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Alarm raised on diesel exhaust fluid standards

Accredited diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) marketers are calling on a united sector response to the sale of non-compliant and off-specification product.

They say parts of the trucking industry are blind the dangers of using rough substitutes for the likes of AdBlue. This and a failure in understanding of the care needed in handling the product were storing up expensive trouble for operators.

By Rob McKay | September 23, 2011

Accredited diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) marketers are calling on a united sector response to the sale of non-compliant and off-specification product.

They say parts of the trucking industry are blind the dangers of using rough substitutes for the likes of AdBlue.

This and a failure in understanding of the care needed in handling the product were storing up expensive trouble for operators.

“There is the lack of knowledge in the industry about the product and its implications,” CMV Group SCR Fluids Manager Jim Burr says.

“The proper storage of the product because the product can leach dyes out of plastics it’s temperature-sensitive and UV sensitive, it’s got a limited shelf-life if it gets too hot. I think there’s just a general lack of knowledge.”

The concern centres on the damage to pumps, nozzles and catalytic converters from clogging and corrosion due to mineralisation, salts and particulates, with undissolved urea a main culprit.

The issue unites some otherwise keen competitors.

Blue Sky Eco CEO John Owens backs Burr’s call.

He says residues can build up between nine and 14 months before problems become obvious.

“You’re up for about $25,000 just in parts . . . if you stuff the whole thing up,” Owens says.

“And I know four fleets in Sydney alone that that’s happened to.

Before that, one impact can be the sickening of drivers due to inhalation of urea-laden air, he adds.

Both men also point to warranty issues that can arise from such damage

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