Peugeot P20EE AdBlue tank fault – fast mobile fix

7 a.m., A50 lay-by outside Stoke. A Peugeot Boxer fridge van sits idling while the driver scrolls panic posts on his phone. The dash flashes P20EE – SCR efficiency below threshold; a “No start in 700 km” countdown has already begun. The dealer quoted two weeks and £2,100 for a new tank. Instead, he rang my mobile line. Forty minutes later the warning was gone and his groceries were rolling to Newcastle-under-Lyme still ice-cold. This case study breaks down how we fixed that Peugeot AdBlue tank fault, why the official 2024 technical bulletin misleads some garages, and when a full Peugeot AdBlue removal makes more sense.

What P20EE really means on Peugeot vans

P20EE fires when the engine control unit sees high NO_x levels even though it’s commanding full urea dosage. PSA Group’s EcoBlue SCR bulletin #TSB-SCR-12/2024 lists three prime suspects: blocked injector, weak pump and contaminated fluid. In practice, 80 % of Boxers and Partners that reach me have a clogged SCR tank filter. It sits after the urea pickup and before the pump; once crystals pack the gauze, pressure drops, dosing falls and the ECU logs P20EE.

Diagnosis steps on the roadside

1. Scan live pressure. Key-on, tank should prime to 5 bar. This Boxer showed 1.2 bar → classic filter clog.
2. Top-up test. We added 4 L of fresh AdBlue; pressure didn’t rise, proving the fluid quality sensor wasn’t the issue.
3. Injector command check. We ran an actuator test—injector clicked 5 × per second, so wiring and ECU outputs were sound.

If your countdown has started, follow the emergency tips in our “No start in 500 miles” reset guide before the van bricks itself.

The 40-minute mobile fix

With diagnosis nailed, the repair was simple:

• Remove tank filter. Four 8 mm bolts drop the pickup module; we flushed out chalky urea crystals.
• Fit upgraded gauze. Peugeot’s 2024 kit has 40 % wider mesh to slow clogging.
• Flush lines. We filled a temporary loop with warm de-ionised water to clear crystallised residue.
• Reflash SCR map. Autotuner loaded the latest calibration that widens pressure tolerance—this alone clears “pending” P20EE.
• Road test. 5 km at 60 mph; live NO_x dropped to 20 ppm, ECU status green.

Total parts: £48. Call-out and labour: £250. Tank replacement avoided, job sealed with a 12-month software warranty.

When a full delete beats repair

Exporters and off-road fleets sometimes go for a clean AdBlue delete. Reasons:

• Remote regions without low-sulphur fuel; SCR quickly over-doses and clogs.
• Part supply. Boxer tanks are on 6-week back-order most winters.
• Cost. Delete + warranty flash is ~£300 vs £2k tank swap.

Remember: deletes are legal only for export, motorsport or private-land use. For UK roads you need the SCR intact or risk fines under the 2025 emissions notice.

“I’d already lost one Tesco slot,” driver Dan said. “Dealer wanted the van for a fortnight. You turned up, drank half my coffee and the light was gone before it went cold.” His review became Google rating #151, keeping our 4.9★ average intact.

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