Thankfully, topping up the AdBlue reservoir is easy and cheap. Our Halfords AdBlue 10l includes all the fluid you need and comes with a handy pouring spout to make refilling a doddle. The AdBlue tank is usually located under the boot floor, where the spare wheel might have been in the past. But it's more important to know where the filler for it is located. AdBlue consumption varies depending on the particular after-treatment system of the exhaust gasses, but also on driving style and driving conditions.A vehicle that is being driven hard or a car that’s only in start-stop traffic conditions might have a higher AdBlue consumption than one that gets a good mix of city and highway miles. The latter will still use up its AdBlue, but not as fast as the vehicle driven in hard conditions. We must note that driving “ like an old lady” will still use AdBlue, so there’s no evading the need for this fluid. If you’re interested in the science, the AdBlue mixture is made from urea (the stuff you find in urine) and is injected in tiny quantities into the car’s exhaust gases, where it rapidly breaks down mono-nitrogen oxides in the fumes. This helps to reduce the environmental damage caused by diesel fumes and keeps the air cleaner – which is good for us all. In particular, it cuts NOx pollution and particulate emissions.

You will be notified by your car’s onboard computer that the AdBlue level is low and that a refill is required. Typical notifications start a few thousand kilometers/miles before the refill is necessary, so you’ll have plenty of time to get some AdBlue before your car needs it. Putting it directly into your fuel tank could cause expensive damage to your fuel tank, pump and injection system. If you start the engine it's likely to be an expensive write-off, so don’t touch the ignition.See if there’s an AdBlue filler cap either next to the fuel filler, in the boot or under the bonnet. Commercially available AdBlue also comes in big, 10-liter (2,6 gallons) barrels. However, your car might not need that much, and the product has a short shelf life. Therefore, it is recommended only to buy as much AdBlue as you need to refill, and to avoid storing the excess amount. It’s possible to overfill the AdBlue tank on some cars, but it’s more likely to make a mess as it spills out of the filler cap, than to cause any damage. Pay attention to the size of your AdBlue tank and how many litres it can hold. If it’s only 8 litres then make sure to add around 7 litres, just to be safe. How much does AdBlue cost? Some vehicles notify you of the capacity of your AdBlue container. If you do not know how much AdBlue you need for your car, you will have to look it up online or in the user manual. Once you figure out how much AdBlue you need, look for the refill procedure specific to your vehicle.

We cannot stress the importance of not pouring AdBlue in the fuel tank or any other fluid instead of AdBlue in the dedicated tank for the substance. Please, don’t do this, as it will severely damage your vehicle. Unless you refill with the manufacturer-designed containers, a funnel will be necessary for the top-up with AdBlue. The secret is that some vehicles have a special AdBlue filler nozzle to prevent spills. If your car has one of these, you might need to get a refill bottle from your vehicle manufacturer, along with a few extra liters of AdBlue from an independent brand. Not all car manufacturers use AdBlue technology. But chances are if you’ve got a diesel from Jaguar, Land Rover or any French or German manufacturer, and it was registered new after September 2015, it’ll use AdBlue. How does AdBlue reduce exhaust emissions? Tank size varies too, so you could need to refill somewhere between 3,000 and 12,000 miles depending on the car and your driving style. UK drivers have consistently rated us as the best breakdown service against all other major breakdown service providers Once your vehicle notifies you that you must refill your AdBlue tank, it is time to go online to get the best price for the particular liquid. While your manufacturer will gladly sell you the needed quantity of AdBlue and will refill it for you, there’s still a possibility of a much cheaper self-servicing option.

AdBlue is added to your exhaust and mixes with the fumes your car produces. It reacts with nitrogen oxide gas (NOx gas) created by your engine and breaks it down into harmless nitrogen and water vapour. AdBlue is a colourless, non-toxic mixture of urea and de-ionised water. It’s not actually blue at all.