ADBlue thoughts

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Steve Walsh
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ADBlue thoughts

Unread post by Steve Walsh »

Not sure if this is the best section for this but here goes.

I have been using Wynns adblue additive in my car, but because I didn't know exactly how much was in the tank to start with I decided to drain the tank this time when the 1st low warning came on,
The tank contained 5 litres of adblue with unknown percentage of wynns in it. I then filled the tank with 15 litres of adblue ready mixed with the additive, so that from now I know it is the correct mix.

The 2 photo's attatched are , the drain tub I used, and the funnel I used for refilling, after being left overnight on my bench..... Both full of crystals.

So, is the additive worth it or just snake oil?
All thoughts welcome
ADB DRAIN.jpg
ADB FUNNEL.jpg
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myglaren
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Re: ADBlue thoughts

Unread post by myglaren »

Tenuous relationship with your question but may be of interest.
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GiveMeABreak
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Re: ADBlue thoughts

Unread post by GiveMeABreak »

I've been saying this for ages as far as my own use of it goes - I never let it get low and top it up every 2-3 months. I use Wynn's Clean and protect additive
wynns.PNG
to help maintain the system and prevent crystal build up - but the air is the biggest problem here. As you can see, once it's out in the air it crystallises very quickly - now imagine what it's doing in the tank with all that air when the level is allowed to get too low!

Once it starts crystallising, it's very hard to get shot of it, but regular use of the additive should help remove and prevent it from happening. One other thing - be careful with refilling when it gets too low - the manual will recommend the minimum quantities to refill it with - which can differ depending on what level of warning you get. As said, I never let it get that low, and you've just reminded me it's about time I went and topped it up again!

I mix the Wynn's in with the adblue container so that's it's ready-mixed and then just top that up.
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RichardW
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Re: ADBlue thoughts

Unread post by RichardW »

As soon as the ad blue sloshes around in the tank any surface crystals will wash right off. Keep meaning to have a look inside the tank on ours and see what it's like. TBH I don't think it's working properly, as consumption seems to have gone down, but the light is not on, so I am ignoring it!
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CitroJim
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Re: ADBlue thoughts

Unread post by CitroJim »

RichardW wrote: 20 Aug 2024, 15:58 TBH I don't think it's working properly, as consumption seems to have gone down, but the light is not on, so I am ignoring it!
Like mine... It seems to use very little and so far, in over a year of ownership I've not yet had to top-up... I have dosed the tank with Wynns though...

Diagbox suggests mine is working I can hear the pump occasionally and the tailpipe is spotless...
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Re: ADBlue thoughts

Unread post by RichardW »

When it was new it used 10 litres / 8k miles - I put in 10l at 12k (tank is 16l or thereabouts), 20k, 28k, 36k, and 44k Then I put in 10l at about 54k as we were going away and the light hadn't come on; now over 67k and I haven't added more yet, and I looked in the tank a little while ago and there still seemed to be plenty there.... Def 'working' as I can hear the pump prime once the engine warms up, and then de-prime it after key off - and it must be getting a reading from the NOX sensor which goes down when it's injecting, otherwise it would throw a paddy. Of course, if it isn't broken, don't try and fix it!! They do use less if you're not doing lots of high speed driving, as usage is related to fuel consumption, and we haven't done so much long motorway work recently.
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Steve Walsh
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Re: ADBlue thoughts

Unread post by Steve Walsh »

Mine has covered about 8000km for 11 litres on the last 2 fills. I am not really concerned about the volume it uses , more the crystalisation I have written an email to Wynns UK asking why my new adblue with their additive in had crystalised in the funnel, probably down to air contact but just interested in their answer.
I think Marc has the right idea in keeping the tank topped up.
Slightly off subject, I have been driving a truck over here in France and it is quite a common thing to put tap water in if you happen to run low on adblue, did it myself a couple of times and the truck ran fine. I am guessing modern cars have a sensor to detect adblue quality.
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Re: ADBlue thoughts

Unread post by Steve Walsh »

And this reply just came through


RE: Technical question on wynns.uk.com
Inbox

ITWAAM - Wynns EU - Technical <technical@wynns.eu>
09:04 (5 minutes ago)
to me, ITWAAM

Good morning,

Thank you for reaching us.


As you probably understand, the behaviour of AdBlue and our treatment is different in the outside than in the tank. In direct contact with the outside air, both the AdBlue fluid and our treatment got evaporated and, crystallization appeared as crystallization is a by-product of one of the ingredient of AdBlue, the urea. Which, at room temperature is a solid element. Our treatment will prevent from crystallization in the fluid, but when fluid evaporates… However, these crystals of urea must be quite softer than the ordinary crystallization of just AdBlue fluid.



If you wish to test our treatment, collect those crystals, put them in a jar, add a small amount of our treatment ADProtect (to cover the crystals) and stir. You’ll see how our treatment works.



Kind regards,




Jose Ángel Canalejo | Technical Services
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Paul-R
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Re: ADBlue thoughts

Unread post by Paul-R »

CitroJim wrote: 21 Aug 2024, 06:10Diagbox suggests mine is working I can hear the pump occasionally and the tailpipe is spotless...
Tsk, tsk Jim. You're guilty of conflating the two different processes (Eolys and Adblue) as excess NOx production wouldn't cause any staining of the tailpipe. Hopefully all the soot would be trapped by the DPF.
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CitroJim
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Re: ADBlue thoughts

Unread post by CitroJim »

Paul-R wrote: 21 Aug 2024, 09:18
CitroJim wrote: 21 Aug 2024, 06:10Diagbox suggests mine is working I can hear the pump occasionally and the tailpipe is spotless...
Tsk, tsk Jim. You're guilty of conflating the two different processes (Eolys and Adblue) as excess NOx production wouldn't cause any staining of the tailpipe. Hopefully all the soot would be trapped by the DPF.
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True Paul, the hazards of posting before my brain is fully alert - or as alert as it ever gets :lol: :roll: I do understand though, if the Adblue system goes a bit, err, 'over-enthusiastic' then crystals can build up on the tailpipe...

Indeed, soot will be dealt with by the DPF... I do assume a clean tailpipe shows it's happy and doing its job...
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CitroJim
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Re: ADBlue thoughts

Unread post by CitroJim »

Steve Walsh wrote: 21 Aug 2024, 08:09 Slightly off subject, I have been driving a truck over here in France and it is quite a common thing to put tap water in if you happen to run low on adblue, did it myself a couple of times and the truck ran fine. I am guessing modern cars have a sensor to detect adblue quality.
As I understand it, cars have two Nox Sensors Steve, one upstream of the cat and one downstream. If the downstream one is not registering zero Nox after injecting what's calculated to be the right amount of Adblue to counteract the upstream Nox value then it'll complain and raise a fault and thus indirectly determine the efficacy of the Adblue.

I've heard the same about lorries and indeed, doing something else into the Adblue tank in times of need - which might actually work better than plain water ;) :lol:

Or maybe lorry systems are just a lot less sensitive than cars?
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mickthemaverick
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Re: ADBlue thoughts

Unread post by mickthemaverick »

Yes the adblue tank is always a better target than the wind!! :-D
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Re: ADBlue thoughts

Unread post by RichardW »

PSA generally only have a downstream sensor (on early Euro 6 cars anyway - later ones might have up and down stream sensors) - I assume that it checks that it gets an initial reading then is looking for the level to drop off as the injection starts. If there is no change in the NOX level then it will flag an error that the system is not working - so if you fill it with distilled water it should flag a fault. I might stick the computer on ours and see what it says - but sometimes it's best not to know if the light is not on :rofl2:
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Steve Walsh
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Re: ADBlue thoughts

Unread post by Steve Walsh »

I agree about not wanting to know sometimes, but when I get something in my head I tend to get obsessive. Ever since I had a blow out on a motorbike 1n 1978 I am over the top obsessed with tyre pressures, we have 2 cars, 2 motorbikes, ride on mower, sack truck, 2 wheel barrows and once a week they all get tyre pressures checked, and any friends that are here with a vehicle at the time.......... MENTAL or wot
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mickthemaverick
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Re: ADBlue thoughts

Unread post by mickthemaverick »

Excellent Steve, next time SWMBO asks me to check her tyres, which she does fortnightly to her credit, I'll send her over to you!! :-D
I used to be indecisive, now I'm not so sure!
I used to ride on two wheels, but now I need all four!