Adblue Refill: Timing and Options

[ceejayt]

Adbkue pumps on hgv stations are fairly common

 

[Cejay]

Details of car issuie would be of great interest please.

Crystals built up in part of the exhaust pipe entry and caused the pipe join to split and resulted in 700 bill to replace the joint. This was on a jag f pace.

 

[Mike Rivers]

Best advice I can give is avoid AdBlue containers altogether and simply fill up at service stations at the AdBlue pump which is usually where the HGV’s go. This way there’s no mess, you can fill to brim (not just the capacity of the container) and there’s never any spilt liquid crystallisation to contend with. One bit on your clothes or carpet and they’re ruined.

 

[Barti Ddu]

All the Adblu pumps I've used both in the UK and abroad have had the same slim, long nozzle that fits snuggly into the Ducato Adblu tank, whether located on the main "car" part of the forecourt, or over by the HGV high-speed diesel pumps. Doesn't matter which you use. They have all auto-stopped when full too, without any hassle or spillage.

 

[AJ2222]

We pick up our motorhome this week, based on a Peugeot Boxer, and have been reading up about the issues with Adblue.
At a service station this week I got chatting to someone putting Adblue in a small van. He works for a company running a fleet of them, and he said they always top them up every week, even if they can only get a litre in. He reckons that if you leave it till the stage when the warning light comes on, there’s a good chance that it will malfunction, so they don’t take the risk.
He also mentioned that it takes ages to fill the tank due to airlocks. Is this just a problem with small vans?

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[Barti Ddu]

Adblu pumps are pretty widely available. However if you can't locate one near you, try this.

What is e-route? | UK Fuels

Find all fuel stations in the UK and Northern Ireland on a live map and filter by fuel card, your location or your planned journey.

www.ukfuels.co.uk

Select Adblu in the "Site Facilities" drop down, and it then shows you locations with an Adblu pump on a scalable map.

 

[Jez1966]

Best advice I can give is avoid AdBlue containers altogether and simply fill up at service stations at the AdBlue pump which is usually where the HGV’s go. This way there’s no mess, you can fill to brim (not just the capacity of the container) and there’s never any spilt liquid crystallisation to contend with. One bit on your clothes or carpet and they’re ruined.

"you can fill to brim (not just the capacity of the container)"

Fiat statement specifically states: ""IMPORTANT DO NOT EXCEED THE MAXIMUM LEVEL: this could cause damage to the reservoir. AdBlue® (UREA) freezes at under -11 °C. Although the system is designed to operate below the freezing point of the UREA, it is advisable not to fill the tank beyond the maximum level because if the AdBlue® (UREA) freezes the system can be damaged......"

That said over the past year we've filled from a 2 US gallon containers and have overfilled multiple times without issue.
Others say they have experienced issues when overfilling, ours is a 21 Ducato so only a "low level" sensor, maybe if you have
the gauge it is different as that clearly measures at multiple points, somehow.

As for "One bit on your clothes or carpet and they’re ruined." incorrect, only it is 32.5% Urea & water.
It is a mild irritant, rinse off with water, sorted.

 

[slowdriver]

1) Not that I have seen, only issue 2 in Europe but multiple on USA all the small taper type, truck in USA have the same smaller fill point.
2) No, if I google AdBlue pump near me (Watford) most results are people asking the same questions, a google map with stations marked but
no indication if they are just ones with AdBlue pump, BUT it is not ALL stations near me so read that as you wish.
There is a very useful BP website listing stations with AdBlue pump if you find yourself in Australia.

I have 2x9.5l (2 US Gallon) containers I bought back from the USA, with chemical markings, that I plan to refill from pump as required.

Many thanks - that echoes my experience.

 

[seasideBill]

About 1700 miles from new and AdBlue light has just come on. Gauge says 50% full which seems a bit early?
At least they’ve given some thought to a handy refill arrangement rather than splashing it around with a funnel! I wonder what would happen if you just filled it with water?

 

[dash300]

On my 2022 Ducato I have had no issues with over filling or mess. When light comes on there is approx 9 ltrs left from a 19 litre tank.
I simply pull in and buy a 10 litre bottle and it takes the lot no mess no spills. If continually topping up I can imagine over filling could be a mess. Currently from full on purchase I have had to put 2 lots of 10ltrs in 7k. Happy with that.

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[Roby2008]

Mine came on at 2500 km, 5000 km and now at 7000km ...

 

[Jez1966]

About 1700 miles from new and AdBlue light has just come on. Gauge says 50% full which seems a bit early?
At least they’ve given some thought to a handy refill arrangement rather than splashing it around with a funnel! I wonder what would happen if you just filled it with water?

The van would stop, from my understanding there is an optical unit that measures the refractive index of fluid within the tank and water would be wrong index.

 

[seasideBill]

The van would stop, from my understanding there is an optical unit that measures the refractive index of fluid within the tank and water would be wrong index.

Better not try that then. I think me and AdBlue are just going to have to learn to co-exist