AdBlue filling newbie questions

[GiveMeABreak]

Yes, it has a lower level limit equivalent to the miles remaining before the engine start is disabled. You can usually see this when checking the Adblue status using the appropriate fault or check button depending on car and model. The miles remaining range display remains fixed at the specific figure until the adblue reservoir actually hits the low level and then the countdown is initiated.

[CitROeNALD]

Just reviving this,

I have the boot location in my C4 Grand Spacetourer.

I was wondering if anyone had used the domestic car adblue pumps at garages. I note the warning about the commercial ones above, but ones at the normal petrol pumps are meant for normal cars are they not.

I was musing using the hose via the back door to fill the tank that way? Seems much easier then messing with funnels and 10 litre bottles.

I assume the flow rate is low enough that I can neatly fill it.

Also, visually how full do people take the tank? Do people often fill to overflow?

Visually looking into the spout, is it best to level it to just below the spout?

[PaulC5]

If the garage pumps use a nozzle similar to a petrol pump then when you stop adding and pull the nozzle away you might get some drips. If so take a bucket to catch them to save having to clean the boot.

Our Cactus has the adblue filler in the boot and I pour it from a 10 litre container into a 1½ litre bottle and from that in to the car but use funnels to avoid spills. I can see the level in the tank as it gets nearly full so do not put any more in so below the tank neck. This way it is easy to do and no need to lean into the boot with a heavy container. The spouts that come with these containers do not seem to give a good seal and I have found they can leak so for the Cactus do not need to use them.

[CitROeNALD]

Thank you appreciate your reply.

Yes, I think the adblue fillers at the normal pumps are like small petrol pumps. seems like an easy reach into the back of a C4 Grand.

I think the flow rate is quite low too, which was another concern.

As an experiment, I made use of a plastic straw to make a crude dipstick to measure how low my tank is. It's the first time I have tried to work out what level it is at.

From the bottom of the spout, I have currently got a 9cm gap until the straw touched fluid. So it will be interesting how much I need to fill it by when the time comes.

Have you ever used the anti-crystallisation fluid/additive?

[PaulC5]

If you dipped the tank to the bottom you would have an idea of the depth of the tank and how much is left. Our cars are about 17 litres capacity according to the handbooks and the tanks are quite shallow so a level 9 cm down could be a lowish level remaining.

As a guide to the amount of adblue used, our 1.6 hdi Cactus uses about 1 litre every 1000 miles and the 1.5 hdi 308 about 1½ litres per 1000 miles.