Adblue countdown help

[REC]

Citroen relay HDi van 2018 registered. Adblue warning message comes on with the yellow warning light, but no countdown to show how many miles left (as described in manual) so we don't know whether it is a malfunctioning first warning (1500miles) or a second warning (under 1500-375) or whether it is about to shut down. The warning light stays on all the time. Topped it up and it took less than 2litres and all warnings stopped.
Tried googling the issue and found something about a "vented cap" should replace an unvented as it causes a vacuum. Can't see any vent in our cap, but don't really know what we are looking for!
Usually top up the adblue every 2000 miles any way but am perplexed at the lack of countdown warning.
Had first three services done by dealer so, according to some google sources, the manufacturer could have put warnings to attend to something if a fault, without doing a recall. No recalls outstanding on our van.
Can anyone shed light on this... Most places seem to say that dealers want to replace the whole tank (£1000!) is an issue with the sensors.

 

[1 Cup]

Don't run out for the sake of a £1 a ltr.

 

[mark61]

Can't shed any light, but pretty sure the vented cap is the cap you undo to fill with ad blue.

If it's not a vented cap. I suppose there must be a breather pipe somewhere.

 

[Deleted member 84699]

I've got a 2018 citroen relay works van. You've no fault that's how they work. Once adblue needs topping up the warning message comes on. If you ignore it for long enough you get the second message, but you need to ignore it for ages.
Since mines a works van I generally ignore it for weeks before I get round to putting some in, nothing bad happens !!
Just top it it up when the warning comes on and you'll be fine.
Now you've topped yours up you're good for another few thousand miles

 

[witzend]

Don't run out for the sake of a £1 a ltr.

can't you save your own an top it up with that

 

[wildebus]

can't you save your own an top it up with that

New Motorhomes have the cassette toilet replumbed into the Adblue tank. Think it is an Adpoo system?

 

[REC]

Can't shed any light, but pretty sure the vented cap is the cap you undo to fill with ad blue.

If it's not a vented cap. I suppose there must be a breather pipe somewhere.

There is a vented cap available apparently ( has a white centre) which some places recommend as the tank vents can get clogged....some sort of design fault and subject of a recall for several Citroen models. But it is the warnings which seem wrong on our van....it is supposed to be intermittent to start with but it goes straight into the "on all the time"( second warning) so we thought it would need more than the two litres ( max) that we got in. Our worry is that the sensors have malfunctioned and this is a fix which can cost ++. Just wondered if anyone had experienced similar.

 

[REC]

Don't run out for the sake of a £1 a ltr.

Not quite sure what you mean? It is not recommended to overfill, and so the warning system is pretty useful?

 

[1 Cup]

Not quite sure what you mean? It is not recommended to overfill, and so the warning system is pretty useful?

Keep it filled up mate. The new lorrys run add blue and if it runs out while driving, the engine will continue until you turn it off and then protects the atmosphere and wont start and your stuck in a good vehicle untill add blue is added. So this new ab is a bigger hurdle than most think, as we look for the fule / petrol gauge not necessarily ab.
Yes it a yellow warning light not red . So £1 per liter keep it toped up, you could be stranded......
And you cant over fill. It will not damage the engine if 110% over filled, it's corrodes the stuff under the cap like metal and some plastic.

 

[REC]

@1 Cup ...Warning light is only yellow ( does not go red), stays on when very low. My question was not whether to fill it....obviously I know it needs filling and understand the consequences if it runs out..... but whether others had heard of an issue with the sensors/ countdown not working. And about the vented cap which has been suggested on some forums to help stop damage to the NOX sensor and tank.
There are differing opinions about whether overfilling can cause problems and I would rather not do it there is any doubt!

AdBlue tips - Motoring Advice and News

Our Technical Adviser shares five AdBlue top tips.

blog.motoringassist.com

 

[mark61]

Have had a little search around and have come up with pretty much what you say in first post.
Seems early AdBlue tanks in HDI engines had problems with venting, causing a vacuum, causing extra wear on the pump. The pump is supplied in the new tank, which is why it's a hefty £1000.

My manual also mentions not to overfill, but there is no way to see what's actually in the tank. I mainly fill up at a pump, which turns off automatically much the same as a fuel pump, but it must be pretty close to the top of the tank because the nozzle doesn't go in far.

Like you, I'd be wondering what the problem is, if the warning light came on, but tank only took 2 litres.

I'd guess if there was a vacuum, you'd hear it when opening the tank?

 

[REC]

Have had a little search around and have come up with pretty much what you say in first post.
Seems early AdBlue tanks in HDI engines had problems with venting, causing a vacuum, causing extra wear on the pump. The pump is supplied in the new tank, which is why it's a hefty £1000.

My manual also mentions not to overfill, but there is no way to see what's actually in the tank. I mainly fill up at a pump, which turns off automatically much the same as a fuel pump, but it must be pretty close to the top of the tank because the nozzle doesn't go in far.

Like you, I'd be wondering what the problem is, if the warning light came on, but tank only took 2 litres.

I'd guess if there was a vacuum, you'd hear it when opening the tank?

Thanks, seems that it may be the sensors if not the pump have been damaged by the vacuum. Looked for a vented cap but seem unable to get one for our van...the replacements don't have the white central bit ? Dave is talking about drilling a small hole to see if that might delay the replacement...
Haven't noticed a vacuum release when opening the tank, but yesterday found an account of damage done to small tanks when filling from an adblue pump. We did this in Spain and, thinking about it, the alarm hasn't been working properly since....something to do with pressure it fills the tank with, lorries having tanks several times bigger than ours. Havent found a pump near us so buy containers. Can live with the warning being wrong, but wondered if others had an easy ( cheap) fix. If it comes on when only a small amount needed, it's better than when it's out of adblue, but not having any idea on how much is in the tank means overfill is easy.... Just another vexing thing which may need money thrown at it soon!I
I did call the dealer but they wanted us to bring it in for the day, diagnostics etc, and feels like overkill! Sort of hoped it was a problem they had met before...

 

[mark61]

Interesting. Was unaware of the damage caused by the pumps, that probably explains why the AdBlue pumps are always in the truck part at service stations. Perhaps.

Wondering if just simply open and closing the cap along with daily/weekly checks would be sufficient?

 

[Traveller]

As mentioned the adblue system is rather complicated and can only be diagnosed by the main dealers or specialists. I've been running adblue trucks since 2007, when they go wrong it's always expensive (£800 to £1200) Hopefully yours will be something simple like an exhaust sensor rather than a dosser jet.
They check everything when testing, flow rate etc, all above my pay grade

 

[Okta]

My Mercedes based motorhome had an Adblue gauge, I really can not understand why this is not standard on all makes.

 

[REC]

The last post on this thread was interesting and may be an answer worth trying! Don't want the problem with warnings to escalate and end up in limp mode even though full tank of adblue! Doesnt explain lack of countdown though....but a "confused" sensor may be the cause....

Spurious(?) Adblue warning - currently resolved (DIY).

Car been running well all year but the other day Mrs borrowed it (total coincidence I'm sure) came back and said there was a urea warning and car is saying it will stop in 700 miles. There was also another message around engine management fault and take to dealer etc. SERVICE and UREA lights...

www.peugeotforums.com

 

[gasgas]

AdBlu is the last straw in the "100 reasons not to buy a new motorhome or car" list. We only do 3,000 miles in a good travelling year. The emissions caused in making the complex kit and added computers to run AdBlu and all the rest of it far outweigh the improvement in air quality from having it. I could go and buy any new motorhome but I won't, because of all the ridiculous add-ons and things like the intelligent alternators which are in fact thicker than a short plank, start stop stuff to make you buy more batteries and starter motors which again cause more pollution in their manufacture than they will ever save in a lifetime.

 

[Okta]

The emissions caused in making the complex kit and added computers to run AdBlu and all the rest of it far outweigh the improvement in air quality from having it.

Is this an opinion or do you have factual evidence to support this?

 

[REC]

We bought a panel van to convert and need adblue. We made that choice and so far been ok except for this. They seem to have worked out problems with adblue on newer vehicles, we were, I think, guinea pigs!
Dave made hole in adblue cap. Tried topping up again just today and it took another three litres so think there may have been a vacuum? Just monitoring it now and will top up a little monthly or every 1000 miles. At least that's the plan!