Fluctuating Adblue Range

[SlothBurger]

Driving for about 2 hours today & adblue range at the start was 6000 kilometres remaining & telling me to add between 3.25 litres & 4.50 litres. No warnings. Then suddenly the adblue warning pings & appears & adblue range goes to 1000 kilometres remaining. It was still telling me to top up by the same amount though - 3.25 l - 4.50 l.

So I drive on as the regen is about to start. Then regen starts & finishes & I'm still going when the adblue range goes down to 950 km remaining. I'm just about to pull over to a garage when I stop at traffic lights first with bit heavy braking & just as suddenly the adblue warning light disappears. The adblue range is back at 6000 kilometres & the top up amount the same at 3.25 l - 4.50 l.

Scanned with Carista when I stopped & I see two codes P20EE00 & P204F00 as in the screenshot.

Now I don't know what's correct - should I put adblue in it or no?

 

[Howzat]

Saw exactly the same a few weeks ago (range 3000 to 650 miles and errors) and mine also reset after a regen then was fine until the warning came back at the weekend.
Booked in with VW just in case but also hoping the next regen resets it.
My local garage told me they get loads of adblue issues when the abmbient temperature drops so not sure if Slothland is as cold as the UK but it may be a contributing factor?

 

[Hilly64]

mine had a software update a few weeks back. used about 1000 range in 200 miles. I checked with dealer who confirmed this was normal while to car re-learnt settings. It was a J623 Control Unit update .... however didnt sort the EML issue, same codes as yours over a long period of time. Finally got them to replace NOx sensor as basically they cannot find a fault after many many visists

will let forum know if success or otherwise as this scenario is far from uncommon from my readings

 

[SlothBurger]

Saw exactly the same a few weeks ago (range 3000 to 650 miles and errors) and mine also reset after a regen then was fine until the warning came back at the weekend.
Booked in with VW just in case but also hoping the next regen resets it.
My local garage told me they get loads of adblue issues when the abmbient temperature drops so not sure if Slothland is as cold as the UK but it may be a contributing factor?

It was down around 1°C here when the warning came on. Problem I have now is I can't trust the amount of adblue I need to put in it or if I need to put any in at all.

 

[SlothBurger]

mine had a software update a few weeks back. used about 1000 range in 200 miles. I checked with dealer who confirmed this was normal while to car re-learnt settings. It was a J623 Control Unit update .... however didnt sort the EML issue, same codes as yours over a long period of time. Finally got them to replace NOx sensor as basically they cannot find a fault after many many visists

will let forum know if success or otherwise as this scenario is far from uncommon from my readings

Thanks for the reply. Yeh. I saw these codes before too on mine but not with the adblue warning on the dash. Previously these codes appeared on a scan but no other warnings. I wondered if mine could be an adblue sensor because when I braked heavily the warning went away & everything as before for rest of the journey.

 

[JLDD]

I had very similar recurrent issues with the AdBlue system (T6, 2017) until my last trip to the NW highlands on January. I had to drive home (8.5hrs) without switching the engine off as it was telling me “no start”.

Since had it “deleted” and all seems well, so far!

Post in thread 'Survey of Adblue issues suffered by T6 Forum Members'
Survey of Adblue issues suffered by T6 Forum Members

 

[Howzat]

It was down around 1°C here when the warning came on. Problem I have now is I can't trust the amount of adblue I need to put in it or if I need to put any in at all.

Not sure how yours is going but mine has blipped to 650 miles remaining about 6 times since my last post and up to now has cleared each time once the van is up to temperature and on a longish run. (20-30 miles)
What I've noticed is that the recommended fill level doesn't change when I get the 650 mile warning then goes back to normal but has increased as expected the last 1000 miles.
So it's just a case of ignoring the range indicator now and rely solely on the MIN recommended fill level hitting 1.5g then sticking about 6 litres in.
TBH once I get to the point that the 650mile warning doesn't go away because I really do have a fault then I'm getting it mapped but for the time being I'm just working with the recommended fill level.

 

[SlothBurger]

Not sure how yours is going but mine has blipped to 650 miles remaining about 6 times since my last post and up to now has cleared each time once the van is up to temperature and on a longish run. (20-30 miles)
What I've noticed is that the recommended fill level doesn't change when I get the 650 mile warning then goes back to normal but has increased as expected the last 1000 miles.
So it's just a case of ignoring the range indicator now and rely solely on the MIN recommended fill level hitting 1.5g then sticking about 6 litres in.
TBH once I get to the point that the 650mile warning doesn't go away because I really do have a fault then I'm getting it mapped but for the time being I'm just working with the recommended fill level.

Mine hasn't reoccurred since thankfully. It's done a few regens since & about 1500 kilometres. I did as you did & topped it up by the max amount it was telling me to put in. It then showed 8000 kilometres remaining on adblue range & that has gone to 7500 kilometres the last few days. It's a bit odd though that it happened & no real explanation why.

 

[Green Giant]

if you don’t know how much to put in, I thought you can use an Adblue pump at a garage, fill till it clicks off, and don’t add a single drop more, then it’s full?

 

[SlothBurger]

if you don’t know how much to put in, I thought you can use an Adblue pump at a garage, fill till it clicks off, and don’t add a single drop more, then it’s full?

I asked about exactly this on the forum here previously and the general consensus seemed to be that by the time the adblue pump clicks off it might be overfilled as adblue fill sensors in the adblue tank are not the same as the fuel sensors in the fuel tank. Overfilling adblue slightly has other consequences it seems and can cause other issues.

 

[T6new]

I've had the same issue with my 68 plate T6 was at 4500 miles, then while driving up the motorway warning came up and dropped to 650. Looked on Christa and had the same faults so forced a Regen and as some on here have said gave it a good thrashing on the way back which cleared for a bit but now back and down to 300 miles but the fauls have gone. I've added some adblue like it told me 3.75lt and now still going down (@350 now) and no volume under the miles. Not sure what to do now except take it in? Anyone think different?

 

[manfrotto]

As a 68 plate vehicle it could be in the range where it had the recall fro the software update to fix the adblue issue (2017 models)

 

[Skyliner33]

if you don’t know how much to put in, I thought you can use an Adblue pump at a garage, fill till it clicks off, and don’t add a single drop more, then it’s full?

Ffs you do know the van tells you.

 

[Salty Spuds]

if you don’t know how much to put in, I thought you can use an Adblue pump at a garage, fill till it clicks off, and don’t add a single drop more, then it’s full?

Nope! The nozzle only goes about 2” into the filler pipe. By the time it knocks off you’re way overfilled. By all means use the ad blue pump, but only put in the required amount. Filling it to knock off adds about 3litres more than the maximum amount. Don’t ask how I know this.

 

[T6new]

As a 68 plate vehicle it could be in the range where it had the recall fro the software update to fix the adblue issue (2017 models)

Does anyone know the updated software code I can check on the data? If not I'll have to check with the dealership, only got it in Jan so hopefully warranty covered, he says naively.

 

[manfrotto]

see post #7 in this thread...

Post in thread 'Software up to date?'

23 Sep 2022

The engine software version is 4047. (2017 102ps 5 speed manual Highline converted panel van). Does this need to be updated? Can this only be done by a main dealer?

There is an update available - version 6163.

The update should cure a few niggles - mainly fault P20EE and sudden AdBlue range drop (to 1000 km/650 miles).

A before/after comparison here:

[T6_measured] NOx emissions, AdBlue consumption, DPF regeneration - Before and after ECU update

Introduction An update campaign for T6 EU6 diesel engines took place in 2019-20. Affected engines were on van of model years MY16-MY18, including some of MY19. For M1 class (passenger carriers, VIN WV2...) the update was an official recall. For N1 class (VIN WV1....) the update was not...

www.t6forum.com

Carista (today it won’t let me, or give any fault code details, unless I sign up...

• mmi

• 

That was the update back in 2022 ?

 

[SlothBurger]

see post #7 in this thread...

Post in thread 'Software up to date?'

23 Sep 2022

The engine software version is 4047. (2017 102ps 5 speed manual Highline converted panel van). Does this need to be updated? Can this only be done by a main dealer?

There is an update available - version 6163.

The update should cure a few niggles - mainly fault P20EE and sudden AdBlue range drop (to 1000 km/650 miles).

A before/after comparison here:

[T6_measured] NOx emissions, AdBlue consumption, DPF regeneration - Before and after ECU update

Introduction An update campaign for T6 EU6 diesel engines took place in 2019-20. Affected engines were on van of model years MY16-MY18, including some of MY19. For M1 class (passenger carriers, VIN WV2...) the update was an official recall. For N1 class (VIN WV1....) the update was not...

www.t6forum.com

Carista (today it won’t let me, or give any fault code details, unless I sign up...

• mmi

• 

That was the update back in 2022 ?

Did this update apply to later vans too? Mines a 2019 Kombi model but seeing the issue seems to be the same - sudden drop of adblue level.

 

[mmi]

Not sure what to do now except take it in?

The symbol indicates there is a fault in the AdBlue system.

Does anyone know the updated software code I can check on the data?

What data?
For the most of T6 software you can check the software revisions in below

Welcome to VAG-Flashinfo!

VAG Flashfiles Informations - Version check of VAG ECUs - Update check for Audi, Seat, Skoda and Volkswagen

vag-flashinfo.de

 

[T6new]

The symbol indicates there is a fault in the AdBlue system

Guess what your saying is take it in then?

What data?
For the most of T6 software you can check the software revisions in below

Probably misspoke as a clanky with a lack of the digital age. Was hoping to find what software is installed on my van with the crista. Not really sure how to navigate that link.

 

[mmi]

Was hoping to find what software is installed on my van with the crista.

It's under Carista Service menu - "Detailed ECU info"-report - engine section.
Something like

where the Part# identifies the software itself