First AdBlue. Top-up or throw away?

[acer]

My vehicle was saying something like, add 12.5l min 20l max adblue within 1200 miles. I'd read that the sensor tends to not be too sensitive and that I should be careful to not overfill the tank, so I've put in about 18l. The system now says that the range is 16500 miles. All good. Except, now I don't know what to do with the remaining 2 litres. Shall I wait a couple of months and top-up? Or, because I've read that you shouldn't hang-on to it, should I take it to the local dump? Alternatively, does anyone suggest just to add the remaining adblue to the tank now?

 

[RedWhiteMonkey]

I personally wouldn't add any more now, I think adding a small amount will confuse the vehicle.

In future, it is much easier to find a filling station that also dispenses AdBlue. You can put in exactly the amount you want and there is no waste. I put 17 litres at my local filling station two days ago.

 

[Hawthorn37]

I fill up ours to the top of the filler tube. It gives 18,500 miles range. Have done the twice now with nothing adverse happening.

 

[dspuk]

My vehicle was saying something like, add 12.5l min 20l max adblue within 1200 miles. I'd read that the sensor tends to not be too sensitive and that I should be careful to not overfill the tank, so I've put in about 18l. The system now says that the range is 16500 miles. All good. Except, now I don't know what to do with the remaining 2 litres. Shall I wait a couple of months and top-up? Or, because I've read that you shouldn't hang-on to it, should I take it to the local dump? Alternatively, does anyone suggest just to add the remaining adblue to the tank now?

Given 2l is worth about 2 quid and the time and effort to take to the skip would far oputweigh that I’d leave in the garage and use it in a few months. One suspects the rumours of adblu going off are greatly exaggerated. Esp for a couple of months. Someone will come along and correct me with a chemistry lesson though.

 

[Oscarthebeddie]

My vehicle was saying something like, add 12.5l min 20l max adblue within 1200 miles. I'd read that the sensor tends to not be too sensitive and that I should be careful to not overfill the tank, so I've put in about 18l. The system now says that the range is 16500 miles. All good. Except, now I don't know what to do with the remaining 2 litres. Shall I wait a couple of months and top-up? Or, because I've read that you shouldn't hang-on to it, should I take it to the local dump? Alternatively, does anyone suggest just to add the remaining adblue to the tank now?

My car takes 20L of adblue to fill the tank, I only ever put 10L in the tank so in theory you have lots of contact with the air in the tank just the same as having opened a drum and not using all of it, to this date the only problem I have had was a faulty adblue injector which was not related and is a common fault on my vehicle make.
Ps. The car is now 10years old

 

[Lost Boy]

I'd add it, just leave the ignition on when you do it and therefore no risk of it getting confused, i added 20 litres to mine when it was that low, no problems and its been fine.

 

[vbk1975]

I'd add it, just leave the ignition on when you do it and therefore no risk of it getting confused, i added 20 litres to mine when it was that low, no problems and its been fine.

The issue with overfilling is that the Ad-Blu level sensors are based on Ultrasonics (like Park Aid sensors) and the sensor is measuring the distance from the top of the tank to the top surface of the fluid, if it is overfilled and there isn't an air gap( trapped air sometimes means it still works) then the sensor can misread the lack of a signal bouncing back as empty or faulty. Traditional float sensors that are used in coolant, washer fluid, fuel tanks can't be used as the Ad-blu either corrodes or clogs them up. It might be you can get away with overfilling it on T6/T6.1s due to trapped air but it is definitely not good practice.

 

[Lost Boy]

Appreciate that, I was just sharing my experience in a similar van with a similar mileage showing and what I did (as advised by Eurovans at Crawley) and it took the 20 litres no problem. I also added the decrystalizer to enhance its life. If there is a genuine concern, adding after say 2000 miles, shouldn't be a problem and leaving the ignition on means the sensor is powered, most people have an issue when its off and they fill it and then the sensor gets confused.

Naturally it all comes down to ones appetite for risk but I have done about 3000 miles now and no issues.

 

[Wannabecamperman]

I personally wouldn't add any more now, I think adding a small amount will confuse the vehicle.

In future, it is much easier to find a filling station that also dispenses AdBlue. You can put in exactly the amount you want and there is no waste. I put 17 litres at my local filling station two days ago.

Though that is often around £2 per litre! I buy mine at Aldi - just £9.95 for 10L, so half the price

 

[RedWhiteMonkey]

Though that is often around £2 per litre! I buy mine at Aldi - just £9.95 for 10L, so half the price

Rip off Britain? I paid 1,07€ a litre earlier this week here in Germany.

Even at £2 a litre I'd pay for the convenience of using a pump, I personally don't to be messing around with a funnel and all that mess with AdBlue.

 

[WelshGas]

Oh , the benefits of a Tsi.

 

[Hawthorn37]

Oh , the benefits of a Tsi.

We changed our diesel car for a petrol last year - big relief of not worrying about DFP, EGR, Adblue !

 

[chockswahay]

We changed our diesel car for a petrol last year - big relief of not worrying about DFP, EGR, Adblue !

Even less worry on our Mini Cooper SE (leccy)

 

[chockswahay]

Seriously though, if the shelf life was that bad it would go off in the van tank before it gets used up …….

 

[Wannabecamperman]

Even less worry on our Mini Cooper SE (leccy)

...and my Tesla with the home charger on Octopus overnight tariff costing me and the Mrs. around 2p per mile... Love it!

 

[Hawthorn37]

Seriously though, if the shelf life was that bad it would go off in the van tank before it gets used up …….

We’ve run diesel cars with Adblue for around 14 years. We’ve never had any issue - keeping half a tub for about a year; using a tankful over 1 to 2 years etc. having a use by date is a great way to boost sales !!

 

[Wannabecamperman]

We’ve run diesel cars with Adblue for around 14 years. We’ve never had any issue - keeping half a tub for about a year; using a tankful over 1 to 2 years etc. having a use by date is a great way to boost sales !!

Indeed. It is only de-ionised water and synthetic urea, after all

 

[acer]

Thanks everyone. I’ll do a thousand miles or so and then add the 2l left in the container.

My next question is whether anyone has a clever way to reuse the containers. By the way, using them to fill your bin doesn’t count. I love getting a second use out of things. I previously cut the top off of a similar tub and use it as a compression container for a dust sheet.

 

[Hawthorn37]

I wash ours out, and fill with wormery liquid (worm wee) as a low cost plant food during the summer. We get great tomatoes

 

[Viktorgeorge]

I wash ours out, and fill with wormery liquid (worm wee) as a low cost plant food during the summer. We get great tomatoes

Could someone explain for me, please?

 

[chockswahay]

Could someone explain for me, please?

haha, I am wondering what this could be too!