Ducato Ad Blue usage

[Lazyboy]

Like fuel consumption, Adblue consumption is extremely variable. There are no published figures like there are for fuel. Mine is on the high side and I queried it with my local Fiat dealer who informed me that it was within the parameters. They would check it if required if I furnished them with mileage figures for both fuel and adblue usage over a few thousand miles, ensuring that I was as accurate as i could be with the volume (litres) of both adblue and diesel used. If no fault found i.e within parameters set by Fiat, then all work/diagnosis carried out would be chargeable. ( £100+ per hour) One thing I always do if filling after the warning light comes on is follow the instructions shown on the fuel filler flap. Minimum of 5 litres and then wait 2 minutes before starting. I believe that this avoids the "engine will not start if turned off" message. (works for me)

 

[mapman]

Think we use more than 3L per 1000.
I would also advise topping it up every 1000m if you can and keep it full - less air to get crystals in teh tank, and also on mine (2020) first time it ran low I filled up straight away and THEN had "engine won't restart if stopped" message!!!! Took 30+ mins of driving for it to go to "low ad blue" to "normal" again - was worrying at the time so now won't let it go low.

I agree, I fill up after 1200 miles and try to use filling station pump. The first time light came on we only managed to get 5 on 6/litres in from a container - plus some spillage because supplied nozzle failed to open the flap in the inlet. Much easier at garage. In addition second time since previously it only took 6 litres I decided to continue the journey up the motorway. Once home I filled up with 11 litres but engine failed to start maintaining there was an ad blue problem. Green flag were all for recovery but no vehicle available over weekend. I then read the manual and found the instructions on the inside of the filler flap….. eventually worked out the procedure and it started. I’m still not sure exactly what I did but now I never let it get low enough to bring on the light. So 1500 miles absolute max for me.

 

[mapman]

Just seen lazy boys comment!

 

[Pausim]

I don’t wait for the light to come on. When it drops below half on the gauge I fill up if at a pump or put 10 litres in if filling by can.

 

[Stacetop]

I have given up monitoring this! But we mainly do long motorway journeys. Last time I checked our 2020 auto uses around 8l every 1000-1300 miles.

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[Daffy64]

2024 140hp Ducato motorhome and we’ve used 30ltrs in just over 6,000 miles, it’s a 19ltr tank and the lamp comes on at approx half a tank remaining.

We did a trip up to Nordkapp in September and what I tended to do was top up the adblue tank on the second fill after the lamp came on.

I have work history with AdBlue in commercial vehicles, points to bear in mind are.

* The level sensor is an optical sensor, it sees the level but cant see it if it’s overfull so will think the gauge is faulty (hence my thinking about the second fill of fuel - 19 ltr tank and the lamp comes on at 1/2 full so another 4-600 miles after the lamp comes on ensures that 10ltr from a can doesn’t overfill it.)

* Use pump adblue if its available, it’s fresher and the pump wont allow you to overfill.

* Don’t store an opened can for very long - if in doubt bin it responsibly.

* Don’t run out, you’ll go into limp mode properly and eventually when you switch off it wont restart - you’ll need the diagnostic kit to reset it.

 

[haganap]

I don’t wait for the light to come on. When it drops below half on the gauge I fill up if at a pump or put 10 litres in if filling by can.

Am I missing something? I didn't think mine has a gauge? I just get the adblue warning come on

So another example of rip off Britain on Ad Blue.
Just out of interest I never used pumped Ad Blue in the UK, whats the price difference between UK and EU.
Thanks
LES

I tend to only use the pump due to bad experience with a container.

But a container is about 10L at halfrauds is 16.99.... so £1.69 per litre.
My local pump fill is £1.19 per litre.

The most I paid on my journey, at a Motorway service station (I was desperate) was a wapping 0.79e so about 70pence...

We are being ripped off

 

[haganap]

I have given up monitoring this! But we mainly do long motorway journeys. Last time I checked our 2020 auto uses around 8l every 1000-1300 miles.

exactly what Nikki tells me we use.

 

[activecampers]

Whats the life span of an open container? I have one here, kept in a cool dark internal cupboard....

 

[Roby2008]

2023 140 with 9 speed auto.....18,0000 km in last 13 months, Adblu is consistent with 10ltr every 2500km, tank is 19ltr so plenty of leeway, mix of A,B and motorway and mountains.....

Adblu is available at most large supermarkets and B&Q style outlets here in Germany ( Toom/Obi etc), currently €8 per 10ltr...

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[TinaLes]

Thanks guys for the feedback on Adblue usage & costs both here & the EU, yes we are being ripped off in the UK, but no surprise there.
It helps me understand why so many HGV trucks are rumoured to have Adblue defeat devices fitted, it must add a significantly to running costs overall in the modern day haulage industry.
Euro 6 standards were tough enough to meet, but the later 6D with Adblue just seems to have overcomplicated things, and made diesel vehicles more prone to breakdowns unless they are run in strict accordance with the manufacturer guidelines, not many of which were totally covered at handover to us as end users, hence all the questions.
I wonder if the differences between Euro 6 & 6D really made that much of a difference to improve emissions in the great scheme of things.
LES

 

[Pausim]

Am I missing something? I didn't think mine has a gauge? I just get the adblue warning come on

Some do, some don’t. My Series 9 Ducato on a light chassis has a gauge, not sure the heavy chassis is the same the handbook leaves a bit of doubt.

 

[MichaelT]

Some do, some don’t. My Series 9 Ducato on a light chassis has a gauge, not sure the heavy chassis is the same the handbook leaves a bit of doubt.

I think they all have them on mine you have to scroll thru the dashboard options, also shows oil etc.

 

[rod_vw]

The figures above sound quite a bit higher than our MAN TGE (VW Crafter in disguise). The tank is quoted as holding 19litres, the van has done 10,000 miles from new and never topped up now the Adblue range is still showing 5000 miles. Even allowing for winter use being shorter journeys I would expect the Adblue consumption to work out at about 650 miles per litre.

 

[ontheroadagain]

The figures above sound quite a bit higher than our MAN TGE (VW Crafter in disguise). The tank is quoted as holding 19litres, the van has done 10,000 miles from new and never topped up now the Adblue range is still showing 5000 miles. Even allowing for winter use being shorter journeys I would expect the Adblue consumption to work out at about 650 miles per litre.

Fiat Ducatos appear to use a lot more than other makes.
Our previous Peugeot motorhome only needed to be topped up once per year (approx. 5000 miles)

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[Pausim]

Fiat Ducatos appear to use a lot more than other makes.
Our previous Peugeot motorhome only needed to be topped up once per year (approx. 5000 miles)

Perhaps they were getting away with lower doses until September 2019 when proper testing came in.

 

[ontheroadagain]

Perhaps they were getting away with lower doses until September 2019 when proper testing came in.

I never thought of that. Our Peugeot was an early 2019 model so likely built in 2018.

 

[Lazyboy]

I don’t wait for the light to come on. When it drops below half on the gauge I fill up if at a pump or put 10 litres in if filling by can.

Early versions have no gauge so it is only a warning light.

The figures above sound quite a bit higher than our MAN TGE (VW Crafter in disguise). The tank is quoted as holding 19litres, the van has done 10,000 miles from new and never topped up now the Adblue range is still showing 5000 miles. Even allowing for winter use being shorter journeys I would expect the Adblue consumption to work out at about 650 miles per litre.

In the truck world, MAN consistently had very low adblue consumption. On the heavy truck range approx 5% of volume of fuel used, compared to Iveco which was running at up to 18%. Volvo also used up to 15%.
I would suggest that German designed engines have low adblue consumption and Italian designed engines high(er) adblue consumption

 

[Pausim]

Early versions have no gauge so it is only a warning light.

In the truck world, MAN consistently had very low adblue consumption. On the heavy truck range approx 5% of volume of fuel used, compared to Iveco which was running at up to 18%. Volvo also used up to 15%.
I would suggest that German designed engines have low adblue consumption and Italian designed engines high(er) adblue consumption

My German Mercedes Hymer used as much AdBlue as my current Italian Ducato.

 

[rod_vw]

In the truck world, MAN consistently had very low adblue consumption. On the heavy truck range approx 5% of volume of fuel used, compared to Iveco which was running at up to 18%. Volvo also used up to 15%.
I would suggest that German designed engines have low adblue consumption and Italian designed engines high(er) adblue consumption

The MAN TGE is powered by the VW 2litre engine which is basically common across the VAG range of 2litre diesel vehicles. Mine is the 177ps version.
It would be interesting to know how the Scania trucks compare as they are also under the VAG umbrella.

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[Lenny HB]

Mine is a 2.2Lt Ducato 2024, picked it up mid June only done 4900 miles.
First top up at 1960 miles, 13.37 Lt , 143miles/Lt but I don't know how full the tank was to start with.
Second top up at 4077 miles, 12.47 Lt, 173 miles/lt or 5.8 Lt/1000 miles.

Price €1.42 in France, €1.29 in Spain.

 

[Daffy64]

Early versions have no gauge so it is only a warning light.

In the truck world, MAN consistently had very low adblue consumption. On the heavy truck range approx 5% of volume of fuel used, compared to Iveco which was running at up to 18%. Volvo also used up to 15%.
I would suggest that German designed engines have low adblue consumption and Italian designed engines high(er) adblue consumption

Iveco were using AdBlue to control Emissions where MAN were hesitant to use it so used a combination of methods to meet the emissions standards, hence lower useage.

Re AdBlue useage in HGV’s, it first became necessary with Euro 4 (2012 I think) although some managed to put it off till Euro 5 (2015?)

 

[Pausim]

Iveco were using AdBlue to control Emissions where MAN were hesitant to use it so used a combination of methods to meet the emissions standards, hence lower useage.

Re AdBlue useage in HGV’s, it first became necessary with Euro 4 (2012 I think) although some managed to put it off till Euro 5 (2015?)

Euro 5 was from Jan 2011 and Euro 6 from September 2015.

 

[Guigsy]

Euro 5 was from Jan 2011 and Euro 6 from September 2015.

And the Fiat Ducato managed Euro 6d without AdBlue until 2020.

 

[Lazyboy]

Iveco were using AdBlue to control Emissions where MAN were hesitant to use it so used a combination of methods to meet the emissions standards, hence lower useage.

MAN engines at Euro 6 were adblue, i.e SCR. Earlier engines for the UK were EGR upto 440 bhp whilst they still developed the SCR engine for mainland Europe. The strap line for the UK market was "add nothing" All engines in the UK were EGR upto the 440 bhp engine in tractor units. It was thought that the UK would prefer to not have the inconvenience of using adblue for various reasons. Volvo also developed one engine with no adblue as did Scania. Unfortunately the engine was not successful in tractor units and never achieved the high mileages expected for the company, 300,000/400,000 kms if lucky. At euro 6 MAN engines in tractor units used less adblue than all of the competition.

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[martxer]

I have a vw transporter that requires 10 Ltr of add blue to fill but that gives me 6000 miles.We hired a motor home earlier this year for a 3 week trip and put 20 ltrs of add blue in. This was a ford thirsty on the add blue.

 

[Howard B]

Mine is a 2.2Lt Ducato 2024, picked it up mid June only done 4900 miles.
First top up at 1960 miles, 13.37 Lt , 143miles/Lt but I don't know how full the tank was to start with.
Second top up at 4077 miles, 12.47 Lt, 173 miles/lt or 5.8 Lt/1000 miles.

Price €1.42 in France, €1.29 in Spain.

Thats expensive. Found it for 34cents a litre at a garage in Peniscola.

 

[Daffy64]

MAN engines at Euro 6 were adblue, i.e SCR. Earlier engines for the UK were EGR upto 440 bhp whilst they still developed the SCR engine for mainland Europe. The strap line for the UK market was "add nothing" All engines in the UK were EGR upto the 440 bhp engine in tractor units. It was thought that the UK would prefer to not have the inconvenience of using adblue for various reasons. Volvo also developed one engine with no adblue as did Scania. Unfortunately the engine was not successful in tractor units and never achieved the high mileages expected for the company, 300,000/400,000 kms if lucky. At euro 6 MAN engines in tractor units used less adblue than all of the competition.

The ‘add nothing’ strapline was for Euro 4, at Euro 5 MAN went to SCR (AdBlue) in all markets apart from a few, one of these being the UK.

Not all engine into the UK at Euro 5 were EGR but the majority of tractor units were as this was seen as a benefit by operators as they didn’t have the complication of AdBlue.

The thing about AdBlue consumption is that if you’re not using it then there is something else controlling emissions, normally EGR. (Assuming everything is working as it should)

The take away from this is that a vehicle type with high AdBlue consumption has less complexity in emissions control elsewhere, the Iveco’s at Euro 5 were basically Euro 3 standard with exhaust after treatment (simple design and low emissions tech) which must be a good thing if you’re paying for the maintenance.

 

[Mark1965]

Does anyone have details of their Ad Blue usage for a year old Ducato? eg what mileage might I expect for 10 litres?

I know it depends on many things, including driving style, but any details would be useful.

And does anyone know the tank size? The manual is less than useless.

I have a 2022 Fiat Ducato that uses AdBlue to meet Euro 6.
Just had my first (2 year) service. I queried the AdBlue usage as I have never seen the Guage (in the menu on dash) move from 100% Full.
I have topped up due to the above and despite the Camper now on 15k miles I doubt I even used 10 litres. I was concerned the actual Guage was not working. I was told by the Fiat Professional Dealer (Adams Morey) that it was all ok. They plugged the service computer in it and could actually tell me how many times I'd topped up.
So the tank is 17litres. The Fiat Dealer advised that only top up now when the message ad AdBlue shows on the dash. Also they said then put at least 5 litres in.
We have done over 1000 miles since service, and it is still showing 100% full!
I am not going to add any as instructed. If it runs out and breaks down then Fiat will have to sort it as its all recorded on the Fiat Service System.
I reckon you can probably get 1.5k miles per litre.
I drive a 44 ton truck and the AdBlue tank on that is about 100 litres, if I drive from the South to Leeds and back fully loaded it would not move from full and that is in a 12000cc Engine!

 

[maison]

I have a 2022 Fiat Ducato that uses AdBlue to meet Euro 6.
Just had my first (2 year) service. I queried the AdBlue usage as I have never seen the Guage (in the menu on dash) move from 100% Full.
I have topped up due to the above and despite the Camper now on 15k miles I doubt I even used 10 litres. I was concerned the actual Guage was not working. I was told by the Fiat Professional Dealer (Adams Morey) that it was all ok. They plugged the service computer in it and could actually tell me how many times I'd topped up.
So the tank is 17litres. The Fiat Dealer advised that only top up now when the message ad AdBlue shows on the dash. Also they said then put at least 5 litres in.
We have done over 1000 miles since service, and it is still showing 100% full!
I am not going to add any as instructed. If it runs out and breaks down then Fiat will have to sort it as its all recorded on the Fiat Service System.
I reckon you can probably get 1.5k miles per litre.
I drive a 44 ton truck and the AdBlue tank on that is about 100 litres, if I drive from the South to Leeds and back fully loaded it would not move from full and that is in a 12000cc Engine!

Your usage sounds incredible.

If you read the previous posts from Ducato owners it appears that the average is anywhere between 120 to 250 miles per litre. My own averages between 120 to 150 miles per litre, towards the lower end of the scale. 2021 Ducato 2.3ltr, @29,000 miles.

I suspect that, with a usage rate of one litre per 1,500 miles, if you put your engine up for sale in the Classifed Ads section of the Forum, you would be fighting off offers.

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