What is ad blue and why do our diesel cars need it?
What is ad blue and why do our diesel cars need it? Ad blue is a solution for Deisel vehicles that meet the latest emissions standards (Euro 6-vehicle built from 2015 onwards). Ad blue helps remove toxic substances from the fumes which have a negative impact on the environment. It doesn’t remove the negative substances completely, but it does reduce them.
AdBlue is used as part of a car’s selective catalytic reduction, or SCR, system and is automatically injected into your car’s exhaust system where it mixes with the exhaust gases, including the NOx. The AdBlue reacts with the NOx and breaks it down into harmless oxygen and nitrogen that comes out of the exhaust pipe and disperses into the atmosphere.
AdBlue doesn’t eliminate all of your car’s NOx emissions, but it does greatly reduce them.
So what issues can occur?
The issue is, Adblue systems can end up with pretty expensive problems. Firstly, you need to make sure your vehicle always has Adblue in the tank. The tank has a sensor which monitors the level of Adblue and will alert you when the level gets to around 1500 miles. If your vehicle runs out of Adblue the vehicle will not start so its something to be aware of! The Adblue filler cap is usually located next to the fuel cap. So you also need to be aware when topping up either fuel or AdBlue that you open the correct cap. This can cause huge issues within both different systems. Just make sure when re filling the tank you clean up any spilt Adblue. The liquid crystalises once it makes contact with air and it can damage the metal and paintwork if left.
Crystallisation can also occur in the system which is where the expensive repairs come into play. Any moisture into the system can cause the liquid to crystalise. This can block up the pipes in the system and the Adblue can then not travel through as it should. This can also occur after very cold/hot temperatures. In temperatures of 30 degrees + the heat/sunlight can damage the quality of the adblue. If you know the bottle has been exposed to direct sunlight and prolonged heat we would advise not adding to the tank and risking problems. We stock a Tunap product which when added to the tank along side Adblue it can decrease the chances of crystallisation within the system.
Properties
- Protects urea dosing systems and SCR catalysts from crystal formation
- Cleans urea dosing systems and SCR catalysts with limited performance due to crystal formation
- Reduced foaming
- Suitable for use by the end customer
- Handy dosage
You can purchase a whole bottle from us or we can top up your Adblue with it on your next service! You can also read more here too:
Technical issues
Faults can also occur within the sensor in the tank. The sensor can stop functioning correctly and tracking the level of Adblue in the tank. It will either monitor the level as 0 transferring a message to the vehicle to not start. Or the opposite will occur, and it could stop sending messages completely and your engine could not start without warning.
Are their any alternatives?
Because of the potentially pricey repairs for Adblue systems some customers consider an ‘Adblue delete’. This is where the Adblue system is in most cases re-programmed out of the system.
However, in doing this you’re are voiding any warranty you have on the vehicle. Adblue is there to reduce emissions therefore with the Adblue system programmed out it will fail an MOT test and therefore become illegal and could potentially result in a prosecution.
If you are having to refill your Adblue more than you should be or having intermittent issues and warning messages, give us a call and book in for a diagnostics test. This will determine any underlying issues within the system, and we can quote you on costs to repair. Call us on 01642 613852 or email us at northeastautotech@gmail.com.