Are emission controls making you blue?
During a recent trip to fill up our long-term Ford Tourneo Custom, the petrol attendant asked what the small blue cap next to the filler cap was for. Now, we have come across these filler caps on other vehicles but have never bothered too much with them. This question got us thinking about what the cap is actually for. After a little bit of internet research and a few technical questions, we finally had our answer, and it was surprisingly easy to explain.
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Many new diesel vehicles, including the new Ford Everest and Tourneo Custom, require the use of a Diesel Exhaust Fluid (urea in de-mineralised water) commonly referred to as AdBlue. This DEF fluid is automatically injected into the vehicle’s exhaust system to help reduce emissions of nitrogen oxide.
Since 2005, legislation on diesel vehicles in Europe demanded a drastic reduction of oxides of nitrogen emissions. Vehicle manufacturers, especially those of larger diesel vehicles such as the Ford Tourneo, had to rethink the exhaust systems on their vehicles. The addition of an AdBlue dosing system in conjunction with the vehicle's catalytic converter has a major impact on vehicle emissions, allowing a diesel vehicle to meet Euro 6 emissions standards.
AdBlue converts harmful NOx from your diesel vehicle exhaust into harmless nitrogen and steam, therefore considerably reducing the emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) that are a major source of atmospheric pollution and lead to smog in urban centres and an array of health problems.
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Is it actually blue?
AdBlue is the catchall name of this clear additive, which is stored in a small tank which is commonly referred to as the urea or AdBlue tank, and, just like diesel fuel, needs to be topped up when required, but what does it actually do?
- When injected into the exhaust system before the catalytic converter, it decomposes into Ammonia (NH3) and Carbon Dioxide (CO2), when the NOx from the engine exhaust reacts inside the catalytic converter with the Ammonia, the harmful NOx molecules in the exhaust are converted to harmless Nitrogen (N) and Water (H2O), which are released from the tail pipe as steam
- Reduces harmful emissions: AdBlue helps reduce the emission of Nitrogen Oxide (NOx) in diesel-powered vehicles, which is a leading cause of air pollution.
- Better fuel efficiency: When your vehicle's Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) system is working properly with AdBlue, it can result in better fuel efficiency and lower operating costs.
- Lower maintenance costs: The use of AdBlue can help extend the lifespan of your vehicle's Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) system, leading to lower maintenance costs.
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How to refill your Adblue
Your usage of AdBlue depends on your vehicle use, load being carried, and driving style. There is an indicator in the cluster to advise the driver accordingly. Still, you can expect anywhere from 8000 to 13 500km between refills of the 10l tank, and a final indicator comes up when the levels are very low. If you ignore these warnings and the AdBlue runs out, your vehicle will slip into "LIMP" mode, stunting performance and speed in order to prevent harmful emissions, and will not start again if switched off.
You can refill your AdBlue tank using stocked containers available for purchase from your vehicle's dealer or at selected service stations. Prices range but expect to pay about R600 odd per container.
You simply open the blue cap next to the filler neck, add the contents of the Adblue container, and cycle the ignition. Ford dealers can refill your tank with AdBlue or sell you a container the next time you book in for a service, but this is not included in the standard Ford service price.
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* Most modern makes currently sold in Europe will have some of their diesel models sporting Adblue. This includes Audi, Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Jaguar, Land Rover, Citroen, Peugeot, and Toyota. The easiest way to tell if the vehicle you are driving requires the Adblue additive is simply to check your filler neck area and if you have a blue cap, then you will need to keep an eye on your AdBlue levels!
