Why do vehicles need to add urea?
2 Answers
Vehicles add urea to meet emission standards, and only diesel vehicles require urea addition. National regulations mandate that electronically controlled diesel engine vehicles must use urea because diesel vehicles emit higher levels of exhaust gases. Adding urea helps reduce carbon oxides in the exhaust, lowering pollutant emissions and making diesel vehicles more environmentally friendly. Currently, most diesel engines employ Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) technology. This means that after the engine exhaust exits the turbocharger and before entering the vehicle's exhaust pipe, it must first pass through a catalytic converter for transformation. The urea injector on the exhaust pipe sprays urea under the control of the vehicle's onboard computer.
I always think adding urea is crucial for diesel vehicles. Despite its fertilizer-like name, it's actually key to exhaust treatment. Diesel exhaust contains many harmful nitrogen oxides that significantly pollute the air. Urea acts like a special cleaning agent - when injected into the SCR system, it converts these harmful gases into clean nitrogen and water vapor. SCR stands for Selective Catalytic Reduction, a modern technology designed to reduce NOx emissions. Without urea, the vehicle's warning light will come on, it may even enter limp mode with speed limitation, pollution increases, affecting urban environments. Moreover, the engine idles rougher and fuel consumption rises slightly. I make it a habit to check the urea tank every 5,000 km and top it up promptly to avoid major repairs. I recommend using genuine AdBlue brand products - don't compromise quality to save money and risk system damage. Protecting the environment starts with these small actions, helping us breathe cleaner air.
