DEF (Diesel Exhaust Fluid), often known as AdBlue, is a non-flammable, non-toxic, colorless, and odourless fluid. It’s kept in a separate tank in your automobile and injected into the exhaust system to purify the emissions. SCR Technology necessitates the use of DEF in addition to a new generation of catalytic converter.
What is the difference between DEF and AdBlue?
AdBlue and Blue DEF are really the same thing; they’re just different DEF brands. AdBlue and Blue DEF are just trademarked names used by two separate firms to advertise diesel exhaust fluid, or DEF, and they are very identical. DEF, or diesel exhaust fluid, is a specific fluid that is poured into a particular container and then pumped into the exhaust stream to reduce the amount of pollutants produced by diesel engines. It’s an aqueous urea solution that reduces nitrous oxide emissions from diesel engines.
What can I use instead of AdBlue?
AdBlue is a regulatory requirement for vehicles equipped with Selective Catalytic Reduction technology and can be found in trucks, buses, cars, vans, boats, excavators, and tractors, among other things. With over 23,000 reported breakdowns due to inadvertent misuse or a lack of knowledge of AdBlue’s use each year, it’s critical to understand why we need AdBlue and how we can utilize it effectively.
What is the purpose of AdBlue?
To meet Euro 5 and Euro 6 pollution requirements, any diesel vehicle equipped with Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) technology requires AdBlue. AdBlue is a reducing chemical used in the SCR system to convert dangerous Nitrous Oxide into harmless Nitrogen and Water, resulting in less pollution.
How do I know if my vehicle needs AdBlue?
AdBlue should only be used in diesel vehicles equipped with a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system. It’s worth looking for an AdBlue filler cap next to the petrol filler, in the trunk, or under the hood of your vehicle.
You can use the model name to see if your vehicle needs AdBlue. The letters ‘SCR’ or ‘Blue’ may appear on the vehicle’s model, suggesting the requirement for AdBlue. The more recent a diesel vehicle is, the more probable it is to require AdBlue. If in doubt, consult the vehicle owner’s manual or ask the dealer where you purchased the vehicle.
What should I know about using AdBlue?
Using water instead of AdBlue – In a nutshell, you must not use water in place of AdBlue or dilute it in any way. AdBlue is made up of 67.5 percent de-ionized water and urea. Tap water, on the other hand, includes a high concentration of minerals and ions that can affect the car exhaust treatment system.
AdBlue is widely misunderstood as a fuel additive, however it is actually an exhaust fluid that should never be mixed with diesel. Putting AdBlue in your fuel tank can harm your tank, pump, and injection system for thousands of pounds. AdBlue is easily recognizable by its blue nozzle and blue fill cap, which helps to prevent this.
It’s critical not to start your engine if you unintentionally add AdBlue to your gasoline tank. In the worst-case situation, this could result in your vehicle being written off. Before you can replenish your fuel tank, you’ll need to drain it and carefully dispose of the contents. The best thing you can do is call your local garage or your breakdown company.
Running out of AdBlue – If you run out of AdBlue, your engine will not be damaged; most engines will automatically reduce engine performance when AdBlue supplies are depleted. Some vehicles may even be configured to wait till there is AdBlue in the tank before starting the engine.
Most new vehicles will come equipped with a driver information system that will alert you if you’re low on AdBlue. Although the absence of AdBlue will not hurt your vehicle directly. It’s important to remember, though, that not utilizing AdBlue in a car with an SCR system is illegal.
Contamination of AdBlue – Dust, dirt, oil, grease, and other contaminants can easily contaminate AdBlue. When refueling your vehicle from an AdBlue tank, it’s critical to make sure the fuel is pure. As a result, if you spill AdBlue, you won’t be able to use it again.
Where can I purchase AdBlue?
Although AdBlue is generally available at our Service Station Sites, it is important double-checking that they have it in stock before making a special trip. Our Evanton Skiach Service Station also sells AdBlue right at the pump.
AdBlue can be picked up in 5L, 10L, and 20L containers from certain of our depots.
Selected depots can also provide 205L Drums and 1,000L IBCs for commercial and agricultural applications.
Is all DEF fluid the same?
DEF is the same substance, with 32.5 percent synthetic urea and 67.5 percent demin water in each. Some resellers put a blue dye to it, but this isn’t necessary.
What happens when you run out of diesel exhaust fluid?
Vehicle makers must implement procedures to ensure that vehicles cannot run without Diesel Exhaust Fluid, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency (DEF). The driver of a vehicle receives a succession of alerts on their dashboard displays before the DEF tank runs out (much the same way as if they were running low on diesel). In general, an amber warning bulb will illuminate when the DEF tank level drops below 10%, flashing at 5%, and solid amber warning light will illuminate when the DEF tank level dips below 2.5 percent.
The engine’s power is lowered, a solid red warning is displayed, and the vehicle’s speed is limited to 5 mph until the DEF tank is refilled if the truck is allowed to run out of DEF.
Is truck and car AdBlue the same?
AdBlue and SCR technology are now standard in passenger vehicles like as SUVs, pickup trucks, camper vans, and sedans. They purify the exhaust gas from these automobiles before re-releasing it into the atmosphere.
Vehicle technology has improved as a result of the attempt to reduce air pollution. Selective catalytic reduction systems in truck, automobile, and van engines, which use diesel exhaust fluids like AdBlue to prevent toxic exhaust gases from entering the atmosphere, are one example.
To comply with European emission standards Euro IV, V, and VI, every commercial vehicle equipped with selective catalytic reduction (SCR) technology requires AdBlue. This law pertains to the following:
- Trucks, trash trucks, and fire engines are examples of commercial vehicles and LGVs (light-goods vehicles) having SCR.
- Coaches, buses, school buses, and minibuses are examples of passenger vehicles.
We offer dedicated AdBlue Sales Teams in most countries to help you identify your nearest contact.
If you’re looking for AdBlue safety data sheets (SDS), you’ve come to the right place. Look for it on the Safety Data Sheets (SDS) website in your country.
What diesel exhaust fluid should I use?
When you have a diesel car, you must to inject diesel exhaust fluid in addition to the fuel. Diesel-powered vehicles require diesel exhaust fluid to minimize pollutants, making them safer to drive and less hazardous to the environment.
The best diesel exhaust fluid complies with EPA regulations and is free of contaminants. Premium Blue Diesel Exhaust Fluid from Valvoline is a great option because it works with all selective catalytic reduction systems and meets the EPA’s near-zero nitrogen oxide emissions criteria.
Can you run a diesel without AdBlue?
No, you will not be able to start the vehicle. It’s the same for all AdBlue vehicles; it’s illegal to start a vehicle without AdBlue in the tank.
Can a diesel engine run without AdBlue?
By breaking down dangerous nitrogen oxides, AdBlue helps newer-model diesel vehicles fulfill emissions limits. If you have an AdBlue tank in your diesel automobile, the engine is programmed not to start after you run out of it.
The good news is that one litre of AdBlue can get a car to travel over 1,000 kilometers. Cars usually have tanks that store at least 10 litres of fuel. So a single tank should last you at least six months.
It’s a different story for trucks. They often travel longer distances and are less fuel efficient, consuming roughly 1 litre of AdBlue every 70 kilometers.
Due to their age, about half of Australia’s trucks do not use AdBlue. Australia’s truck fleet is 15 years old on average, compared to 13 years in Europe and less than 10 years in Germany. Furthermore, Australian emission regulations are less strict than those in the European Union.
We may have to rely on these older trucks in the worst-case scenario, if no solution is discovered and AdBlue supply runs out. Newer trucks could be reprogrammed to emit far more pollution. However, this is a challenging technical challenge that will necessitate temporary adjustments to Australian emission limits.
That is a path that no one wants to go. As a result, the federal government has formed a taskforce to address the issue.
Can a diesel car run without AdBlue?
If you run out of AdBlue while driving, the engine’s power and performance will be decreased to keep emissions to a minimum. If the AdBlue tank is empty when you stop, you won’t be able to restart the engine.
When the AdBlue tank is low, the automobile will give you plenty of warning. At about 1500 miles, you’ll see a text warning on the dashboard, followed by an amber caution light.
Is diesel exhaust fluid all the same?
This is a question that is being asked more frequently, and the answer is a little tricky because it is based on the definition of what is Diesel Exhaust Fluid. To be labeled as a Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF), a product must meet the following requirements:
- ISO 22241An international standard that specifies the quality criteria for DEF, including production, storage, and distributionmust be met. The ISO 22241 standards govern the manufacturing, processing, and transportation of DEF. The following are the main points:
- The urea concentration in diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) must be 32.5 percent by weight. Because it has the lowest freezing temperature, 12°F, this concentration was chosen.
- The maximum levels of contaminants like calcium, as well as different metals including iron, copper, zinc, and aluminum, are explicitly stated. These restrictions are exceedingly low in order to ensure that the SCR system operates reliably.
- This definition excludes the use of agricultural urea grades and needs water that has been cleansed through distillation, deionization, or other means.
If a product does not meet the ISO 22241 requirements, it cannot be considered a Diesel Exhaust Fluid by definition (DEF).
With a growing market, there will be an increasing number of unauthorized items on the market claiming to be DEF but actually being a urea solution. The only way a product would be unlicensed is if it did not comply with the ISO and API DEF standards. The problem with these goods is that they will almost certainly cause SCR systems to fail. Some of these failures may be instantaneous, while others may take days, weeks, months, or even years to notice before failing, but the SCR system will collapse prematurely.
Even today, there is much discussion on blogs about how some independent DEF blenders that have registered with the API and follow the ISO 22241 criteria do not test every batch and that certain batches do not fulfill the very demanding ISO 22241 standards.
This can happen for a variety of reasons, but one of the most common is that the urea used is not Pharmaceutical Grade Urea, but rather Agricultural Grade Urea, which contains impurities such as aldehydes and high levels of biuret in comparison to ISO 22241 standards, which are poisonous to SCR systems. Water purity is another place where severe errors in DEF manufacture will occur. The production of DEF necessitates the use of de-ionized water. The presence of even the tiniest amount of metals/contaminants in the water will cause the fluid to fail to fulfill the ISO 22241 specification, and these elements will poison the SCR system. Calcium, Zinc, Magnesium, Iron, Chromium, Nickel, Sodium, and Potassium are examples of elements.
In average tap water, all of the above are present in variable amounts and concentrations.
To summarize, only products that comply with the ISO 22241 regulation and are API-licensed can be named Diesel Exhaust Fluid…all other products are simply Urea Solutions in varying concentrations and cannot be labeled Diesel Exhaust Fluid.
To take it a step further, only those suppliers with long-term supply agreements with Urea producers, particularly Pharmaceutical Grade Urea, will be able to keep the market supplied with Diesel Exhaust Fluid, so choosing the right Supplier and Distributor is critical to ensuring that you have product to keep your fleet and equipment moving.
