What does AdBlue do and what is AdBlue made of?

Aug 15, 2024

What does AdBlue do, and all your other questions answered

Are you curious about what AdBlue does and why it’s vital for modern vehicles? Understanding AdBlue’s role is critical if you drive a diesel car, van or truck or manage a fleet to guarantee it works efficiently and meets emissions standards. Read on to answer your questions, such as: What does AdBlue do? What is AdBlue made of? What is AdBlue? How do you use AdBlue?

 

What is AdBlue?

AdBlue® is a diesel exhaust fluid mixture used in heavy-duty diesel engines and commercial vehicles made after September 2015.

It reduces nitrogen oxide emissions, which can damage the human respiratory system and increase allergen exposure. AdBlue also promotes fine particulate pollution and ground-level ozone, which is harmful to health and vegetation.

Governments set limits on vehicular NOx emissions and promote AdBlue® to improve air quality and reduce the risk of diesel pollution-related illness and death. The term AdBlue® is a worldwide trademark of the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA) and is produced by ISO 22241 specifications.

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What does AdBlue do?

AdBlue® is a solution that significantly reduces nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions from diesel engines through a process called Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR), which helps lessen the effects of these pollutants, which contribute to various environmental issues. AdBlue® is injected into the exhaust stream, which will then undergo a chemical reaction which converts the harmful gases into harmless nitrogen and water vapour.

AdBlue® also helps with enhancing engine efficiency. AdBlue guarantees optimal performance from the diesel engine by supporting the SCR process, meaning your vehicle can maintain high-performance levels while adhering to environmental standards. AdBlue is generally considered to reduce NOx emissions by over 90%.

If your business is looking to reduce its emissions, understanding what they currently are is a useful place to start. Here at Fleetmass Solutions, we make available to our customers an “Emissions Calculator“. This free-to-use tool saves fleet managers hours of work by calculating actual emission data based on vehicle model and fuel type in seconds. Our vehicle CO2 and NOx emissions calculator is FORS compliant.

SCR systems and AdBlue® are also integral to the health of your diesel engine. Without AdBlue, the SCR system cannot function properly, which may lead to increased emissions and damage to the engine or exhaust system. Using AdBlue means that you help maintain the longevity of your vehicle’s components and costly repairs.

 

How to use AdBlue?

Your AdBlue® depletes at a rate of around 1 litre each 350 to 600 miles. The size of the AdBlue® tank, which ranges from 5 to 20 litres, your driving style, and the engine size of your car all affect how often you should top off your AdBlue®.

Consult your car’s handbook or a trained mechanic for further details on your specific usage rates, but keep in mind that your dashboard should let you know when a top-up is necessary.

AdBlue® is stored in a separate tank from your vehicle’s diesel fuel. It is important to not run low and top it up as required. Commonly, diesel vehicles are equipped with an AdBlue gauge to alert you when it is time to refill.

 

What is AdBlue made of?

Here we answer what is AdBlue made of, it is a colourless mixture made from two components to ensure that AdBlue can efficiently break down harmful nitrogen oxides (NOx) in the exhaust:

1. High-purity urea (32.5%): Urea contains ammonia, the active ingredient in AdBlue® that reacts with NOx and neutralises it before it enters the atmosphere.
2. Deionised Water (67.5%): Deionised water free of minerals that could otherwise harm the vehicle’s SCR system.

 

Fleetmaxx Solutions and AdBlue®

We hope this guide has thoroughly answered the questions, “What does AdBlue do?” and “What is AdBlue made of?” If you have any further questions, please call us at 01367 704 910 or complete the enquiry form below, and we will get back to you. At Fleetmaxx Solutions we offer our own high-quality AdBlue®, for diesel vehicles, manufactured in the UK by our licensed product, Fleetblue. You can receive our excellent rates on AdBlue® and avoid the middleman by buying straight from us. For all of your fleet and fuel management requirements, put your trust in Fleetmaxx Solutions. We recognise the significance of high-quality AdBlue® for your diesel cars, vans and trucks.

 

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