Technology updates in diesel engines with a focus on being less polluting require the use of automotive urea (Diesel Exhaust Fluid – DEF), which aims to reduce nitrogen oxide (Nox) emissions emitted by these equipment.
In recent months it was announced that starting in January 2025 in Mexico, in accordance with the Official Mexican Standard for diesel engine emissions (NOM-044), only vehicles that comply with EURO VI and EPA technologies can be imported and produced. 10.
In this context, the DEF MX alliance was created from various automotive urea producers in different regions of the country, with the objective of addressing the lack of knowledge that exists regarding the use of this product for the correct use of technologies in diesel engines. “We must even begin by making service stations and transporters aware of the conditions, quality and certifications that must be reviewed,” commented Gerardo Medina Díaz, general director of Maya Blue , a member of the alliance, in an interview with T21.
For the operation of the engines of the technological binomials EURO V / EPA 07 and EURO VI / EPA 10, the use of ultra-low sulfur diesel (DUBA ) is required, while the use of urea is also necessary.
“We have found that the lack of knowledge about urea is great, the transporter does not know what it is for or where to get it, they are usually linked to the same distributors that sell the units,” said Alejandro Escobar, general director of Maxi Blue.
DEF MX is made up of Mayan Blue, Maxi Blue, Tecno Urea , 1Blue and UltraBlue , who have automotive urea production plants in Monterrey (Nuevo León), Torreón (Coahuila), Los Mochis (Sinaloa), Guadalajara (Jalisco), Querétaro (Querétaro), Veracruz (Veracruz) and Mérida (Yucatán).
One of the points on which the members of DEF MX work is to disseminate the advantages of using urea correctly , how efficiency is lost by traveling at lower speeds, as well as achieving lower performance.
For Gerardo Medina, the fact that urea is integrated as a complementary product to the DUBA sale would favor the efficiency of transporters, instead of looking for a spare parts factory to refuel the urea tank.
In the case of the members of this alliance, the product complies with the American Petroleum Institute (API) certifications, which is why they recommend to transporters that the purchased product have this certification to guarantee the correct operation of their units, Alejandro Escobar emphasized.
Gerardo Medina stressed that transporters must be aware of using the appropriate product to avoid damage to the equipment, which can range from filters to catalysts or other components.
“In addition to the impact we have on the benefits of lower polluting emissions, we also have an effect on society in general,” added Medina Díaz.
At DEF MX, in addition to the production plants, they have distribution centers in Manzanillo (Colima), Tlalnepantla (State of Mexico), Hermosillo (Sonora), Chihuahua (Chihuahua) and Altamira (Tamaulipas)
