Why Do Trucks Need to Add Urea?

[DelEli]

Trucks add urea to reduce the harmful gases produced by diesel vehicles during operation, thereby minimizing the environmental and human health impacts of vehicle emissions. Additional Information: During diesel engine operation, nitrogen oxides are generated, which are harmful to both the environment and human health. Urea contains a very high nitrogen content. When the vehicle detects the presence of these harmful gases, urea is automatically sprayed and mixes with the gases produced by the diesel engine. A chemical reaction then occurs, converting the harmful gases into water and nitrogen, both of which are harmless to humans and the environment, thus serving to protect the environment.

[AndersonDella]

Our long-haul trucker brothers all know that adding urea for trucks is pretty important. It's mainly to deal with the nitrogen oxides in the exhaust—those things pollute the air and harm health. The SCR system breaks down urea into ammonia in the exhaust pipe, which then reacts with harmful gases to turn them into harmless nitrogen and water vapor. If you don’t add urea, the vehicle will detect excessive emissions and automatically limit torque, which is super dangerous if you suddenly lose power on the highway. My neighbor Lao Wang’s truck had its after-treatment system damaged last year because of this, costing over 8,000 yuan to fix. Nowadays, buying urea at gas stations is convenient, but remember to check the fluid level regularly—top it up every 2,000 to 3,000 kilometers, and don’t wait until the warning light comes on.

[McDylan]

Anyone who's driven China V or China VI trucks knows the urea tank isn't just for show. With increasingly strict environmental regulations, skipping urea immediately leads to excessive nitrogen oxide emissions. The SCR system relies on urea to convert toxic gases into water and nitrogen, essentially purifying the exhaust. Last time at a service station, I met a driver who rewired his system to save on urea costs, only to get fined 3,000 yuan during an environmental inspection—definitely not worth it. Long-term urea omission can also cause exhaust pipe crystallization and clogging, costing hundreds to clean. It's recommended to use reputable brand urea solutions, as substandard products are prone to crystallization—something all truckers should watch out for.

[MilaLee]

Adding urea to trucks is essentially paying for environmental protection. The nitrogen oxides emitted by the engine need to be broken down by urea under the action of a catalyst, and the maintenance of this system is not cheap. I've encountered drivers who forgot to add urea, causing the engine to enter protection mode directly, limiting torque to 40 km/h and making it difficult to climb hills. Nowadays, adding urea is much more convenient, as it can be purchased at service areas. A ten-liter pack costs around forty yuan and can last a week. Don't use tap water as a substitute, as it can clog the nozzles. In northern winters, remember to use low-temperature urea, as the regular type freezes at -11 degrees Celsius. Regularly check the filter and nozzles, and clean them every 20,000 kilometers.