Auto Emissions: What You Should Know
by SolveYourProblem.com

Emissions from motor vehicles have become a major problem. Many consumers don’t know the effects of motor vehicle emissions. Most consumers don’t take emissions testing seriously, but it’s a necessity in helping save the environment. There are many emissions issues consumers don’t know, and issues they should know. Cars emit harmful pollutants that can affect the environment, and the American public’s health.

According to the US Environment Protection Agency (EPA), driving a car is the single most polluting thing most of us do. Motor vehicles emit millions of tons of pollutants into the air every day. In many urban areas motor vehicles are the single largest contributors of ground level ozone, a major component of smog. Ground level ozone is the most serious air pollution problem in the Northeast, and Mid Atlantic states. Pollution control measures have drastically reduced emissions per vehicle in the past 20 years. However, during this time the total miles traveled has doubled, resulting in higher numbers of air pollutants in most parts of the country.

Motor vehicles generate three major pollutants, nitrogen oxides, hydrocarbons, and carbon monoxide. Hydrocarbons react with nitrogen oxides in the presence of sunlight and elevated temperatures to form ground level ozone. It can cause eye irritation, coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath. Can lead to permanent lung damage. Nitrogen oxides contribute to acid rain, and to water quality problems. Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless, deadly gas. It reduces the flow of oxygen to the bloodstream, and can impair mental functions and visual perception. In urban areas emissions from vehicles are responsible for more than 90 percent of carbon monoxide in the air. Motor vehicles also emit large amounts of carbon dioxide, which has potential to trap the Earth’s heat and cause global warming.

Cars release pollutants from the tailpipe as the result of the fuel combustion process, and from under the hood throughout the fuel system when heat causes fuel evaporation. Evaporative emissions occur when hot temperatures outside cause a car’s fuel to evaporate, when the hot engine, and exhaust system of a running car cause the fuel to become heated. When the car is turned off, it remains hot enough to cause fuel to evaporate. This also happens during refueling when gasoline vapors escape into the air from the gas tank, and nozzle. The greatest amount of pollutants is released during the “cold start,” or the first few moments of the warm up phase.

Emissions testing have become a fact of life; it’s a means of identifying cars that are gross polluters so they can be fixed. Emissions standards are going down to really low numbers in the next five to ten years. Currently, emissions tests are used to measure hydrocarbon, and carbon monoxide levels. If a vehicle fails an emissions test it usually means it has too much HC (hydrocarbons), or CO (carbon monoxide). Hydrocarbon failure means unburned gasoline is passing through the engine and entering the exhaust. Two of the most common causes are ignition-misfire, and lean misfire. Ignition misfire can be caused by worn or fouled spark plugs, bad plug wires, or a weak coil. Lean misfire means there is too much air and not enough fuel; the problem may be vacuum leaks, dirty injectors or fuel delivery problems. Carbon monoxide failures usually means an overly rich fuel mixture, which means the system, may not be going into a closed loop because of a bad coolant or oxygen sensor. If HC and CO are high then the vehicle may have a bad catalytic converter.

If a vehicle fails the emissions test, it will cost to be fixed. New cars and light trucks built from 1981- 1995 have had a five year 50,000 mile warranty. The warranty covered all emission control components as well as the fuel delivery system, ignition system, and engine management system. In 1995 the warranty changed, it was extended to eight years on the power train control module, and catalytic converter but rolled everything else back to two years, 24,000 miles. Once the vehicle’s warranty runs out, the owner must pay for it. Most inspection programs include a waiver provision that limits the amount of money a motorist has to spend on emission repairs. If a problem cannot be resolved within the waiver limit ($50-$450), the vehicle gets an automatic pass.

Consumers should educate themselves on emissions issues. The emissions test may seem like an inconvenience, but considering all the effects of emissions makes it very significant. Consumers can also help prevent the problems of emissions by using their vehicles less, and combining errands. Which reduces “cold starts,” therefore fewer pollutants. Emissions are great, and consumers should know the issues before running their engines carelessly.

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SolveYourProblem.com : 2007

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