand. Retail outlets and companies that offer fuel and other parts for heavy goods vehicles both sell AdBlue. AdBlue can be packaged in an IBC or drum and shipped directly to your depot or garage in bulk from a road tanker to your bulk storage tank.
Your local service is provided through our Air1 distributors. You might discover that your current fuel and lubricant provider is also a licensed Air1 AdBlue supplier. Simply ask your present vendor for Yara’s Air1 AdBlue.