Ask a Shiter

[oman5]

It would absolutely break my heart to be buying tens of litres of an extra mystery fluid into my vehicle every fillup that has absolutely no effect on making my vehicle move forward/last longer/go faster etc. How common is this adblue bollocks on passenger cars? That said the chance of me running round in a new diesel motor any time soon is pretty slim TBH.

 

TBH, it was news to me that cars actually used it at all, I thought at the moment it was only the heavies. But, like you I don't have anything to do with new stuff.

[Pete-M]

I had a Mk1.5 Escort van a few years ago. Mk2 with Mk1 Mexico front wings, bonnet and front panel.

 

There were a few bits that needed minor fettlage to fit, but it looked pretty cool really.

[Cavcraft]

In order:

 

No

 

Yes, but I don't think this is the issue here.

 

Do a "Hard Reset" on the router. There's usually a recessed button on the back/arse of them that you need to press and hold with a pen/straightened out paper clip. What type of router is it, Billy?

 

FWIW, Windows 8 runs better on my rig than Windows 7 did. Same hardware, same installed apps.

 

Cheers, Andy. I did ring the router people a couple if weeks back and they talked me through some stuff (security settings iirc) which improved things a bit, but it's just pretty shit now, hence asking if a better router would help. To be fair to Belkin their customer service and helpline are second to no-one, they're brilliant. I might try and get faster broadband as well as a new router. Thanks for your input mate.

[Bobthebeard]

It would absolutely break my heart to be buying tens of litres of an extra mystery fluid into my vehicle every fillup that has absolutely no effect on making my vehicle move forward/last longer/go faster etc. How common is this adblue bollocks on passenger cars? That said the chance of me running round in a new diesel motor any time soon is pretty slim TBH.

 

 

+1

Have never heard of Adblue before either. Must add quite a lot on to the cost of running a vehicle thus afflicted if it is used in those kind of amounts?

[willswitchengage]

And for those that didn't know, AdBlue's active ingredient is basically this:

 

[Bobthebeard]

And for those that didn't know, AdBlue's active ingredient is basically this:

 

 

Seems like a lot of effort to recycle block paving, gratings, tramps, and old 'no entry' signs though, TBH.. Surprised that diseasals can actually burn it at all! Even at 5%.

[Mr Lobster]

I didn't think adBlue was required / possible for passenger cars or even light vans. Only ever known it on 7.5t trucks and above and they generally have a seperate tank / reservoir to fill with adblue anyway.

 

Not aware that even new cars use / require it.

[cobblers]

Yeah, new VAG stuff at least deffo uses it. It can apparently last long enough to not need refilling between services though.

[Mr Lobster]

Well, you live and learn.

 

Another reason not to bother with modern diesels then...

[Pete-M]

Those BlueEfficiency Merc badges mean "adblued up to the tits".

[Bobthebeard]

Yeah, new VAG stuff at least deffo uses it. It can apparently last long enough to not need refilling between services though.

 

Seriously being thick here..... But WTF is it for? And why?

[Pete-M]

Does something in the DPF.

 

Gets the first owner cheaper tax... second owner flogs it when it goes wrong, third picks up the tab.

[Bobthebeard]

Does something in the DPF.

 

Gets the first owner cheaper tax... second owner flogs it when it goes wrong, third picks up the tab.

 

Thanks! Sounds perfectly spot on!

[cobblers]

It's squirted into the exhaust and breaks down NOx emissions which come from running an engine lean IE all diesels ever. At uni the lecturer bloke reckoned it was usually injected in proportion to fuel used, roughly 5%. With the USA emissions regs being less harsh so they use about half that.

[willswitchengage]

DPF tackles particulate matter, ie soot.

 

AdBlue is injected into the exhaust to reduce Nitrogen Oxides into water and Nitrogen gas. It's not needed on petrols as they don't burn fuel hot enough to create NOx in the cylinders.

[Bobthebeard]

It's squirted into the exhaust and breaks down NOx emissions which come from running an engine lean IE all diesels ever. At uni the lecturer bloke reckoned it was usually injected in proportion to fuel used, roughly 5%. With the USA emissions regs being less harsh so they use about half that.

 

It does all sound like we are being had over at every turn though. Diesels were marketed as being 'green' years ago IIRC. Early 90's? No one ran diesel cars. Wasnt diesel cheaper than petrol back then? Now they are horrid and polluting and need expensive additives?

Edit. I know next to nothing about the subject, so feel free to advise!

[cort16]

I've got a blue efficency merc and had no idea it needed adblue. I'm guessing it would ping up if it needed some?

[Pillock]

On my 1.6TDCI Focus, I believe it has a fluid called Eloys (and no, not even the chap at the Ford dealer can pronounce that properly) which is similar/identical to AdBlue. Guidelines state it needs adding at the 75k service but "handily", the car will let me know if it's needed sooner by pinging on the EML.

 

1.5l is £80 or so apparently.

[ashmicro]

I've got a blue efficency merc and had no idea it needed adblue. I'm guessing it would ping up if it needed some?

 

Mine comes up on the "Driver Information Matrix" or whatever the fuck M-B call "the instrument panel"

 

I'll take a pic of it next time it comes up. I'm sure it's in the handbook, but that thing infuriates me. It's translated well enough, but it's a bit too "literal", and that makes it hard to understand. I also don't know where I've put the damn thing.

[willswitchengage]

It does all sound like we are being had over at every turn though. Diesels were marketed as being 'green' years ago IIRC. Early 90's? No one ran diesel cars. Wasnt diesel cheaper than petrol back then? Now they are horrid and polluting and need expensive additives?

 

Older SI engines, ie those with carburettors, used to emit enormous amounts of hydrocarbons - highly toxic and BAD 4 U. Fuel injection and catalytic converters generally sorted out that emission problem in one single blow, so gasoline cars have been pretty much emitting just CO2 and water since the early 90s - neither of which are harmful.

 

Diesels on the other hand emit piles of Nitrogen Oxides and particulate matter (soot), the former from high burn temperatures and the latter from fuel burnt without sufficient oxygen. NOx is very difficult to eradicate fundamentally, so EGR does so by cooling the air in the cylinders (at the pay off of about 3% of thermal efficiency), and SCR simply removes it from the exhaust afterwards (but you need to buy the reagent, AdBlue). PM is removed by your DPF quite effectively - it is simply "burnt off" in the presence of a catalyst to create CO2.

 

Technically therefore, it's a lot more challenging to make a clean diesel than a clean petrol. In the States environment policy has been more directed towards maintaining local air quality (especially in California with its deadly smogs), hence why diesels haven't caught on over there. They'd rather have clean air than save fuel, it's just a different priority.

[oman5]

The Euro 6 emissions regs come into force in 2014 for heavies, 2015 for cars, so they are all gearing up ready now. the only way to get the emissions down to the new extremely tight standard is to use SCR technology (adblue)

Previously the older euro standards could be met with EGR, this is not achievable any more. heavy trucks with massive engines have had to run (proportionately) cleaner than a lot of cars for some time. Rumours have flown about that adblue rots out the exhaust system but I've not actually seen this yet. When the engine is shut off, the system purges itself and flushes unused adblue from the catalyst back into the storage tank, but at the end of the day it's one more thing to go wrong.

With out fleet of trucks (volvo FM 450) there is no discernible loss of performance, they pull like f***.

The only thing to really be aware of is that the system must NEVER be allowed to run out. the trucks automatically derate themselves into a limp mode if they run out, but if the system is dry it will overheat and be destroyed- VERY expensive to put right and it's not road legal if the system is not working.

[Cavcraft]

Recalling that cats were introduced in petrol cars at least circa 1992, will my 1998 Peugeot 306 (1.9 n/a) diesel have one, and if it does and I remove it will it see a smidge more power?

[Lacquer Peel]

Recalling that cats were introduced in petrol cars at least circa 1992, will my 1998 Peugeot 306 (1.9 n/a) diesel have one, and if it does and I remove it will it see a smidge more power?

 

I don't think your 306 will have a cat. AFAIK the only XUDs with cats are those fitted with ECUs (post-1996 turbo diesels fitted to 406s and Xantias).

[Morgan84]

Our 1995 Peugeot Boxer 2.5 TD had a cat fitted,but that was soon removed with a bypass pipe in its place,which did give it a bit more poke

[Cavcraft]

Ta, that's a job saved then.

[ashmicro]

*UPDATE* Isaac Agnew (Merc dealer) are coming to pick up my car today. I rang them on Saturday and discussed the Adblue issue. The chap I spoke to was of the opinion that while the car will use some of the fluid, the amount I'm getting through seems excessive. I pointed out that the car passed PSV on Friday (£130!) with no issues, but they want a look at it anyway with a view to just replacing the entire system should an obvious solution not be apparent. We'll see!

[autofive]

Renault part no. 77 03 090 323

 

a quick look online gives me the description of :BEARING AUTO GEARBOX

 

Its a bearing in one of yellow/black boxes, suggesting its a 1970s part

 

anyone know which auto box?

 

 

 

 

also

 

austin rover (with 4 ticks logo) box with rocker, part no. TKC 1690 68 D9

 

any clues whats its for?

[DSdriver]

Whilst you are looking up numbers, Champion C102 oil filters seem to be discontinued, anyone suggest another brand and ref?

Ta

[Pete-M]

Champion C102 is yer basic '70s Ford oil filter.. x/flows, Pintos and all that jazz. Shouldn't be hard to find.

[DSdriver]

Cheers

Its also yer basic Sabb 2HG oil filter apparently. Yes that's Sabb, the Norwegian diesel engine not Saab the Swedish Abbawagon.