Maintaining AdBlue levels

[hillmep]

Hi. I have a new Evoque, and we've had the first experience with warnings about AdBlue. So, I've gone the route of getting bottles from the Parts Department from the dealership and added it without a problem. Warnings have gone away, all good.

However, $22 per 1.9L bottle seems a bit pricey for AdBlue. From what I can tell, the main benefit from using the bottles is the dispenser that makes it really easy to top up the fluids without spilling all over the engine. I've been told that you want to ensure the AdBlue is as pure as possible. Exposing it to air / dirt can cause crystallization which if it occurs in the tank / line can cause issues or require repairs. So, the dispenser seems like a nice way to keep the AdBlue clean.

Now that I have the bottles, I was thinking that next time around, get some AdBlue in larger quantities (Repco sells in 10L bottles much cheaper). Assuming the ISO matches, I was thinking about pouring from the 10L bottle into the smaller bottles in order to use the dispenser. It's probably slow constantly re-filling the smaller bottles, but then adding to the tank is really easy.

Does this sound OK? The AdBlue would get some exposure to air when it's being decanted. Is that enough to start crystallization? I assume that I'd have to give the 1.9L bottles a clean and dry, as well as any funnel used during the transfer.

Or, am I just overthinking this too much? Do people have ways of topping up their AdBlue that have been working OK? If I find it available in a pump at a servo, will that work as well?

Thanks for any information

[donh54]

I read a post somewhere saying that the nozzle on the Adblue truck pumps will fit. Usual cost is around $0.99 per litre.
As far as decanting goes, don't overthink things. Adblue is Adblue, whether it's from an inground tank at a servo, or from an overpriced bottle at the Stealers. The exposure to air (within reason) won't be long enough to cause any problems.

[Pedro_The_Swift]

adblue is adblue,,,
should keep you going for a while,, [smilebigeye]
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2018/03/401.jpg

[hillmep]

@donh54 Thanks for that. I haven't dealt with AdBlue before, so thanks for a reality check. The dealer did say that I could use BP servos that have adblue either in bottles or pump (they did warn that pumps the truckies use might be overpowered and may damage the tank....). However, BP's store locator leaves a bit to be desired. I went to a servo that, according to BP, had AdBlue for sale. That seemed to be news to them, though, as they had not a drop in a tank or bottle.

@Pedro... now that's a tank! :) I probably could have bought two of those for what I just paid at the dealers. In all seriousness, though, if went that route all I'd really need to do is watch for crystallization on the spout and keep it clean. I did get a recommendation (from the dealer again) that once I open a bottle, use it's contents and don't leave it around for the next time. That said, that big container looks like it's got a decent valve that keeps o2 out of the contents.

Thanks all for the help! It's been really useful.

[AK83]

..... if went that route all I'd really need to do is watch for crystallization on the spout and keep it clean. I did get a recommendation (from the dealer again) that once I open a bottle, use it's contents and don't leave it around for the next time. .....

You will get crystalisation on spillage, but it does take a while(few weeks).
We have an Adblu pump at work, that doesn't work!! .. and so we have to fill the trucks from the IBC(like in Pedro's pic).
You always get a small amount of spillage from the IBC, which is just gravity fill, and once everything is sealed up again, you just hose it off with the tap. Just to remove the unsightly residue that forms over time.

I doubt very much that crystalisation due to allowing air into a tank is a problem.
With the Adblu pump that doesn't work, I imagine it's a sealed system in some way, but the IBC system needs a vent to allow it to flow. So the top cap on the IBC is always half released to allow air in(for flow) ... otherwise the fluid doesn't flow.

Also remember that with the reservoir to hold the Adblue, air will always get in the moment you remove the cap to the tank.
Our trucks hold about 100Lt, which lasts about 2-3 weeks per fill, so there is always air in the adblue tank ... both in the truck and in the IBC.

ie. I doubt that it's going to be a problem.

The crystalisation issue is always on surfaces that have been exposed to adblue spillage .. ie. the simple filling tap at the hose we use to fill the tank on the truck, the hose itself where adblue has been allowed to spill onto, the tanks where the adblue has overflowed .. etc.
Never seen it on the inside of the IBC above the level of the adblue fluid line tho.

[donh54]

The truck Adblue pumps are as slow as a wet week! All truck stops nowadays have Adblue, either pumped or in 10 litre containers. Ordinary servos are a bit hit and miss whether or not they have it.
The pumps are auto shutoff so shouldn't be a problem.

[hillmep]

Thanks, Arthur. It sounds like as long as I keep things clean on the outside before using everything, I'll be all right as far as crystallization is concerned. As far as the BP pump, it's not that it wasn't working, it didn't exist! Web site said one was there, but that was news to the guys working there. :) That said, if I do end up finding one, I'll be a bit more game to try it, as long as the nozzle doesn't have anything built up on it (ie, wipe it down before using it).

It sounds like I need to be more worried about crystals already formed getting put into the tank, rather than air getting in and causing it to form. That makes complete sense what you say, and hearing your experience is very helpful for me.

[AK83]

..... As far as the BP pump, it's not that it wasn't working, it didn't exist! Web site said one was there, but that was news to the guys working there. ....

You probably won't find it at a pump if the station doesn't have truck pumps. I've never seen adblue pumps at non truck stations.
All the stations near me don't have the truck pumps(that is Shell/BP/Caltex/7-11(Mobil)) .. but all the stations near my work have truck fuel pumps(hi-flow).
So to find adblue pumps, you need to not only find a truck fuelling station, but also go to the truck pump area.
That's my experience in the metro area.
Obviously the smaller country town stations that have truck pumps may be hit and miss as to whether they have adblue pumps .. more rare than common from what I've noticed.

As you have a very late model diesel, I'd reckon don't fill from the truck pumps tho.
They use diesel that doesn't have the additives(the soapy stuff that foams like mad when filling).

The diesel itself is all the same, but the diesel at most metro BPs/Caltex's/Shell's that have dedicated truck pumps .. all have car diesel AND truck pumps.

A mate works for a fuel company and fills country stations, BP/Caltex/Shell(not 7-11's any more tho) .. and they all get their diesel fuel from the one Mobil terminal(here in Yarraville).
The difference with the diesel, is that while his tanker gets filled with diesel, it's either straight diesel only, or that if required will also have the additive added to the diesel as it gets filled.

I fill my D1 from the truck pumps at the 7-11 on my way home from work.
I used to fill from the car pumps area, but it foams up too much as it gets full, and takes forever and a day to fill it properly. Last 10lt are painful.
At the hiflow/truck pumps, it fills quickly, but doesn't foam up. But as the 300 tdi is an old timer type diesel design, I doubt that the additives will actually be beneficial.

[donh54]

...... as long as the nozzle doesn't have anything built up on it (ie, wipe it down before using it).

It sounds like I need to be more worried about crystals already formed getting put into the tank, rather than air getting in and causing it to form. That makes complete sense what you say, and hearing your experience is very helpful for me.

Drop a crystal into the tank, and it reverts to liquid. You are over-thinking a lot of this stuff! By all means give the nozzle a wipe, but don't get freaked out by a bit of buildup. It is basically Urea mixed with water - that's it! Have a look at a lot of truck Adblue tanks - if the cap seal is a bit old, you'll see a crystal residue formed on the outside. Looks like crap, and I wouldn't leave it on my paintwork, but it's not a major issue.

[Nagaman]

You probably won't find it at a pump if the station doesn't have truck pumps. I've never seen adblue pumps at non truck stations.
All the stations near me don't have the truck pumps(that is Shell/BP/Caltex/7-11(Mobil)) .. but all the stations near my work have truck fuel pumps(hi-flow).
So to find adblue pumps, you need to not only find a truck fuelling station, but also go to the truck pump area.
That's my experience in the metro area.
Obviously the smaller country town stations that have truck pumps may be hit and miss as to whether they have adblue pumps .. more rare than common from what I've noticed.

As you have a very late model diesel, I'd reckon don't fill from the truck pumps tho.
They use diesel that doesn't have the additives(the soapy stuff that foams like mad when filling).

The diesel itself is all the same, but the diesel at most metro BPs/Caltex's/Shell's that have dedicated truck pumps .. all have car diesel AND truck pumps.

A mate works for a fuel company and fills country stations, BP/Caltex/Shell(not 7-11's any more tho) .. and they all get their diesel fuel from the one Mobil terminal(here in Yarraville).
The difference with the diesel, is that while his tanker gets filled with diesel, it's either straight diesel only, or that if required will also have the additive added to the diesel as it gets filled.

I fill my D1 from the truck pumps at the 7-11 on my way home from work.
I used to fill from the car pumps area, but it foams up too much as it gets full, and takes forever and a day to fill it properly. Last 10lt are painful.
At the hiflow/truck pumps, it fills quickly, but doesn't foam up. But as the 300 tdi is an old timer type diesel design, I doubt that the additives will actually be beneficial.
Should you only use so called premium diesel (Woolies Vortex?) in your new Evoque?
Is ‘Ultimate’ necessary or more about advertising hype?.
Cheers Dave

[AK83]

Should you only use so called premium diesel (Woolies Vortex?) in your new Evoque?
Is ‘Ultimate’ necessary or more about advertising hype?.
Cheers DaveI have

no idea about advertising hype so much, but they do have special additives for each of the fuels.
I'm told that the diesel base stock is the same. Mate delivers to country BP and Caltex's, but the fuel he loads comes from the Mobil refinery!

There are specific bays they load from that have the links to each fuel type, but diesel is diesel .. is diesel! .. basically the same for truck diesel, same for car diesel, same for premium diesel ... except with the premium diesel they have to add some additive.
They push buttons on some electronic device for their load number and it's all automated, but there is definitely an additive in the premium diesel for Caltex and BP.
Whether the additive is useful of hype .. I dunno!

if it were mine, that is if my diesel were more modern, and not a 300 Tdi .. even a TD5 with their more finely honed injector types, I'd use it more so than not. Obviously out bush you'll probably struggle to find a premium diesel type, and I doubt it matters as that's all you may have access too, but on the whole I'd use the premium stuff, or at least alternate between each.
It's definitely more detergent-y and foams up a lot more than most regular diesels do.

[rick130]

Without any actual research I'm guessing the additive is a detergent and cetane improver.

I know that when I pulled my old 300Tdi head for a head gasket the chambers, pistons and head face were spotless, you could read all the data from the crowns easily, and that's just from using a quality detergent/cetane improver

[AK83]

.... and that's just from using a quality detergent/cetane improver

Was that a bottled additive, or a quality fuel?(I'm guessing an additive).

Also, does that relate to the buildup on the injector nozzles too?
That is, if the injector nozzles have a strong buildup of carbon deposits, would that mean that more than likely the head/pistons will also have some too?

[rick130]

A bottle additive, Redline RL2

It's marketed as an injector cleaner/lubricant, and the injector nozzles were spotless.
I'm guessing if atomisation is compromised, so is combustion.

A little care needs to be exercised when using fuel additives, a lot impact on engine bearings, they can be pretty corrosive, something I found when using even BP's proprietory additive DieselGo.

FWIW I've had the TD5 for twelve months not and haven't bothered with any additives at all.

[Nagaman]

Do JLR ever mention ‘premium’ as being important ?.

[DMJ17]

I bought 10L from Autobarn this morning. Used the old bottles that bought from dealer last time. Top of the bottle opens up without any issue. Not the tip only. Open the whole top. It was so easy. 10L cost $39.

[AK83]

.... It was so easy. 10L cost $39.

When the 10lt bottle is all used up, try a large truck stop type servo and fill up at the AdBlue pumps there. I know BPs, Mobils and Shells truck stops have 'em at least. I think closer to 1 dollar a litre there.

Actually, I didn't see what area you're at, but irrespective, for price checks do a google for PetrolSpy. Works directly out of your browser on their website, OR you can get mobile phone app if you want a mobile version.
I use it all the time when travelling at least. Most of the time when looking for fuel at home too.
If you're on the website, you look in the top left corner for the fuel type and use the drop down menu to find AdBlue. It then gives you a map of an area with many station prices.

[itsme]

Hi there,
Thinking seriously about buying a 2012 Evoque TD4 Pure but have some reservations regarding the adblue.
How much adblue does the tank hold? How long does it last? Does the car start if the tank is empty (ie MB ML300). Also when should the timing belt be changed?

Thanks so much,
regards,
Graham

[SBD4]

Hi, all Evoques pre 2016 do not use adblue. Actually, i don't think any Land Rover product prior to MY16 uses adblue.

So, all good, no need to worry about it.

Post any other questions you have and we'll see if we can help. Good luck with the hunt.