The use of AdBlue in exhaust systems as a means of reducing emissions is almost standard now as a means of meeting Euro emissions 6 standards. But what happens if the system starts to fail?
Normally, AdBlue will work by mixing the substance with your exhaust fumes to cause a chemical reaction that neutralises nitrogen oxide emissions. Moreover, if you start to run out of the fluid, far more will happen than a dashboard light coming on.
Eventually, the car’s performance will start to decline and the ignition will eventually turn off. Moreover, the car will then not start again until you have topped up your AdBlue tank once more.
The solution to all this is to make sure you don’t run out of AdBlue. What you cannot do is legally have the system removed and try to do without it, as this will mean your car is running illegally, which could lead to a large fine, would cause it to fail any MOT test and could impact on your insurance.
Indeed, you can only legally drive a diesel AdBlue-free if it is off-road like a Land Rover.
With this being the case, there arises the question of what to do if the system stops working for a reason other than a lack of fluid.
There are a few common problems that can occur:
· A blocked AdBlue injector
· AdBlue Crystallisation, which causes blockages to the injector
· A faulty AdBlue pump
· Malfunctioning AdBlue sensors
· AdBlue freezing in cold weather
· Contaminated AdBlue.
Some of these issues are not caused by mechanical problems. Contaminated AdBlue is an obvious issue to do with what you put in the tank to start with. Freezing is a cold weather problem that can be helped by not leaving your vehicle outside when the temperature drops very low.
Crystalisation is often the result of not sealing the system and it may require a professional clean-out, but others are more mechanical problems. Sometimes these just require you to do a little bit of basic maintenance. On other occasions, they can be fixed by a mechanic, but on occasion, the whole thing is beyond repair and should be replaced altogether.
As ever, if your AdBlue system is playing despite you giving it the TLC it needs and keeping it topped up, the first thing to do is to visit us and have it looked at by a specialist. They will be able to diagnose if it is a simple problem that just requires a clean-out or a bit of minor work, or if the whole system is broken and a new one is needed.
Should it need replacing entirely, this will be a task only a skilled specialist can undertake. But we are very experienced in doing this and we can soon have your vehicle back on the road with its new AdBlue system in place, ensuring you are back on the road with a reliable system that is fully compliant with emissions laws and doesn’t shut everything down on you.