Ad - blue help!

[m3wood]

I’m having issues with my ad-blue system that differs from what others tend to experience online.

So my adblue seems to have been going down fine until it got to around 1700 miles left and I decided to top up around 9L as suggested on the dash. The level has not gone up and has remained at 1700miles. I’ve since drove a few hundred miles and the level has continued to drop and now sits on 1400 miles.

Any ideas from anyone with the same issue ?
I’d understand if the level sensor was stuck due to crystallisation but not sure why it would continue to drop.

I’ve just put in some ad-blue anti crystal chemical to hopefully clean but a week on nothing has changed.

Any ideas would be very welcome.

 

[Dellmassive]

the sender unit is ultrasonic . . . with no moving parts. (to counter any crystallization)

make sure you don't over fill, as unmetered Adblue in the filler neck will cause problem's.

keep driving and wait till it asks you to top up the 10L.

other issues could be a leak somehere, or damaged wire underneath.

but id suggest just keep driving for now?







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[mmi]

1700 miles left and I decided to top up around 9L as suggested on the dash. The level has not gone up

What are the suggested min/max fill amounts on the dash now?

 

[Salty Spuds]

I’m having issues with my ad-blue system that differs from what others tend to experience online.

So my adblue seems to have been going down fine until it got to around 1700 miles left and I decided to top up around 9L as suggested on the dash. The level has not gone up and has remained at 1700miles. I’ve since drove a few hundred miles and the level has continued to drop and now sits on 1400 miles.

Any ideas from anyone with the same issue ?
I’d understand if the level sensor was stuck due to crystallisation but not sure why it would continue to drop.

I’ve just put in some ad-blue anti crystal chemical to hopefully clean but a week on nothing has changed.

Any ideas would be very welcome.

1700 miles remaining would suggest that 9litres was below the minimum amount to be added. Did you do the 30 seconds ignition on, post filling?

 

[Howzat]

I’m having issues with my ad-blue system that differs from what others tend to experience online.

So my adblue seems to have been going down fine until it got to around 1700 miles left and I decided to top up around 9L as suggested on the dash. The level has not gone up and has remained at 1700miles. I’ve since drove a few hundred miles and the level has continued to drop and now sits on 1400 miles.

Any ideas from anyone with the same issue ?
I’d understand if the level sensor was stuck due to crystallisation but not sure why it would continue to drop.

I’ve just put in some ad-blue anti crystal chemical to hopefully clean but a week on nothing has changed.

Any ideas would be very welcome.

Not registering a top up is usually down to adding too much. In the past, since I over filled myself and had the same issue resulting in the van going to the dealers to reset the adblue, I've only been adding the MINUMUM amount as stated on the display.

BUT............

Mine beeped today, 1500 miles remaining. Suggested fill level 6.25l - 9.25l.
I added ONLY 3 litres as I wanted to see if that would register.
Registered straight way and now shows 4500 miles and suggested fill of 3.25l - 6.25l.
So it would seem the minimum fill level isn't minimum at all!
All these years users here have been saying you need to fill between the minimum and max fill level suggested for it to register.
It just isnt true!

I'm sticking to adding 3 or maybe 5 litres when it beeps at the 1500 mile range remaining going forward.

 

[Dave_H]

My 2019 T6 reported needing 2.00 gallons - 3.00 gallons (9 - 13 litres) of AdBlue required.
I didn't even get the 10 litre can of AdBlue into the tank before it started pouring out of the top.
Now, it is saying 450 miles range before engine will not start and I'm also worried about all the problems that overfilling causes.
(I have tried the 30+ seconds of ingnition before starting the engine and this does not clear the message.)

 

[Salty Spuds]

My 2019 T6 reported needing 2.00 gallons - 3.00 gallons (9 - 13 litres) of AdBlue required.
I didn't even get the 10 litre can of AdBlue into the tank before it started pouring out of the top.
Now, it is saying 450 miles range before engine will not start and I'm also worried about all the problems that overfilling causes.
(I have tried the 30+ seconds of ingnition before starting the engine and this does not clear the message.)

Are you sure it’s asking for gallons and not litres? Is it a T6 or 6.1?

 

[Dave_H]

It is a T6 and definately asking for gallons.
And an engine warning light for the DPF - that usually goes after 20 miles of 50mph in 3rd gear (3,500 - 4,000 rpm) - but not today. That blast is why the range has dropped again.
I only use the Shell or BP premuim Diesel.

 

[Skyliner33]

If it’s been overfilled, has anyone tried siphoning out some adBlue and then trying the 30s and seeing if it will reset?

 

[manfrotto]

It is a T6 and definately asking for gallons.
And an engine warning light for the DPF - that usually goes after 20 miles of 50mph in 3rd gear (3,500 - 4,000 rpm) - but not today. That blast is why the range has dropped again.
I only use the Shell or BP premuim Diesel.

View attachment 314767

It sounds like you have done everything correctly but suspect it needs a trip to VW for a reset and maybe a software update.
Where did you get the AdBlue from and what "use by" date is on it?
I read on another forum that VW/Audi have said not to use Adblue from Tesco. It could be that they want to sell VW stuff, but it is important to use the correct ratio of water to Urea (32.5%), and the van knows this (it needs to be between 30 and 35% or the system will throw a wobbly):

 

[Lubrown]

It sounds like you have done everything correctly but suspect it needs a trip to VW for a reset and maybe a software update.
Where did you get the AdBlue from and what "use by" date is on it?
I read on another forum that VW/Audi have said not to use Adblue from Tesco. It could be that they want to sell VW stuff, but it is important to use the correct ratio of water to Urea (32.5%), and the van knows this (it needs to be between 30 and 35% or the system will throw a wobbly):

View attachment 314774

I can picture the adverts now…
“This isn’t standard AdBlue, this is an artisan blend using urea from Jersey cows, grazed on organic pastures, and mineral water drawn from beneath protected moorland in the Scottish Highlands. This is M&S AdBlue”

 

[Dave_H]

If it’s been overfilled, has anyone tried siphoning out some adBlue and then trying the 30s and seeing if it will reset?

Thank you. I will try to siphon some off.

 

[Skyliner33]

Thank you. I will try to siphon some off.

I’ve no idea if it will be successful. But I guess it can’t make it worse. :/

 

[manfrotto]

Someone also mentioned making sure you have 3/4 tank of fuel - Again may be a red herring but worth a try.

I know the DPF regen requires a certain level of fuel to start the regen (IIRC about 1/4 tank)

 

[Skyliner33]

Someone also mentioned making sure you have 3/4 tank of fuel - Again may be a red herring but worth a try.

I know the DPF regen requires a certain level of fuel to start the regen (IIRC about 1/4 tank)

Well my van has started a regen with the fuel gauge in the red.

 

[Howzat]

Yup. The 1/4 tank thing is an urban myth.
Last time I got the 650 mile warning I decided to delete the Adblue and booked it in. On the morning of the work the van started to regen and I was 5 miles from the garage when the regen completed and 1 mile away when the adblue reset to 3500.
I called the guy and explained and he was cool about it but regretting it now because yesterday the warning came on again despite minutes earlier stating the range was 3000 miles. I know this because I keep the MFD on the adblue screen after the last error.
Utterly crap system so I'm waiting for another regen to see if it resets again.

 

[Drive Wayne]

I can picture the adverts now…
“This isn’t standard AdBlue, this is an artisan blend using urea from Jersey cows, grazed on organic pastures, and mineral water drawn from beneath protected moorland in the Scottish Highlands. This is M&S AdBlue”

Hold on, I use M&S Adblue! Kemetyl, at M&S prices too! 4 litres last week at a miserly £17. I don't do enough miles to have ever put 10 litres in.... always registers first time without any delays in ignition on. 5500 miles range now, that'll do for over 6 months.

 

[Lubrown]

Hold on, I use M&S Adblue! Kemetyl, at M&S prices too! 4 litres last week at a miserly £17. I don't do enough miles to have ever put 10 litres in.... always registers first time without any delays in ignition on. 5500 miles range now, that'll do for over 6 months.

They’re doing an Autograph version soon - makes your exhaust smell of roses.

 

[whodat]

I get my Adblue from Selfridges.
It comes in a lovely glass spray bottle of 500ml in the shape of a VW Beetle. Packaged in a wooden box with an olde worlde logo of VW Beetle when it was first produced (but without the added Heil Hitler saluting in the background);
You ask one of their trained assistants (Selfridges, not Waffen SS) to spray it gently into the tank.
Great service. Costs a bit but then, what price is a working van worth to you?

 

[Howzat]

Yup. The 1/4 tank thing is an urban myth.
Last time I got the 650 mile warning I decided to delete the Adblue and booked it in. On the morning of the work the van started to regen and I was 5 miles from the garage when the regen completed and 1 mile away when the adblue reset to 3500.
I called the guy and explained and he was cool about it but regretting it now because yesterday the warning came on again despite minutes earlier stating the range was 3000 miles. I know this because I keep the MFD on the adblue screen after the last error.
Utterly crap system so I'm waiting for another regen to see if it resets again.

Well whaddya know. Regen today and warning went off and back to 3500 range.
That's the 2nd time in the last 2 months.
My theory?
The regen heats up the underneath of the van enough to unblock or liquify the adblue in the pipes or nozzles during cold weather.
Absolutely no real evidence to back this up whatsoever but works for me.

So whatever is causing these vans to suddenly go into adblue warning mode is not 100% NOT solely related to fill level.
All through this latest saga my fill level recommendation was 1g - 1.5g meaning my tank is well over half full.
Lesson for today?
When you get the adblue warning DONT assume it's the fill level and bung more adblue in.
Look closely at the recommended fill level and if the MAX fill level is saying less than, say, 10l (or 2.25g) then there's already adblue in the system and the issue isn't a nearly empty adblue tank.
Wait for a regen before doing anything further. If the error doesn't clear then maybe try adding the MINUMUM fill level only (not the MAX!) then wait for another regen.
After that then it may be something that actually really needs fixing.

One final tip. When you get the 650 (1000k) warning then call your local van center and book it in. It's better to have a slot ready in the future just in case and easy to cancel if not required.