What is AdBlue exhaust gas treatment solution?

AdBlue solution is a catalyst used for diesel engines equipped with SCR exhaust gas treatment systems. Here, BlueOne will help customers learn more about SCR diesel engines using AdBlue solution and related issues.

How to tell if a car is using AdBlue.

• You will find a container with a blue cap, on the cap are the symbols AdBlue/ DEF/ Urea on vehicles equipped with SCR exhaust treatment systems, on some oversized and overweight vehicles are even equipped with these 2 containers.

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What is AdBlue?

AdBlue solution is often called "urea water" by drivers. AdBlue® is a registered trademark of the German Automobile Association - VDA (The German Association of the Automotive Industry). This product is a 32.5% Urea compound which is a catalyst used for SCR exhaust gas treatment systems equipped on vehicles to reduce Nitrogen Oxides emitted from diesel engines.

AdBlue is a highly purified urea solution, completely free of impurities and heavy metals. AdBlue is non-toxic, non-flammable and harmless to the environment. AdBlue is not hazardous so it is not classified as a hazardous chemical and is allowed to be transported freely.

AdBlue is not a fuel, nor a fuel additive. Due to its corrosive nature, AdBlue must be stored in a dedicated tank on board the vehicle. AdBlue is filled in the same way as diesel/petrol. If AdBlue comes into contact with your skin, simply rinse with water.

AdBlue® is also known as Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) (Diesel exhaust fluid)

Why does a car need AdBlue exhaust treatment solution?

To reduce the increasingly serious environmental pollution problem, the Vietnamese government has applied Euro 4 emission standards from 2018 and Euro 5 emission standards from 2022 for all domestically assembled and imported vehicles.

To meet this requirement, vehicles manufactured and imported after the above time points need to be equipped with additional exhaust gas treatment components to meet new emission standards, in which SCR technology is applied to most passenger vehicles and heavy trucks in our country.

SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction) technology is an extremely effective method to help diesel engines meet Euro 6 emission standards. SCR exhaust treatment systems are used by many car manufacturers: Audi, BMW, Volkswagen and Mercedes, Ford, etc. Mercedes has the BlueTEC engine line or Citroen has the BlueHDi, both of which use SCR technology with AdBlue solution.

How does AdBlue® work?

AdBlue is a non-toxic, colorless liquid with two main components: distilled water and pure urea. To meet Euro 6 standards, recent diesel vehicles use SCR technology with AdBlue solution to treat vehicle exhaust gas. Urea solution through chemical reactions occurring in the SCR unit converts toxic gas Nitrogen oxide (NOx) into nitrogen gas (N2) and water (H2O), so these two substances are friendly to the environment and humans.

This technology has been used in buses and heavy trucks for a long time.

Does your car need AdBlue?

SCR technology with AdBlue solution is becoming more and more popular. If your car uses diesel fuel produced from 2018 onwards, your car may have SCR technology using AdBlue solution. After a period of selling this product, we have encountered many cases where customers did not know that their car was equipped with SCR until a warning light appeared warning that the amount of AdBlue in the tank was low and needed to be added.

To find out if your vehicle uses AdBlue, you should consult your owner's manual or check if your vehicle is equipped with a blue-capped tank with symbols such as AdBlue, DEF or Urea printed on it. Usually the AdBlue cap is located next to the diesel tank for trucks, and under the spare tire for passenger cars.

How to refill AdBlue into the vehicle tank?

If you are about to go on a long trip and are not sure whether the AdBlue in your car is empty or not? Check and avoid the situation of AdBlue running out. This will affect your journey, some car models cannot start when the AdBlue solution is empty.

Filling AdBlue is quite simple. It is best to consult your vehicle's manual, but usually you just need to open the AdBlue tank cap. Then pour AdBlue into the tank. In case the tank is difficult to access, this will require using a filling tap. Usually the AdBlue manufacturer usually provides this with the tank. This will save you time in the process of filling AdBlue and at the same time avoid spillage.

Although non-toxic, AdBlue is corrosive and can cause irritation to the skin, eyes and lungs, etc. Therefore, wash your hands after handling AdBlue solution and wash your vehicle thoroughly if AdBlue solution is spilled on your vehicle.

AdBlue consumption rate?

Each type of vehicle will have a different consumption level, on average from 4-5% compared to fuel consumption. With this consumption level, you should have a plan to stock up on AdBlue solution before each trip if the area you are going to does not have a store that supplies this product.

Should AdBlue exhaust gas treatment solution be stored in the trunk of the car?

AdBlue solution is recommended to be stored in a cool place, away from direct sunlight, with a shelf life of about 12 months. You can completely store AdBlue in the warehouse. When you open a new AdBlue bottle but do not use it all, you should not leave this remaining part for too long because after contact with air, the properties of the solution may have changed.

Keeping a tank of AdBlue is not recommended as the temperature inside the car may increase when parked in the sun, damaging the AdBlue solution. There is also the possibility of leakage, causing the solution to overflow onto the car, causing corrosion of the metal and damage to the paint surface. Therefore, you should only keep AdBlue in the trunk of your car in case of absolute necessity and keep an eye on it.

How much does AdBlue exhaust gas treatment solution cost?

Currently, AdBlue prices range from 15,000 - 25,000 VND/L depending on origin and quality. Each manufacturer will have different production standards. With rudimentary production technology, the purity of the urea solution is not guaranteed. Heavy metal residues will affect the operation of the SCR system and engine. Therefore, choose a reputable manufacturer to ensure maximum engine durability.

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