4 ms·

How, exactly, are modern diesel trucks emitting leaded gas fumes, or unburned VOCs?

iancmceachern 3y ago
I was replying to a commenter who said that the "governments" addition of these regulations as made things worse. I was highlighting ways in which these regulations have made our lives better. Answering your question, I agree. If we were to defeat those things that make modern diesels better as the parent commenter is suggesting, it would make the air worse.
majormajor 3y ago
So you concede those types of emmisions pollution were harmful, but seem to be suggesting that cheating modern emissions standards wouldn't be? That two forms of pollution were bad but we should default to assuming other forms are harmless?
- linksnapzz 3y ago
  Emissions control engineering has a 90-10 rule to it; and the costs and benefits ought to be weighed appropriately. The vast majority of owners fucking with the emissions equipment on their modern diesels are not doing so to conspicuously assault other motorists/cyclists/pedestrians with soot; they are doing it because in pursuit of that last 10% of emissions cleanup, regulators have burdened the operators of diesel trucks with hundreds of pounds of multi-thousand-dollar components that are delicate, MUST be maintained, reduce engine power by 25% and fuel efficiency by 50%. If you just tow a boat, or a camper, that's annoying. If you use the truck for an actual business...that's HUGE expense. Bear in mind, the typical diesel delete isn't something you notice if the person is driving normally in a modern truck. Electronic engine management and electronic common-rail injection are in new trucks, and they're night and day vs. mechanical injection on old diesels.
  - tom_ 3y ago
    "Reduce fuel efficiency by 50%"? Did that really happen? I have driven a number of diesel cars over the last 20 years and the power-to-displacement ratio and fuel economy have improved somewhat over that period.
    - linksnapzz 3y ago
      A new diesel pickup, with the EGR/SCR/particulate filter removed or bypassed, will routinely go from 9-10mpg to 18-19mpg. I have seen this with the current 6.7 Ford Scorpion-series Powerstroke V8 in an F-350.
      - tom_ 3y ago
        Interesting, thanks. I've always found the manufacturers' figures to be optimistic, but the real figures do seem to have improved over time. Perhaps not the case with trucks.
        linksnapzz 3y ago
        It’s the same. The gains made possible by new technologies for extracting more output from a given quantity of fuel are balanced by the regressions caused by new technologies to ameliorate emissions. With the emissions-controls reduced to what was legally required in 2003, a new-ish Mercedes E-class diesel is efficient enough to drive from Framingham MA to Beloit WI on a single tank of fuel, at highway speeds.

I was replying to a commenter who said that the "governments" addition of these regulations as made things worse. I was highlighting ways in which these regulations have made our lives better. Answering your question, I agree. If we were to defeat those things that make modern diesels better as the parent commenter is suggesting, it would make the air worse.

majormajor 3y ago

So you concede those types of emmisions pollution were harmful, but seem to be suggesting that cheating modern emissions standards wouldn't be? That two forms of pollution were bad but we should default to assuming other forms are harmless?

linksnapzz 3y ago
Emissions control engineering has a 90-10 rule to it; and the costs and benefits ought to be weighed appropriately. The vast majority of owners fucking with the emissions equipment on their modern diesels are not doing so to conspicuously assault other motorists/cyclists/pedestrians with soot; they are doing it because in pursuit of that last 10% of emissions cleanup, regulators have burdened the operators of diesel trucks with hundreds of pounds of multi-thousand-dollar components that are delicate, MUST be maintained, reduce engine power by 25% and fuel efficiency by 50%. If you just tow a boat, or a camper, that's annoying. If you use the truck for an actual business...that's HUGE expense. Bear in mind, the typical diesel delete isn't something you notice if the person is driving normally in a modern truck. Electronic engine management and electronic common-rail injection are in new trucks, and they're night and day vs. mechanical injection on old diesels.
- tom_ 3y ago
  "Reduce fuel efficiency by 50%"? Did that really happen? I have driven a number of diesel cars over the last 20 years and the power-to-displacement ratio and fuel economy have improved somewhat over that period.
  - linksnapzz 3y ago
    A new diesel pickup, with the EGR/SCR/particulate filter removed or bypassed, will routinely go from 9-10mpg to 18-19mpg. I have seen this with the current 6.7 Ford Scorpion-series Powerstroke V8 in an F-350.
    - tom_ 3y ago
      Interesting, thanks. I've always found the manufacturers' figures to be optimistic, but the real figures do seem to have improved over time. Perhaps not the case with trucks.
      - linksnapzz 3y ago
        It’s the same. The gains made possible by new technologies for extracting more output from a given quantity of fuel are balanced by the regressions caused by new technologies to ameliorate emissions. With the emissions-controls reduced to what was legally required in 2003, a new-ish Mercedes E-class diesel is efficient enough to drive from Framingham MA to Beloit WI on a single tank of fuel, at highway speeds.