Washington, D.C., February 28, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE). The Diesel Technology Forum is conducting a nationwide outreach and education campaign to discourage the tampering of diesel engines and educate lawmakers about the state legislative policies and practices that may encourage it.
Due to their unique combination of power, endurance, reliability, and efficiency, diesel engines are highly valued tools of work. In order to reduce emissions and achieve near zero levels today, manufacturers have spent billions of dollars in the past 20 year, according to Allen Schaeffer, DTF Executive Director.
“To maximize the potential of these advanced engines, it is important that the equipment be properly fueled and maintained in accordance to the manufacturer’s specifications. He says that it’s important that we all work together to prevent any tampering or alteration of emission control systems.
This campaign involves communicating directly with state and local policymakers and diesel users about proper care for diesel engines and equipment. As a variety of state legislatures consider so-called “right to repair/fair repair” legislation that will affect farm and other equipment, the campaign is intensifying.
These new laws generally aim to require manufacturers to give independent repair shops access to engine computer scan tool and proprietary codes. This would allow for repair of the equipment. These provisions could lead to dangerous modifications to engine emission control system components and other parts. Under the California Air Resources Board and EPA regulations, manufacturers may also be held responsible for creating a “defeat mechanism” that allows end-users bypass certain emission control inhibitors.
In November 2020, the U.S. EPA Air Enforcement Division released a comprehensive report on the incidence of tampering in diesel engines and emission controls. It also identified software modifications to engine emissions control unit units. The EPA report did not focus on pickup trucks or commercial vehicles. It also didn’t quantify the extent of tampering with off-road equipment and engines. But the agency had good reason to believe that this behavior occurs in most, if not all types of vehicles. This includes passenger vehicles, commercial trucks, pickup trucks, motorcycles and forestry equipment.
The EPA has more than a dozen regulations that apply to the manufacture of diesel engines. There are also provisions in the Clean Air Act which require that products be built and warranted for emission performance. These regulations include requirements for conformance testing, requirements to achieve the “useful live” provisions that determine whether vehicles/engines meet emission standards, degradation factors and make tamper-resistant emissions systems. It is illegal to knowingly falsify or tamper or render inaccurate any “monitoring device and method” under the CAA (42 U.S.C. § 7413(c)(2C).
Recent news reports have highlighted pickup truck owners who “tune” their engines through software code programming and chipping. These practices have been a source of some very publicized and highly visible incidents that allowed for pulses in excess fueling. This results in dense smoke from the exhaust, often called “rolling coal”.
“Advanced diesel emissions management systems have been tested. They provide near zero emission performance for all new engines and equipment. The owners are responsible for fueling and maintaining the equipment and ensuring that they are maintained in a safe manner. To end this illegal and dangerous practice, we all must work together. It is equally important that we work together to stop this practice from being facilitated by unneeded, fair repair, or right to fix legislation. Schaeffer states that this is not good for the air quality and it can jeopardize operator safety as well as the safety of all those who use these vehicles and equipment.
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About the Diesel Technology Forum
The Diesel Technology Forum, a non-profit organization, is dedicated to increasing awareness about diesel engines, fuels, and equipment. Forum members are experts in advanced diesel technology, emissions control, and petroleum-based as well as renewable biofuels. For more information visit http://www.dieselforum.org.
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Jessica Puchala Diesel Technology Forum (202) 480-6441 [email protected]