AdBlue is one of the most innovative solutions to the age-old problem of emissions from diesel engines. It helps us to keep our beloved diesel cars on the road by helping them comply with emission norms that they would otherwise fail. Here are twenty cars that make use of this technology.
1. Audi A4 Saloon
The Audi A4 saloon is a four-door saloon with good interiors and a long list of standard equipment. It is very comfortable to drive, and it is quiet and without vibrations.
2. BMW Series 5 Saloon
The BMW 5 Series is an all-rounder which provides a perfect balance between price, performance, and comfort. The interior is top-notch, and the infotainment is one of the best.
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3. Audi Q7
Audi Q7 is a practical and comfortable seven-seater SUV. It offers plenty of features and feels luxurious. It is one of the best premium seven-seater SUVs in the market.
4. Citroen C4
The C4 is a crossover with a unique styling and comfortable ride. The interior has improved quite a bit compared to previous models. It offers a lot of value for the money.
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5. BMW X6
The X6 is one of the most sportiest and luxurious SUVs you can buy. All of the interior materials are of exceptional quality. It is comfortable to drive but still great fun.
6. Jaguar XE
The Jaguar XE is a four-door saloon that is practical and comfortable. It is a fun-to-drive car with premium interiors. It offers a good amount of features and space in the cabin.
7. Land Rover Discovery
The Discovery has received some massive updates making it a very practical choice if you are looking for a seven-seater SUV. It is quiet, comfortable, and brilliant off-road.
8. Volkswagen Touareg
The Touareg is a large premium SUV with plenty of features and a spacious cabin. It is not as expensive as its rivals, so it offers a lot of value.
Also read: Are Volkswagens Reliable? (and Models to Avoid)
9. Audi A7 Sportback
The A7 Sportback is one of the best-looking cars in the Audi lineup. It offers a choice of powerful engines to back up the good looks. The diesel engine is frugal and exciting.
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10. Jaguar XJ
The Jaguar XJ is a luxurious high-speed cruiser that can comfortably cover long distances. Its handling is sharp, and the sleek body lines look classy. The diesel model offers a lot of value.
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11. Peugeot 3008
The Peugeot 308 is a practical family SUV. It has a unique design both inside and out. It has a very spacious cabin, and the cargo capacity is best-in-class.
12. Mercedes-Benz GLE
The GLE is the entry-level three-row SUV from Mercedes. It is spacious and offers a good amount of luxury. It has got all the latest technology, and the diesel engine is punchy.
13. Land Rover Range Rover
The Range Rover is one of the most luxurious SUVs in the market. The interior feels exceptionally upmarket. Additionally, it is very good off-road, unlike most other luxury SUVs.
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14. Toyota Land Cruiser
The Toyota Land Cruiser is Toyota’s flagship SUV. There are not many SUVs that can keep up with the Land Cruiser offroad. On-Road performance is decent, and the cabin is spacious.
15. Peugeot 208
The Peugeot 308 is a practical yet fun-to-drive small hatchback. It has loads of features and can comfortably seat four adults.
16. Volkswagen Passat
The Volkswagen Passat is an underrated sedan in the premium market. It looks good and is comfortable to drive. It offers a lot of features for this price point. The diesel variants return a good fuel economy.
17. Land Rover Range Rover Evoque
The Range Rover Evoque is a premium small SUV. It is very comfortable and spacious and offers a generous amount of cargo space. It looks really good, and it is loaded with features.
18. Mercedes-Benz C-Class
The C-Class is one of the most popular four-door sedans. It offers premium interiors and the latest technology. It looks sleek and premium.
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19. Volkswagen Tiguan
The Tiguan is a spacious and comfortable SUV with a lot of features on offer. It is fun to drive and offers a large boot.
20. Mercedes-Benz S-Class
The S-Class is one of the best cars in the Mercedes lineup. It has all the technologies that Mercedes has to offer. It is supremely luxurious and comfortable.
When Did Cars Start Using AdBlue?
Passenger carmakers started adding AdBlue to their cars after the implementation of Euro 6 emission norms in September of 2015.
AdBlue, also referred to as Diesel Exhaust fluid or AUS32, is a mixture of 32.5% pure high-grade urea and 67.5% deionized water. AdBlue is a registered trademark owned by the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA), which ensures that the ISO specifications are maintained by all manufacturers.
In cars equipped with Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR), the AdBlue is stored in tanks inside the car. The exhaust fumes travel through the Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) and enter into the SCR catalytic converter, where the AdBlue is sprayed onto the exhaust fume using a dosing control.
When it comes in contact with the harmful nitrogen oxides (NOx) in the exhaust gas, it reacts with it to form harmless water and nitrogen. The SCR system is highly effective in curbing the emission of harmful gases and pollutants, as it can reduce NOx emissions by up to 90%, particulate emissions by 30-50%, and hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide emissions by 50-90%.
Additionally, it can increase fuel efficiency by 2-4%.
It is a biodegradable, odorless, non-flammable liquid. It does not pose any harm to humans, but it can be quite corrosive towards the metal and plastic body panels.
AdBlue can be purchased in most automotive shops and online retailers such as Amazon. Also, there are AdBlue dispensers in some fuel stations. It is fairly cheap at around £1.50 per liter. You can get it even cheaper if you buy it in barrels.
If you are not sure whether your car uses AdBlue, then make sure to check in your owner’s manual for all the information. The opening to refill AdBlue is usually found in the same cavity as the fuel filler. It usually has a blue cap. Other common locations are inside the boot with the spare tire or in the engine compartment.
Also, note that AdBlue is not a fuel additive. So it should not be mixed with fuel under any circumstance.
Also read: Top 15 Cars that Turn off at Light & How Much Fuel They Save
Why Don’t Cars with Gasoline Engines Use Adblue?
Petrol engines burn and emit relatively hotter exhausts, and they do not emit as many oxides of nitrogen as a typical diesel engine. So their NOx emissions are still under the permissible limit without using AdBlue.
Although petrol engines emit more carbon monoxide when compared to diesel engines, AdBlue is a urea solution, and it is only effective against oxides of nitrogen. Therefore, AdBlue does not serve any purpose in a petrol engine.
If the permissible NOx limit for petrol engines is lowered drastically in the future, the car manufacturers will have to implement some technology like AdBlue to help them comply with the regulations. For now, adopting AdBlue technology to petrol cars will only ramp up the price, and there are no significant incentives for doing it.
Is There Going to Be More Cars with AdBlue Manufactured?
Since the implementation of Euro 6 emission norms which demanded the reduction of NOx emissions by 67%, almost all manufacturers of diesel cars have adopted this technology in most models. As the emission norms get tighter, car manufacturers have no other way but to implement such technologies if they want to keep selling their cars.
NOx is a harmful gas that can adversely affect our respiratory system. Continuous exposure to NOx can reduce lung function and increase susceptibility to respiratory illnesses.
More and more studies are unearthing the harmful effects of automotive emissions in living organisms as well as its contribution to accelerating climate change. It is high time that we start acting in an environmentally responsible way for a better future. Lawmakers around the world are trying all possible options to limit automotive emissions.
So until we find a better way to limit the NOx emissions in automobiles, AdBlue is here to stay. It is mostly used in diesel vehicles for time being, but its application could very well be expanded to other areas in the near future.
Does Each Car Use a Different Amount of AdBlue?
The amount of AdBlue that you use depends on several factors such as, driving style, environmental conditions, mileage, and the size of your car and the engine. The more economical your car and driving style, the slower it will get used up.
The Volkswagen Touran has an 11-liter tank, and they say that you can expect the low AdBlue warning message at 3000-4000 miles. The bigger Touareg has 19.5-liter and can last 6000-7000 miles before the warning message.
The Tiguan has a 12-liter tank and can do 3000-4000 miles, while the Passat has a 13-liter tank that lasts for 4000-6500 miles. Both of them consume about 1.5 liters per 620 miles.
The Audi A4 saloon features a 12-liter tank which can last for a range of approximately 6000 miles between top-ups.
On the other hand, Peugeot claims that their cars can run 12,500 miles before needing to top up the AdBlue.
For most cars, AdBlue is refilled as part of the regular scheduled maintenance and will probably never have to worry about topping it up. Even if the warning message pops up, there should be enough AdBlue to last about 1000 miles before the tank is emptied.
