AdBlue

[Rogerlathbury]

Taken the plunge and purchased our first motorhome on a Fiat Ducato base. This vehicle uses AdBlue, however this is totally alien to me, the only bit I know is there is a separate tank and filler (to the diesel). How often do I need to add it, how much to add, is there an advanced warning that the tank is getting low, how long does it last etc etc. So pretty much actually, all answers would be much appreciated

 

[Odd-no-more]

The Tig will use stop/start at just under 3 miles at this time of year, even though oil temperature is only around 52 degrees. I like to get the oil temperature up to mid 80s/low 90s before allowing the s/s to kick in. Average weekly mileage for last 15 months is around 25 miles and mid Oct 20 service to Mid Feb 21 MOT total mileage was about 350.

Steve

I turn off the stop/start on our cars every trip. It may save a little fuel but causes excessive wear to the starter motor and premature battery failure. In my opinion it's only there to artificially lower the emissions for the road tax, the same reason cars don't have a spare wheel as standard

 

[deleted79651]

I turn off the stop/start on our cars every trip. It may save a little fuel but causes excessive wear to the starter motor and premature battery failure. In my opinion it's only there to artificially lower the emissions for the road tax, the same reason cars don't have a spare wheel as standard

VW have made categoric statements that both the starter and battery have been designed to cope with the stop/start functions [but, there again, they made categoric statements about emissions levels ...], and in normal times, I am happy to leave the function switched on. But I did find at the start of the pandemic, using the car only once per week for a trip of just short of 20 miles wasn't enough to keep Tig happy and she was a pig to start, causing a delay of anything up to a minute of prodding the starter button before she would oblige.

As soon as I killed the s/s function, she started at first push of the button! I also dislike the s/s kicking in whenthe oil temperature is still very low [have thatdisplay showing constantly] and at the traffic lights in Kirkcaldy [normal place for s/s to begin], the oil temperature was registering 52 degrees, By the time we had completed the round trip, it was a healthier 93 degrees.

Steve

 

[Sapper520]

3300miles and the warning light came on.

Drove home (about 70 miles) and topped up with 10 litres, as per Owners Manual, then carried out reset instructions…….light still on.

I’ll see what happens when I take it for a run.

 

[K6PnP]

We have a 2020 Ducato based Cathargo, Adblue light came on at 1200 miles, filled up the AB in the lorry fuel area on the motorway services, £11 to full. Rumour is that they don' fill the tank in the factory when new, hence the low miles to the warning, in the first instance. I have read a number of folks who appear to have to fill up around this frequency all the time, but I've taken the decision that on the turn of each thousand miles I'll just top it up and go from there.

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[2GB Racing]

Probably not filled to brim as they rolled of production line as Ad-Blue has a fairly short shelf life, in the tank or still in a can, that’s why it’s a good idea to fill less perhaps more often though.

 

[Guigsy]

I turn off the stop/start on our cars every trip. It may save a little fuel but causes excessive wear to the starter motor and premature battery failure. In my opinion it's only there to artificially lower the emissions for the road tax, the same reason cars don't have a spare wheel as standard

I worked on a project that looked at their use on buses and delivery vehicles. The fuel savings are only a few percent, but they are statistically significant. There was no increase maintenance or failures seen during the study. But we worked out that even if there were failures beyond the end of the project, the fuel savings would pay for replacement starter motors pretty quickly. And stop-start doesn't kick in when the battery is low, so it can't lower the battery to the point it'd be damaged.

 

[cmcardle75]

I did some experimenting with stop-start when I first had it. It made a very substantial difference to my real-life fuel consumption, almost 10%. This is far more, in fact, than appeared to be credited in the official figures, whose cycles don't account for the sheer number of traffic lights we have. Obviously, it makes little difference to motorway cruisers or rural drivers.

I thought at the time I'd always I ensured I had stop-start on any new car, but the next one is turning out to be full electric anyway, so a bit of a moot point...

 

[Lucky]

I understand (pleade don't ask for evidence) that Adblue deteriorates with age and its recommended that one runs down the tank and then refills rather than frequently topping up which would leave stale Adblue in the tank. For the same reason its not advisable to buy bulky quantities which you can't use quickly after opening.

Whether it matters to you that the Adblue's effectiveness might have deteriorated through old age is of course a personal judgement...

 

[Lucky]

Thought I'd also mention my experience when i bought a 10 litre bottle that came with a screw on filler neck. It did not work, insofar as the screw on neck wasn't the right size to open the one way valve of the Ducato's Adblue tank.

I had to resort to buying a long and narrow necked funnel to get the Adblue into the vehicle.

Not saying it will happen to you, just sharing my experience.

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[Northern Boy]

So, a story of what not to do with adblue....
I guess about 13 or 14 years ago I went skiing with my family and another, We drove in our two cars down to somewhere in France. On the way down my friend (it was not me really) ran out of screen wash. We stopped in a motorway service station and as we were 'lost in translation ' and adblue was I guess quite new he bought some and stuck it in his windscreen washer bottle. Well it produced a smeerie mess on his windshield and prompted us to halt our journey as he reversed his issue. A lot of tissue paper, water, swearing,washing up liquid, looking at the bottle and wondering what it was, was going on.

 

[Sapper520]

Took it out for a mile or two, light still on. I’ll wait until I can take it for a longer run before I start contacting my local Fiat garage.

 

[pappajohn]

The Tig will use stop/start at just under 3 miles at this time of year, even though oil temperature is only around 52 degrees. I like to get the oil temperature up to mid 80s/low 90s before allowing the s/s to kick in. Average weekly mileage for last 15 months is around 25 miles and mid Oct 20 service to Mid Feb 21 MOT total mileage was about 350.

Steve

The stop/start on my Hyundai begins after a few yards.
It hadn't worked for a long time due to a knackered battery but once that was replaced it works within seconds of starting
Can't cope with it so it gets switched off as soon as the engine is started

 

[Alan]

Took it out for a mile or two, light still on. I’ll wait until I can take it for a longer run before I start contacting my local Fiat garage.

I think mine took a few days for the adblue light to go out after topping up

 

[2 Jabs]

Took it out for a mile or two, light still on. I’ll wait until I can take it for a longer run before I start contacting my local Fiat garage.

Yeah give it a run it should disappear. My ateca got topped up about 18 months ago not many miles since . I normally get mine from toolstation and store it in the dark corner of the garage until gone. Plenty of warning to top up.

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[Sapper520]

Light still on, so decided to take it to Asda (about 5 miles round trip), as I pulled into the carpark the warning messages started……won’t restart if you switch off etc.

I didn’t want to be stuck on Asda carpark so drove home, put it on the drive and switch off. Now a message, add 1.1 gallon of Adblue. I’ve put in about 4 more litres (total 14) and still warning messages etc.

Called out Camper Assistance (RAC Commercial)…..2 to 3 hours.

Glad I decided to drive home. That’s a grand total of about 75 miles from the Adblue warning light coming on, to ‘You ain’t going nowhere mate’. My car gives a 1500 miles warning!

 

[Odd-no-more]

It looks like a faulty sensor or software problem. Good luck and hope it's an easy fix.

 

[Sapper520]

It looks like a faulty sensor or software problem. Good luck and hope it's an easy fix.

Like the faulty sensor on the exhaust. 2nd time calling out Camper Assistance on a new van….

I‘ll let you know how I get on.

 

[Sapper520]

Awaiting recovery to local Fiat garage……can’t look at it until 9th July! Asked if they could plug in their diagnostic thing…..WiFi doesn’t reach the carpark, too busy, loads of cars and vans waiting parts etc, etc. Even told me it could have been my fault for not filling up earlier, so warranty claim could be rejected!

No other option as it‘s parked on the drive blocking our car in the garage. Had to notify Insurance as garage won’t accept liability whilst it’s in their carpark (insecure).

Trying to love Motorhoming, but our patients is being tested to it’s limit. Still got hab warranty work outstanding as well!

 

[Ivory55]

Awaiting recovery to local Fiat garage……can’t look at it until 9th July! Asked if they could plug in their diagnostic thing…..WiFi doesn’t reach the carpark, too busy, loads of cars and vans waiting parts etc, etc. Even told me it could have been my fault for not filling up earlier, so warranty claim could be rejected!

No other option as it‘s parked on the drive blocking our car in the garage. Had to notify Insurance as garage won’t accept liability whilst it’s in their carpark (insecure).

Trying to love Motorhoming, but our patients is being tested to it’s limit. Still got hab warranty work outstanding as well!

I feel for you, it’s not as easy as it can be sold sometimes. I can understand why someone might just call Uber for the airport and fly somewhere instead of a motorhome or caravan

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[Sapper520]

It’s at the Fiat garage, and they insist they are too busy to even look at it until 9th July.

Got my fingers crossed that a good natured fitter will take a look earlier……but not holding my breath.

I’ll be paying the van a couple of visits a week to check on its welfare.

 

[Sapper520]

I feel for you, it’s not as easy as it can be sold sometimes. I can understand why someone might just call Uber for the airport and fly somewhere instead of a motorhome or caravan

I’m thinking about the Continental Cruiser Car I could have purchased for a lot less.

 

[Ivory55]

One of our neighbors is a main dealer mechanic and said they don’t like big things like motorhomes in the work shop . If they need to wait for parts etc it blocks up space, where a little car can be pushed out into the yard by hand.

 

[Sapper520]

This is a Fiat Professional Garage, with ramps for far larger vans than ours.

 

[Sapper520]

Quick update.

Garage just rang…..van’s ready!

After I tried doing the reset procedure and the RAC guy spending 2 hours trying to do it, they got in it this morning, switching ignition on and went through the procedure…..all good.

Electronic’s…….

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[Tanya_and_Mick]

We have a 2021 Fuat Ducato, adblue warning light at 2100 miles , as per video posted above, allegedly 380 miles left until amber warning goes red, then 100 miles left before danger of limp mode / non restart / garage reset possibly required

I hope that helps

To add, just topped our 19 litre adblue tank up and it took 10l - hence from new (driven 2600 miles) we have now added 15l.

My guestimate is that it had minimal levels when handed over....

 

[Mountain man]

To add, just topped our 19 litre adblue tank up and it took 10l - hence from new (driven 2600 miles) we have now added 15l.

My guestimate is that it had minimal levels when handed over....

Could I ask do you top up when light comes on or can you top up before would it make any difference ?

 

[gus-lopez]

Could I ask do you top up when light comes on or can you top up before would it make any difference ?

I'd just keep topping it up continually.

My guestimate is that it had minimal levels when handed over....

just like buying a printer .The cartridges have enough ink for 2 sheets of paper.

 

[Tanya_and_Mick]

I'd just keep topping it up continually.

just like buying a printer .The cartridges have enough ink for 2 sheets of paper.

Spot on

 

[Sapper520]

Could I ask do you top up when light comes on or can you top up before would it make any difference ?

I will be carrying a 2 litre bottle and putting that in every 1000 miles. I never want to see ‘Low Adblue’ ever again.

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[Tanya_and_Mick]

Could I ask do you top up when light comes on or can you top up before would it make any difference ?

The first time we added AdBlue (5l) was when the warning light came on - from new with 2100 miles on the clock.
The second time - today - we thought best to top it up and it took 1/2 of a 20l container.

I hope that helps.