Adblue shelf life

[Mark A]

Adblue shelf life seems to be around 12-18 months.

Due to the pandemic and all of the WFH, I haven’t been racking up the miles and haven’t needed to top the tank up in a while. i was thinking of siphoning it out and refilling with fresh stuff.

Has anyone done this or am I being too cautious?

 

[mioba]

Seems very logical to me to be fair.

I dont have any such equipped car, but since it has a life, then as mentioned logical

 

[Tony Dyson]

No Adblue in my car either but I've been doing some reading on potential additives to help prevent the crystallisation of the urea in the mix but without success, however I found several references detailing how sub zero temperatures can promote the crystallisation of urea, so keeping the car garaged overnight would at least take the edge of any extreme temperatures.

 

[EmilysDad]

...... so keeping the car garaged overnight would at least take the edge of any extreme temperatures.

I can only just get my Smart Roadster in my garage .... no chance with the ML

 

[onefortheroad]

If in doubt do it , put fresh in.

 

[star]

I would brim it, as crystallisation seems to happen when it dries. A half empty tank has a larger area exposed and may form crystals around the edge of the adblue level.

 

[DSK]

@star thank you for advising to keep it topped up.

My w221 has an as blue tank in the boot. However I cannot find how to check the level of it in the handbook. Can anyone tell me how to check it (assuming it can be checked) or, do you just pour it in and stop when it looks full?

I bought a 5l can of as blue and put it in the boot in case.


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[EmilysDad]

@star thank you for advising to keep it topped up.

My w221 has an as blue tank in the boot. However I cannot find how to check the level of it in the handbook. Can anyone tell me how to check it (assuming it can be checked) or, do you just pour it in and stop when it looks full?

I bought a 5l can of as blue and put it in the boot in case.


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You can't read the level of the Adblue tank in my ML either. I just stick a gallon in every so often.

 

[DSK]

You can't read the level of the Adblue tank in my ML either. I just stick a gallon in every so often.

Thank you for advising!

I will top it up tomorrow.


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[tode]

@star thank you for advising to keep it topped up.

My w221 has an as blue tank in the boot. However I cannot find how to check the level of it in the handbook. Can anyone tell me how to check it (assuming it can be checked) or, do you just pour it in and stop when it looks full?

I bought a 5l can of as blue and put it in the boot in case.


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You can use a piece of (spotlessly) clean dowel to measure the depth of Adblue in the tank:
12 mm depth = almost empty (warning will soon be on). You can add 20 liters.
78 mm depth = tank full.
Over a 10 year period, I've used 0.01 liter Adblue per liter of diesel. Roughly 0.9 liter/ 1000km.
HTH

 

[DSK]

I didn’t mess about today as we have the same weather as pretty much everyone else so didn’t try and check fluid level. Just shone a torch down there and guessed but, threw 3.5l in and I reckon there’s room for a bit more. Will swing by Halfords later.


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[Mark A]

Sucked the tank dry, wasn‘t that much left <10L. Refilled with 20L of fresh stuff (Jan 22 batch code), didn’t want to open a third drum for just a few L in order to brim it.

 

[onefortheroad]

@star thank you for advising to keep it topped up.

My w221 has an as blue tank in the boot. However I cannot find how to check the level of it in the handbook. Can anyone tell me how to check it (assuming it can be checked) or, do you just pour it in and stop when it looks full?

I bought a 5l can of as blue and put it in the boot in case.


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My 17 reg e350 just says either full or not full. You have to enter the service menu via the steering wheel.

 

[Tony Dyson]

Reading this thread it really sounds as though the system is genuinely built to fail! with the advice/comments from:

I would brim it, as crystallisation seems to happen when it dries. A half empty tank has a larger area exposed and may form crystals around the edge of the adblue level.

And consumption figures from;

You can use a piece of (spotlessly) clean dowel to measure the depth of Adblue in the tank:
12 mm depth = almost empty (warning will soon be on). You can add 20 liters.
78 mm depth = tank full.
Over a 10 year period, I've used 0.01 liter Adblue per liter of diesel. Roughly 0.9 liter/ 1000km.
HTH

I would be carrying a Litre bottle of the stuff and topping up to the point of overflow every time I refuelled the car!

 

[DSK]

Rather than start a new thread I thought it’s best to ask within here.

Is there a difference in Adblue quality between brands? (Like petrol for example)

I ask as I managed to get 13 litres into mine to top it up. I got 2 cans from halfords, all with current dates and all items on tbe fully stocked shelves were clean. I got 1 can by Carplan from Asda, again with a current date but, all the cans looked to have white powder like residue all over them despite having sealed tops.


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[onefortheroad]

Rather than start a new thread I thought it’s best to ask within here.

Is there a difference in Adblue quality between brands? (Like petrol for example)

I ask as I managed to get 13 litres into mine to top it up. I got 2 cans from halfords, all with current dates and all items on tbe fully stocked shelves were clean. I got 1 can by Carplan from Asda, again with a current date but, all the cans looked to have white powder like residue all over them despite having sealed tops.


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Maybe one was spilled on top of them ? White residue is likely to be ammonia

 

[mioba]

Rather than start a new thread I thought it’s best to ask within here.

Is there a difference in Adblue quality between brands? (Like petrol for example)

I ask as I managed to get 13 litres into mine to top it up. I got 2 cans from halfords, all with current dates and all items on tbe fully stocked shelves were clean. I got 1 can by Carplan from Asda, again with a current date but, all the cans looked to have white powder like residue all over them despite having sealed tops.


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depends on where the makers source the Urea and its purity. the rest is just water. Wouldnt worry too much.

 

[Blobcat]

Any adBlue spills leave a white deposit - just be careful when filling - that is what will have happened to the ones on the shelf - I'd be tempted just to use the AdBlue at the pump that a lot of filling stations have these days. (I used to use the lorry one at a previous works for my E220d)

 

[DSK]

Any adBlue spills leave a white deposit - just be careful when filling - that is what will have happened to the ones on the shelf - I'd be tempted just to use the AdBlue at the pump that a lot of filling stations have these days. (I used to use the lorry one at a previous works for my E220d)

Never seen it at the pump but Shells site lists my local station as having it it. I’ll keep my eyes open for it the next time I fill up.


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[mioba]

Never seen it at the pump but Shells site lists my local station as having it it. I’ll keep my eyes open for it the next time I fill up.


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Its quiet common, easy to miss