Adblue system removal - insurance implications?

[jfly57]

I have a concern regarding the shutting off/deletion of the Adblue system in a campervan. Aside from the fact that it is illegal to drive a vehicle to which this has been done, does it void one's insurance cover? I'd welcome hearing other people's experiences and opinions on the issue.

 

[Minxy]

Thanks AndyPK - here is the strange thing, I carefully read my corrected version in my last post before hitting post and it was what you suggested but again it has appeared as the predictive version! - this is embarrassing, I certainly do not want to give offence. Could I ask an Administrator to please check out this issue.

Jim I think the word sensor needs tweaking!

 

[jfly57]

Update on insurance situation if one blanks/deletes Adblue system - contacted my broker and the word they got back from the underwriters (Axa) is that one is not insured if this is done, because it is in breach of EU laws on Nox emissions reduction. Now I know you in the UK are now outside the EU but I'd imagine there are similar laws pertaining for you.
So I'm off next Tues to Peugeot in Wexford for a 2 hr fitting of a new Adblue sealed unit - €1300, thank you very much! A bitter pill to swallow just as I finished my conversion.
As a newbie to the Adblue system could members please advise on (a) best driving style/practices and (b) best filling practices, to avoid future problems? I see lots of comments here and there - do this, don't do that, etc (none of it in the manual of course!) TIA

 

[grey bear]

add blue dpf faults are so common these days we get at least 1 a week in on all makes ie daf scania iveco to name just three .its a complete pain and very costly to put right .if you have the add blue mapped out on a hgv and dvsa became aware you stand a good chance of having your operaters licence revoked .

 

[Guigsy]

Totally agree with this. The system hits an emissions target, but at what cost?
When the system goes wrong its complex and expensive to fix - if it can be fixed at all. I'm aware of garages that give up and aware of people with virtually no options.
Not exactly providing a long life, and how much extra cost (material/emissions) to replace the vehicle sooner than needed?
I added 5L a couple of days ago and wondered on the "emissions cost" of producing 5L of ad blue, transporting it to the retailer, cost of single use plastic container, etc. And on top of that the systems eat horsepower and mpg so you use more fuel as you drive.

I'm also slightly concerned over what happens in a few years when they all bu**ger up.

And more concerned for 3rd world countries - how any inidan/asian/african countries will be able to maintain modern vehicles even if the people could afford them? Any man there can fix an old engine/car with no tools and skills and even make parts from scratch, but a new car.... Impossible. Think they'll skip the euro 6d onwards models for the masses!

To be fair, people said very similar things about fuel injection and electronic ignition. And yet year after year, vehicles continue to become more and more reliable.

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[Pausim]

As a newbie to the Adblue system could members please advise on (a) best driving style/practices and (b) best filling practices, to avoid future problems? I see lots of comments here and there - do this, don't do that, etc (none of it in the manual of course!) TIA

Just drive economically, the more fuel you burn the more AdBlue you will use.

 

[Rogerwyn]

most diesel engine manufacturers will produce the same engines for sale in the 3rd world country‘s with no addblue or DPF, so there are conversation kits out there even some supplied by the manufacturers them selfs for conversation to the 3rd word, if you were to use one of these conversation kit or remove the add blue systems in Europe not only will your insurance not cover you but it would never pass an mot and you would be liable for a fine of up to 10k, addblue (urea) is horrible stuff it has to have a concentration of exactly 32.5%, if it’s higher or lower it will cause the system to shutdown, if urea is stored in direct sunlight it will evaporate and the concentration will rise, always be very carful when buying and storing urea, only ever buy sealed containers and avoid those containers stored on garage forecourts in the sun or have seemed to been there a while as it does have a shelf life, if you have fault under warranty the dealer will test the urea for concentration and contamination if either is found warranty void.

 

[jfly57]

Thanks to all who posted comments, much appreciated

 

[jongood]

The underlying message is buy a well looked after older vehicle that doesnt have adblue, Dpf, start stop, comfortmatic, Agile etc on it.

 

[Ditcha]

The underlying message is buy a well looked after older vehicle that doesnt have adblue, Dpf, start stop, comfortmatic, Agile etc on it.

You have a good point about the mechanics on older vehicles but it's the old styling interior and library bus exterior I couldn't live with but everyone to their own I suppose, then there is the ever increasing emission zones that could be a problem later down the road.

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[Langtoftlad]

never pass an mot

Not true

 

[jongood]

You have a good point about the mechanics on older vehicles but it's the old styling interior and library bus exterior I couldn't live with but everyone to their own I suppose, then there is the ever increasing emission zones that could be a problem later down the road.

Just need to buy the right vehicle then. Ours is most often the best looking Mh on the park and the most solidly built.

I agree that the environmental zones could eventually get to be an issue but we have a lot more capacity in which to install an alternative power unit or conversion.

The trouble with adblue and all the rest of the environmental electronics is reliability, I'm losing count of all these non mechanical problems people are having, numerous posts on here and hardly any of them involving the oily bits. I reckon most of them need a clutch pedal and a set of wire cutters.

 

[Ditcha]

Just need to buy the right vehicle then. Ours is most often the best looking Mh on the park and the most solidly built.

I agree that the environmental zones could eventually get to be an issue but we have a lot more capacity in which to install an alternative power unit or conversion.

The trouble with adblue and all the rest of the environmental electronics is reliability, I'm losing count of all these non mechanical problems people are having, numerous posts on here and hardly any of them involving the oily bits. I reckon most of them need a clutch pedal and a set of wire cutters.

Your right everyone to their own like I said previously, one man's meat another man's poison as the old saying goes.

 

[Rogerwyn]

Not true

As of 2018 part of the mot is to check the nox levels of Diesel engines a s per manufacturer data.

 

[Langtoftlad]

As of 2018 part of the mot is to check the nox levels of Diesel engines a s per manufacturer data.

Not an issue as far as my MOT tester is concerned.
If it were, then all these vehicles with remapped ecu's to defeat AdBlue would be failing their MOT's
I either drive very economically, or my AdBlue sensor is faulty because I haven't put any in for over two years, and my van has passed it's mot without issue.

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[jongood]

Not an issue as far as my MOT tester is concerned.
If it were, then all these vehicles with remapped ecu's to defeat AdBlue would be failing their MOT's
I either drive very economically, or my AdBlue sensor is faulty because I haven't put any in for over two years, and my van has passed it's mot without issue.

I honestly think in 10 years time we will laugh at how we used to put glorified pig pee into our vehicles.

 

[Guigsy]

I honestly think in 10 years time we will laugh at how we used to put glorified pig pee into our vehicles.

As opposed to dinosaur squeezings?

 

[Rogerwyn]

Not an issue as far as my MOT tester is concerned.
If it were, then all these vehicles with remapped ecu's to defeat AdBlue would be failing their MOT's
I either drive very economically, or my AdBlue sensor is faulty because I haven't put any in for over two years, and my van has passed it's mot without issue.

You must have one of those old type testers, I had one a few years ago who would give me an mot in the pub on a Saturday afternoon for a few pints

 

[pj650]

The trouble with adblue and all the rest of the environmental electronics is reliability, I'm losing count of all these non mechanical problems people are having, numerous posts on here and hardly any of them involving the oily bits. I reckon most of them need a clutch pedal and a set of wire cutters.

Jon, you’ve heard of the Tyre Extinction activists? Let’s set up a new one……
Wire Extinguishers

I honestly think in 10 years time we will laugh at how we used to put glorified pig pee into our vehicles.

Just what we said 10 or 11 years ago with the trucks……still doing it, and still laughing

 

[Langtoftlad]

You must have one of those old type testers, I had one a few years ago who would give me an mot in the pub on a Saturday afternoon for a few pints

Bordering on libellous.

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[Steve and Denise]

I know someone who works on engine emissions and design and the standard of equipment needed to monitor the said emissions costs hundreds of thousands of pounds not a few thousand alike at the local mot garage.