What is AdBlue?
AdBlue, also called Diesel Exhaust Fluid or DEF, is a fluid made from de-ionised water and urea. It is used to reduce the amount of nitrous oxide emissions from diesel vehicles, by reacting with the nitrous oxide to release nitrogen and water. It has been a legal requirement to use AdBlue in the UK since 2015, due to nitrous oxides’ global warming potential. Carbon dioxide’s global warming potential is scored at 1, whereas nitrous oxide has a score of 298 – highlighting its high impact and contributions to global warming.
How Long Does AdBlue Last?
How long AdBlue lasts is highly dependent on proper storage and care. Its delicate nature means that it is vulnerable to being affected by direct sunlight and contamination and is highly reactive to temperature. However, with correct storage and care, AdBlue has a long life expectancy of around 12 years.
How to Make AdBlue Last Longer?
There are a range of different steps that can be implemented in order to maximise the shelf life of your AdBlue.
Prior to even storing your AdBlue, it is important to purchase AdBlue from reputable sources to ensure that the product is good quality and made to the correct specifications, and will therefore last longer. Once purchased, AdBlue can be stored between -11 and 30 degrees Celsius, although for optimum storage, you should try to not store AdBlue below 0 degrees. Additionally, AdBlue should be stored securely to ensure there is no contamination of fuel, oil, water, dust, dirt, metals or detergents. These contaminants can lead to crystallisation of the AdBlue. It is important to also regularly clean the AdBlue pump and pipelines to clear any potential contaminants. Furthermore, it is important to ensure that your AdBlue is stored in a container that is not penetrable by sunlight, because this can also reduce the quality of the product.
Ace Plant and AdBlue Storage
At Ace Plant, we offer a full range of bunded AdBlue storage, both for hire and sale, in a range of different sizes and styles to meet your needs. These bunded bowsers are fully lockable and 110% bunded, which provides effective storage for the delicate liquid, as well as security. Additionally, our Bundie AdBlue Bowsers contain inner tanks made for plastic or stainless steel. This helps to prevent contamination of the AdBlue.
We offer two sizes of towable Bundie AdBlue Bowsers, 700L and 1500L. Both of these are equipped with 12V electric pumps and auto-stop nozzles. On top of these, we also offer a 700L Road Tow Bundie, a road legal bowser fitted with full road lighting, overrun brakes, a manual handbrake, jockey wheel and 50mm ball coupling. Finally, our 200L Static Bundie is the ideal small and compact solution to AdBlue Storage.
Here at Ace Plant, we have over 50 years of experience, specialising in fully bunded diesel and AdBlue storage solutions and dust suppression. If you want to learn more about our AdBlue storage or any of our wider services, contact us by telephone at 01908562191 or via email at hire@aceplant.co.uk.