Why Do Heavy Trucks Need to Add Urea?
2 Answers
Heavy trucks must add urea, which is used for cars, trucks, buses, and heavy non-road diesel engine vehicles equipped with SCR systems. It helps purify vehicle exhaust, reduce nitrogen oxide emissions, optimize engine performance and fuel consumption, and significantly lower costs. Below is an introduction to urea: 1. SCR stands for Selective Catalytic Reduction Technology. Automotive urea can catalytically reduce nitrogen oxides (NOx) in diesel vehicle exhaust into harmless nitrogen (N2) and water in the SCR system. 2. Urea is added for diesel engines because they emit harmful nitrogen oxide gases during operation, which are hazardous to the atmosphere and human health. Long-term exposure to these gases can cause respiratory diseases. To mitigate these risks, urea is used. 3. If urea is not used, or if the urea quality is poor or impure, it can cause the vehicle's engine to automatically decelerate and contaminate the catalyst in the SCR catalytic reaction tank, leading to severe consequences. Typically, the remaining urea level is displayed on the dashboard, and a warning light will illuminate when the urea is depleted. The urea consumption is approximately 3%~5% of the fuel consumption.
I've been driving heavy trucks for ten years, and every time I refuel, I have to bring along urea. This stuff is crucial—without it, the engine limits power, making it hard to climb hills. The exhaust treatment system on the truck relies on urea to break down pollutants, especially before long trips, so checking the urea tank is a must. I usually keep two buckets in the back seat, bought at gas stations for about 30 yuan each. Half a bucket gets used up every 1,000 kilometers. Skimping on this small expense can lead to big losses. Last time, Old Zhang's truck had its exhaust system clogged due to running out of urea, costing over 7,000 yuan to fix. Nowadays, trucks have warning alerts; when the level gets low, you need to top it up immediately. Keeping the exhaust system clear ensures smooth and fuel-efficient driving, and it also helps pass environmental inspections.
