AdBlue®, the blue wave

WHAT IS ADBLUE®?

AdBlue® is a registered trademark of the German Automobile Industry Association (VDA).

If you have recently purchased a diesel vehicle, be aware that it is also fitted with an AdBlue® tank. This engine pollution control system is an aqueous solution composed of 32.5% urea and 67.5% demineralised water. Combined with SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction) technology, it transforms nitrogen oxide emissions from diesel vehicle exhaust gases into a mixture of harmless nitrogen and water vapour. This process reduces the level of nitrogen oxide in the air, which is one of the major sources of air pollution also the source of “smog”, pollution fog.

HOW DOES THE ADBLUE® WORK?

In practice, AdBlue® is injected into the exhaust pipe upstream of the SCR catalyst. Thanks to this catalyst and under the effect of heat, AdBlue® decomposes into ammonia. Under the chemical action of this ammonia, nitrogen oxides are transformed into nitrogen and water vapour, two totally inoffensive substances. It therefore allows the vehicle to run more cleanly. When the level of your AdBlue® tank decreases, an alert message appears on the dashboard. The standard common to all vehicles is to warn the driver when there is still 2,400 km of range left. If you run out of AdBlue®, it will be impossible for you to restart because the vehicle system will be locked.

WHICH VEHICLES ARE CONCERNED BY THE ADBLUE®?

Caution: Not all diesel cars are equipped with an AdBlue® tank.

AdBlue® has been used by trucks since 2006. In Europe, since 2014, all new diesel vehicles must be equipped with a nitrogen oxide treatment system.

In most vehicles that are fitted with AdBlue®, the AdBlue® filler cap is located next to the diesel fuel cap, but sometimes it is located under the trunk floor or under the hood.

If you don’t know if your vehicle is equipped, check your manual or find the blue cap!

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

If you add AdBlue® by yourself, make sure that it is certified by bearing the name of the AdBlue® registered trademark and the mention of ISO 22241. A poor quality Adblue® will reduce the performance of the CSR system and, in the longer term, that of your vehicle.
The price of AdBlue® differs from one station to another. Do not hesitate to compare the prices. A 5 or 10 litre jerrycan will cost you between 10 and 25 €.

It should also be noted that the additive must be handled with care. Although it is not toxic, explosive or even flammable, it can be irritating on contact with skin and damage the painted surfaces of the vehicle. In addition, storage requires some precautions. AdBlue® is sensitive to extreme temperatures, both hot and cold. Its recommended storage temperature is -11°C to 30°C. It starts to freeze if its temperature drops below -11°C. In addition, you can keep it for a maximum of 1 year.

You know more about Adblue®, take the opportunity to protect the environment and your vehicle by regularly refilling AdBlue®.

Have a good trip and drive more cleanly!

Sources: Total.be – aldautomotive.be – link2fleet.be – carbu.com

If you too are ecologically sensitive and want to limit the environmental impact of your vehicle, discover our ALD Bluefleet and CARBON OFFSET programs.