What are the consequences of adding water to automotive urea?
2 Answers
Water contains excessive impurities, which can easily clog filters, urea solution delivery pipes, and nozzles after long-term use, reducing the atomization effect of the SCR system. Excessive impurities can affect the normal operation of the system and may even damage the urea pump, leading to SCR system failure. Below is a related introduction to automotive urea solution: 1. Properties: Automotive urea is easily soluble in water, with 105 grams dissolving in 100 milliliters of water at 20°C, and the aqueous solution is neutral. 2. Production method: Industrially, urea is synthesized directly from liquid ammonia and carbon dioxide under high temperature and pressure conditions.
Last summer, I took my diesel pickup truck on a camping trip out of town. Halfway there, the urea tank was running low, and to save trouble, I added a bottle of mineral water. Not long after, the warning lights started flashing wildly, and thick smoke poured from the exhaust. When I had it towed to the repair shop, the mechanic scolded me for messing around. He explained that adding water diluted the urea concentration, causing the SCR system to detect insufficient levels, leading to failed nitrogen oxide treatment and illegal emissions. Worse, urea crystallization clogged the injector and pipes, costing me 1,500 RMB to clean. Doing this long-term could also corrode sensors and the catalytic converter, with replacement costs running into tens of thousands. Now I’ve learned my lesson—I always keep AdBlue fluid in the trunk and top it up when needed to ensure smooth system operation. Trying to save a little money by adding water can lead to big trouble, harming performance and costing more in the long run. Don’t follow my bad habit. Develop a routine of checking often and using the right products—it saves both hassle and money.
