Adblue - now that was easy
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 60
Likes: 2
From: Calgary AB
2012 ML350 BT, 1998 BMW 540i/6
Adblue - now that was easy
After reading lots on the internet about the expense & difficulty of dealing with adblue, I did it myself as part of my recent service A0.
It couldn't be easier.
I bought adblue from the local dealer. They did not sell the Mercedes brand - it was Air1 DEF fluid in the two gallon/ 9.4l box. I confirmed that this is what they would have used if I had the dealer do the same service. They said they were trying to be cost competitive, and their price was even cheaper than buying it at local autoparts stores.
Air1 DEF comes with a small screw-on flexible plastic hose. The open end of the hose fits into the fill pipe under the adblue cap near the diesel cap. I had heard that some people buy the smaller Mercedes adblue container, and then cut the bottom off to use it as a funnel... but there is no need to do that. The hose is a good fit, and nothing spilled.
It took about 2 minutes. The only problem is that you can't tell how full the tank is, other than by listening for DEF backing up the fill pipe. Rather than spill, I just added the one box of fluid this time. I'm sure there's a smarter way of doing this so that you can get closer to filling it up.
Next service I'm supposed to evacuate and clean the adblue tank - I'll report back on that next year!
Oh... and changed the oil and filter too just to complete the service. Finding the appropriate weight and grade of oil was difficult - I could only find 0W30 at the dealer, so ended up buying it & the filter there.
It couldn't be easier.
I bought adblue from the local dealer. They did not sell the Mercedes brand - it was Air1 DEF fluid in the two gallon/ 9.4l box. I confirmed that this is what they would have used if I had the dealer do the same service. They said they were trying to be cost competitive, and their price was even cheaper than buying it at local autoparts stores.
Air1 DEF comes with a small screw-on flexible plastic hose. The open end of the hose fits into the fill pipe under the adblue cap near the diesel cap. I had heard that some people buy the smaller Mercedes adblue container, and then cut the bottom off to use it as a funnel... but there is no need to do that. The hose is a good fit, and nothing spilled.
It took about 2 minutes. The only problem is that you can't tell how full the tank is, other than by listening for DEF backing up the fill pipe. Rather than spill, I just added the one box of fluid this time. I'm sure there's a smarter way of doing this so that you can get closer to filling it up.
Next service I'm supposed to evacuate and clean the adblue tank - I'll report back on that next year!
Oh... and changed the oil and filter too just to complete the service. Finding the appropriate weight and grade of oil was difficult - I could only find 0W30 at the dealer, so ended up buying it & the filter there.
Senior Member
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 377
Likes: 40
From: Chicago, IL
2023 EQS 580 SUV
I just scheduled Service A for my 2014 BTC and they told me that the older models were difficult to fill but the newer models where the Adblue is next to the Gas fill they just charge $8.95 per gallon and that's it. I'm not going to get the bottle from Mercedes parts department and then more Adblue from Walmart or elsewhere to save a few bucks, not worth my time.
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 522
Likes: 69
From: North Texas
Presently 19 S560 SEDAN, 2014 XK, SOLD GLE 450e
At just what time interval/ milage interval is one supposed to 'evacuate and clean the ad blue tank'??
On the fill of the DEF I just get a funnel and pour it in til it's topped off. If any is spilled I just clean it off with a wet rag. It's just urea afterall.
I don't see this in my Maint manual for my ML350. Thank you.
On the fill of the DEF I just get a funnel and pour it in til it's topped off. If any is spilled I just clean it off with a wet rag. It's just urea afterall.
I don't see this in my Maint manual for my ML350. Thank you.
Super Member
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 513
Likes: 5
From: SoCal
13ML BT
I just scheduled Service A for my 2014 BTC and they told me that the older models were difficult to fill but the newer models where the Adblue is next to the Gas fill they just charge $8.95 per gallon and that's it. I'm not going to get the bottle from Mercedes parts department and then more Adblue from Walmart or elsewhere to save a few bucks, not worth my time.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 60
Likes: 2
From: Calgary AB
2012 ML350 BT, 1998 BMW 540i/6
At just what time interval/ milage interval is one supposed to 'evacuate and clean the ad blue tank'??
On the fill of the DEF I just get a funnel and pour it in til it's topped off. If any is spilled I just clean it off with a wet rag. It's just urea afterall.
I don't see this in my Maint manual for my ML350. Thank you.
On the fill of the DEF I just get a funnel and pour it in til it's topped off. If any is spilled I just clean it off with a wet rag. It's just urea afterall.
I don't see this in my Maint manual for my ML350. Thank you.
D.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 60
Likes: 2
From: Calgary AB
2012 ML350 BT, 1998 BMW 540i/6
I just scheduled Service A for my 2014 BTC and they told me that the older models were difficult to fill but the newer models where the Adblue is next to the Gas fill they just charge $8.95 per gallon and that's it. I'm not going to get the bottle from Mercedes parts department and then more Adblue from Walmart or elsewhere to save a few bucks, not worth my time.
FWIW, my view of this forum is to share tips and tricks on how to maintain and operate our vehicles. If the answer is always "you should just bring it to the dealer", then there's not much point in having a forum. I enjoy working on cars and feel much more comfortable owning the car if Ive done the maintenance myself - it's not about saving a couple of bucks.
D.
Senior Member
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 377
Likes: 40
From: Chicago, IL
2023 EQS 580 SUV
The dealer price has dropped a lot, and that fill price is very reasonable.
FWIW, my view of this forum is to share tips and tricks on how to maintain and operate our vehicles. If the answer is always "you should just bring it to the dealer", then there's not much point in having a forum. I enjoy working on cars and feel much more comfortable owning the car if Ive done the maintenance myself - it's not about saving a couple of bucks.
D.
FWIW, my view of this forum is to share tips and tricks on how to maintain and operate our vehicles. If the answer is always "you should just bring it to the dealer", then there's not much point in having a forum. I enjoy working on cars and feel much more comfortable owning the car if Ive done the maintenance myself - it's not about saving a couple of bucks.
D.
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