AdBlue® tank: Where is it located? What is its capacity?

The AdBlue® tank can be located in various places on a car, depending on the make and model of the diesel vehicle concerned.

AdBlue® tank: where is it located?

To find out the exact location of the AdBlue® tank, the best thing to do is consult the vehicle service manual or ask your dealer. In fact, it can be located in 3 different places:

• in the fuel filler flap, next to the dedicated diesel/diesel port
• in the trunk, under the carpet or in one of the wings (right or left-hand wall of the trunk)
• under the engine hood.

For many years, manufacturers positioned the AdBlue® tank inlet in the boot or next to the engine, but now, for practical reasons, it is usually located under the fuel filler flap.

How do I find the entrance to the tank?

A vehicle’s AdBlue® tank generally has a blue cap. If your tank is located under the bonnet of the engine, make sure you don’t confuse it with the one dedicated to windscreen washer fluid (the cap of the latter usually has an icon with a windscreen and a jet of liquid). When it’s not blue, it usually says “AdBlue®”.

How do I fill up with AdBlue®?

What is the capacity of the AdBlue® tank?

The capacity of the AdBlue® tank varies from 7 to 28 litres, depending on the make and type of vehicle. On current vehicles, the average volume is around 15 litres.

Here is the AdBlue® tank capacity for some makes of car:

• At Peugeot, the tank generally has a capacity of 17 litres.
• At Citroën, the size of the AdBlue® tank can range from 17 to 22.5 litres.
• Dacia, meanwhile, equips its vehicles with tanks ranging from 14 to 17 litres.
• at Renault, the tanks can hold from 15 to 20 litres of liquid
• AdBlue® tanks from Volkswagen can range from 11 to 19 litres.

To find out the volume of tanks for other car brands, visit on this page. As for the precise capacity of your vehicle’s AdBlue® tank, this is supposed to appear in its owner’s manual.

Given that a car consumes an average of 1 to 3 litres of AdBlue® every 1,000 km (621 miles), there’s a good chance that you’ll need to fill up between service intervals.

How much AdBlue® does your vehicle need?

AdBlue® tank: when to fill it?

You need to top up your AdBlue® tank once the AdBlue® or Urea light appears on your dashboard. Most of the time, this light is associated with a warning message, indicating how much AdBlue is left.

If the warning light appears for the first time, you should know that you still have around 2,400 km (1,491 miles) to go before you run out of this fluid.

How can I fill up with AdBlue®?

Have you found the location of your vehicle’s AdBlue® tank? Now you just need to decide how you’re going to fill it up. There are several options:

• purchase a 5 or 10 litre can of AdBlue® on the internet
• ask for an “AdBlue® upgrade” at a car centre or garage
• Fill up at a service station equipped with an AdBlue® pump suitable for your vehicle.

Unless you’re in a hurry, we recommend purchasing a 10-litre can to fill your tank. In fact, if you want to refill a light vehicle, you should be aware that service stations equipped with compatible pumps are not yet very common (there are more AdBlue® pumps for heavy goods vehicles).

How do I fill a can with AdBlue® using a pump?

Can I drive with an empty AdBlue® tank?

When a vehicle’s AdBlue® tank is empty, its electronic system generally prevents the engine from starting. In this case, it is impossible to restart until AdBlue® has been topped up. Most of the time, adding 4 to 5 litres minimum to the dedicated tank will be enough to get the engine running again.