It is legal to produce, stock, sell and have adblue emulator in your possession, but it is not legal to use it in your vehicle on public roads here in UK as well as throughout the EU. By using adblue emulator driver and the operator will be breaking the law.
There are plenty of legitimate uses for adblue emulators and other emission cheat devices – agricultural transport, on-site construction machinery, vehicles operating or being exported outside of EU and many others… However, it is against the UK Law to use any emission cheat device in the vehicle, which is operated on public roads.
The cost saving temptation to use adblue emulators has proven too strong for some UK drivers and operators. Numerous uses of various devises were detected during random checks by DVSA, who has said it will include checks for emissions cheat devices as a part of the routine vehicle inspection process.
Richard Turfitt, senior traffic commissioner, said: “We welcome the steps being taken by the enforcement agency to identify emissions cheats. Use of these devices threatens to undercut responsible and compliant operators as well as damaging the environment and public health.
In May 2017, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural affairs published a draft to improve air quality by reducing nitrogen dioxide levels in the UK. Under proposed plan, DVSA will be checking lorry drivers and operators who try to cheat vehicle emissions.
DVSA’s staff, and their European counterparts have found evidence that some drivers use various emission cheat devices. It is mainly used to cut the operating cost. Vehicles fitted with such devices will no longer consume/require adblue liquid and they could also offer huge savings on SCR or Nox system repair and maintenance. For example, brand new adblue injector for MB Euro 6 truck would cost around £1250, adblue pump would cost over £3000…..
It very common for SCR system repair bill to come to many thousands of pounds, hence the possibility of fixing all problems at a fraction of the cost by fitting emissions cheat device looks very attractive to some drivers/operators.
The following emission cheat devices were reported:
• using devices designed to stop emissions control systems from working
• removing the diesel particulate filter (DPF)
• using fake emission reduction devices and diesel exhaust fluid
• using illegal engine modifications which result in excessive emissions
• removing or bypassing the exhaust gas recirculation valve
What will happen to drivers/operators who are caught using emission cheat devices?
Should DVSA enforcement officers find that the emissions system has been tampered with, the driver and the operator will be given 10 days to fix their emissions system.
If the emissions system isn’t fixed within 10 days, DVSA will issue a fine and stop the vehicle being used on the road.
DVSA enforcement staff can insist that a vehicle is taken off the road immediately if they find a driver or operator is repeatedly offending.
Dealing with unsafe drivers and vehicles
DVSA Chief Executive, Gareth Llewellyn, said:
DVSA’s priority is to protect you from unsafe drivers and vehicles. We are committed to taking dangerous vehicles off Britain’s roads and this new initiative to target emissions fraud is a key part of that.
Anyone who flouts the law is putting other road users, and the quality of our air, at risk. We won’t hesitate to take these drivers, operators and vehicles off our roads.
Transport Minister, Jesse Norman said:
I welcome this crackdown on rogue hauliers who cheat the system by installing bogus devices which lead to increased pollution.
There has rightly been a huge public outcry against car manufacturers that have been cheating emissions standards, and the same rule should apply here too.
We all need clean air in which to live and work. That’s why the government has committed more than £2 billion since 2011 to support greener transport.