Ad blue,

[Greythundercloudys]

Is a tractor with ad blue a pain and how does it work, do you just keep it full or what?

 

[nick...]

I’m sure they can be a pain,but after 3 add blue trucks all have been fine.i think it’s just sprayed into the exhaust to reduce the obnoxious emissions.and finally you get a warning light appear to tell you to top up.im sure @Cowabunga can explain the process better than myself
Nick...

 

[Galcam]

I have had 1 NH, 2 MF and 3 Jd all on add blue and no issues. I top up add blue when I fill the diesel tank.

 

[balerman]

Not normally a problem,in fact most of them use less fuel as a result of the engine being set to be more efficient/powerfull rather than to minimise emissions.

 

[Cowabunga]

Adblue [urea] is just sprayed into the exhaust before a couple of catalytic converters which react and turn excess NOx into carbon dioxide and water. The pumping system is rather complex if only because the Adblue freezes easily and needs to be sucked back into the tank at the end of the day and heated during those freezing spells. For economy, there are sensors everywhere, so that the minimum necessary to do the job is injected [into the exhaust, not the engine or fuel system].
In theory the engine fitted with Adblue should indeed be more economical than one meeting the same emission standards but using only EGR, even when counting the Adblue used. This is because a far hotter and more efficient burn can be used. Anyone who has burnt a candle or used oxyacetylene torch knows that a yellow cool burn produces soot [but little NOx] while the efficient clean burn with little soot from a hotter blue flame is desired, but this produces more NOx. The trick is to burn clean and efficient inside the engine while dealing with NOx afterwards using Adblue and a cat in the exhaust. The added benefit of this, apart from lower fuel consumption per unit of output is that it might even get away with no DPF or at least a much smaller capacity one and one more likely to passively regenerate successfully due to the hotter exhaust gasses. Having to actively regenerate while the tractor sits there doing nothing for fifteen minutes is a complete pain in the arse and is generally, though not always avoided on well designed Adblue engines.

 

[___\0/___]

Our Massey was fine (although not convinced it worked properly as used very little) but the New Holland has had sensors replaced under warranty. We use a hand pump in a 200 litre barrel which has sat for 4 years and still seems ok.

 

[Treg]

Would much rather have adblue than a DPF unit, run both here . In the yard if DPF decides to blow out all the gases your breathing in concentrated gases? Even mowing the blower comes on and next time round you breath in a cloud of fumes . The adblue seems cleaner burning to me but probably some odorless toxic gas being produced instead?

 

[Lincsman]

Would much rather have adblue than a DPF unit, run both here . In the yard if DPF decides to blow out all the gases your breathing in concentrated gases? Even mowing the blower comes on and next time round you breath in a cloud of fumes . The adblue seems cleaner burning to me but probably some odorless toxic gas being produced instead?

Yes its water and Nitrogen, when mowing the next round is greener and more lush!

 

[___\0/___]

Would much rather have adblue than a DPF unit, run both here . In the yard if DPF decides to b

Would much rather have adblue than a DPF unit, run both here . In the yard if DPF decides to blow out all the gases your breathing in concentrated gases? Even mowing the blower comes on and next time round you breath in a cloud of fumes . The adblue seems cleaner burning to me but probably some odorless toxic gas being produced instead?

Will tier 5 engines require both DPF and ad blue?

 

[Timbo]

Will tier 5 engines require both DPF and ad blue?

They already do....

 

[___\0/___]

They already do....

What will tier 5 require that is extra?

 

[Treg]

They will filter slightly smaller particles & be required on all diesel engines unless static? Shouldn't be any more expensive except on smaller tractors that didn't require them before.

 

[Cowabunga]

They will filter slightly smaller particles & be required on all diesel engines unless static? Shouldn't be any more expensive except on smaller tractors that didn't require them before.

Smallish tractors, like farm Kubota and NH/Case made in Italy, have long been fitted with DPF and lean NOx storage catalyst system. No Adblue though.

 

[___\0/___]

When we were looking at changing the tractor (150 hp) the John Deere man said his tractor was uncompetitive at the moment to the point where he wouldn't quote apart from rough figures but said his engine was ready for teir 5 where as others would need major changes, so he wouldn't have any more price rises and the rest would have to increase.

Is it worth buying a non John Deere engined before another level of complication is added?

 

[Treg]

When we were looking at changing the tractor (150 hp) the John Deere man said his tractor was uncompetitive at the moment to the point where he wouldn't quote apart from rough figures but said his engine was ready for teir 5 where as others would need major changes, so he wouldn't have any more price rises and the rest would have to increase.

Is it worth buying a non John Deere engined before another level of complication is added?

From what I've read tier 5 is very little change & most manufacturers are ready for it . As I said above it's just a finer filter that has to be added on most current new engines unless they were below 75hp which some firms were getting away with no DPF, they will now have to add one .