Mercedes Cautions it Could Be Target for Diesel Penalties and Recalls

[bono]

http://www.thedetroitbureau.com/2017...s-and-recalls/

[overlander63]

This is what happens when the EPA mandates an emissions standard that is almost impossible to reach without cheating.

[xrvr]

Amen!

[Isuzusweet]

....and yet the "Big Three's" big huge diesels are suspiciously clean, not even a hint of noncompliance. The only NA's truck engine that "doesn't pass" is the Fiat 3.0L turbo diesel in the RAM 1/2 tons.

Whoa be tided anyone messes with the EPA......unless you're American that is.

Very suspicious.

Cheers
Tony

[Mergatroyd]

Originally Posted by Isuzusweet

....and yet the "Big Three's" big huge diesels are suspiciously clean, not even a hint of noncompliance. The only NA's truck engine that "doesn't pass" is the Fiat 3.0L turbo diesel in the RAM 1/2 tons.

Whoa be tided anyone messes with the EPA......unless you're American that is.

Very suspicious.

Cheers
Tony

I believe that 3/4 ton and larger trucks are regulated as trucks, while 1/2 tons are regulated as cars. There is no emissions problem for larger diesel trucks because if the EPA cracked down on them the transport industry and the economy would screech to a halt.

[Mergatroyd]

Mercedes has stopped selling diesel cars for some time now. The Nissan 5 liter Cummins has been taken off their website. The Ram EcoDiesel is under full EPA assualt. Ford's F-150 3 liter Powerstroke is delayed. Looks like diesel cars and small trucks may be history.

[cabinetmaker]

Originally Posted by Isuzusweet

....and yet the "Big Three's" big huge diesels are suspiciously clean, not even a hint of noncompliance. The only NA's truck engine that "doesn't pass" is the Fiat 3.0L turbo diesel in the RAM 1/2 tons.

Whoa be tided anyone messes with the EPA......unless you're American that is.

Very suspicious.

Cheers
Tony

Different regulations for 3/4 ton and above...they are classified commercial or work vehicles. 1/2 tons have tighter restrictions...that's why you haven't seen many 1/2 ton diesels.

[Ray Eklund]

Driving a late model 26 foot Penske diesel truck... it used Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) as does my 2016 F350 (1 ton) Ford pickup. I must add, you can tell the difference in exhaust odor, between a diesel using DEF and those that do not.

This is to meet 2010 EPA clean air regulations. To reduce noxious nitrogen oxides (NOx)...

I was always told that diesel exhaust was just carbon and harmless in the past. So... obviously it is not harmless? Even with the ultra low sulfur diesel dispensed at station's pumps.

I have heard that the air within one's home is more dangerous to your lungs. Maybe the interiors of our Airstreams are too air tight, and are required to 'breath' and add leaks to increase the humidity within.

Just thinking outside the 'box' while living within one.

[Mergatroyd]

The main pollutants coming out of an exhaust pipe are SOx, NOx, CO and other forms of unburned fuel, and particulates. The SOx problem is solved by producing low sulfur diesel at the refinery. NOx content is lowered by urea/amonia (DEF) injection into the exhaust. Unburned fuel is eliminated by the vehicle's engine management software. Particulates are caught in the exhaust system particulate filter. Of course there are other pollutants but they are very minimal. It depends on whom you ask if they are dangerous or not in those tiny quantities.

NOx and particulates together are disproportionately responsible for smog which is visible. The smog settles and stays in the San Fernando Valley where environmentalists disproportionately live.

[Ted S.]

Meanwhile, in other news, tons of 7.3 Powerstrokes still on the road.

[Ray Eklund]

Mergatroyd... NOx and particulates together are disproportionately responsible for smog which is visible. The smog settles and stays in the San Fernando Valley where environmentalists disproportionately live.
******
Short and to the point. Who owns the patent on DEF? Hmmmm.

Smog in Castle Rock is actually... Fog. If it is too thick and heavy... Snow. If thin and high... clouds. When the sky is blue... wind. Applies to all of Wyoming, as well.

I am sure this is why there are no Toyota diesels in North America. If a diesel vehicle could be designed that did not actually use diesel and have exhaust... a 1 ton Tundra would be available in California.

[dkottum]

This whole thing is about poorly written regulations with little thought of reality, and then brought to a life of its own by a group of lawyers who found a hole in the regulators, smelled money, initiated emissions tests on their own and turned the results over to EPA so the lawyers could sue on the behalf of owners.

Our EcoDiesel has some ECM protections in it to protect against engine damage until the truck warms up and under certain load conditions. That's not cheating, that's good engineering and good for the owner and manufacturer.

We have a wonderful EcoDiesel truck as designed, easy of fuel, durable and powerful for its size. I believe as designed it has a very, very long engine life (like most diesels) before it has to be replaced by a newly manufactured truck and all the pollution caused in the manufacture of one.

We are basically environmentalists, like clean air and water, but this thoughtless assault on diesel engines is mostly in the best interests of the lawyers profiting from it.

[n2916s]

The Nissan USA website still lets you build a Titan XD with diesel and shows lots of inventory.

Technically, it is considered a 3/4 ton truck as far as the EPA is concerned (thus no need to post mileage numbers).

[jcl]

Originally Posted by Ray Eklund

I was always told that diesel exhaust was just carbon and harmless in the past. So... obviously it is not harmless? Even with the ultra low sulfur diesel dispensed at station's pumps.

That was bad information. If it was given to you by a promoter of diesel engines, it might even have been intentionally misleading. Lots of studies available showing what we now know about the health impacts of diesel exhaust.

[jcl]

Originally Posted by dkottum

This whole thing is about poorly written regulations with little thought of reality...

Interesting view. I thought it was about manufacturers who decided to utilize technology to defraud consumers, by knowingly violating emissions laws.

It now appears that Mercedes is aware that they have some risk, and are preparing their shareholders.

Just one more step towards the end of diesels in passenger vehicle applications.

On a positive note, VW is going heavily into electric vehicles.

[jcl]

Originally Posted by dkottum

Our EcoDiesel has some ECM protections in it to protect against engine damage until the truck warms up and under certain load conditions. That's not cheating, that's good engineering and good for the owner and manufacturer.

Emission control defeat devices may be approved by the EPA if they can be shown to provide necessary protection to the engine. That comes under the banner of good engineering, I agree, but it is incumbent upon the manufacturer to declare the existence of these devices. They have to be related to real world situations. If FCA can show that any of these devices found come under that banner, great, for FCA, and for consumers. So far, FCA hasn't been able to.

Of the eight emission control defeat devices FCA has been charged with including in the Ecodiesel software, none of which were declared, are devices that turn off the emissions controls under certain acceleration profiles, at certain vehicle speeds, and based on timers that monitor other things. Some of them work in combination, and reduce one control device while not compensating with another control device, which they could do. All of these together appear to result in greatly increased real world emissions when the vehicle is not operating on the approved test cycle, as the above devices determine that the vehicle is not being tested and so can pollute at will. That is why FCA are essentially charged with fraud. They could meet the emissions standards fine, and showed that under testing. They appear to have chosen not to do so, for those operating conditions when they could determine that the vehicle was not being EPA tested. If that turns out to be true, lock them up IMO.

[bono]

http://mobile.reuters.com/article/idUSKBN1852I4

Daimler drops bid to win approval to sell U.S. 2017 Mercedes diesels

[Retawc]

Originally Posted by dkottum

This whole thing is about poorly written regulations with little thought of reality, and then brought to a life of its own by a group of lawyers who found a hole in the regulators, smelled money, initiated emissions tests on their own and turned the results over to EPA so the lawyers could sue on the behalf of owners.

Our EcoDiesel has some ECM protections in it to protect against engine damage until the truck warms up and under certain load conditions. That's not cheating, that's good engineering and good for the owner and manufacturer.

We have a wonderful EcoDiesel truck as designed, easy of fuel, durable and powerful for its size. I believe as designed it has a very, very long engine life (like most diesels) before it has to be replaced by a newly manufactured truck and all the pollution caused in the manufacture of one.

We are basically environmentalists, like clean air and water, but this thoughtless assault on diesel engines is mostly in the best interests of the lawyers profiting from it.

You have been lucky with your ED. Standby when it dies from HPFP failure ag speed. Or shows oil in radiator, or pukes it pollution control system. These trucks are not what they appear to you. You shall see. Long engine life. Ha!
Note: I have 2 EDs. Before you say. I don't know what I am saying.