William Elliott wrote:
>
> Let me offer an alternative view.
>
> People in parts of the country where emissions are not stringently tested
>still
> are forced into compliance by having to purchase new vehicles which meet
> standards. In the big picture, this is the primary reason vehicle emission
> controls work. Older vehicles are forced off the road by attrition (though I
> admit those in the last stages of deterioration are very dirty indeed.)
>
> Vehicles over 7 years old comprise a pretty small percentage of vehicle miles
> driven. (Percentage of registered vehicles isn't the issue, only driven
> vehicles pollute! I have about a dozen cars; the ones which are driven daily
> are late models with complete and intact emission controls... and I live where
> there is no enforcement of these standards.)
>
> I'm of the opinion that draconian enforcement of emissions on older cars is
> like trying to teach a pig to sing. It wastes your time and annoys the pig.
> Any benefit is likely marginal and only serves to put power in the hands of
> politicians and money in the pocket of influential lobbies.
>
> Bill Elliott
> Lake Mills, WI
I tend to agree that older cars at least in the USA account for a very
small amount of the emissions problems and older cars should be somewhat
exempt from standards or at least the standards should be very minimal.
(we might want to stop the ones bellowing blue smoke )
About a year ago, I caught a program on one of the learning channels
that talked about an interesting product being tested in Los Angeles,
California.
Basically it was a new radiator that was coated much like a catalytic
converter. When up to operating temperatures it simply cleaned the air
the rushed through it as the car was driving. Of course, the rad was
expensive but it cleaned the air in general of pollutants that came from
all types of sources, not just cars.
Some interesting specs had been theorized about how much air would be
cleaned every day just in the LA basin area. It was incredible! I could
be wrong but it was something like the air from ground level to about a
mile in the sky would be cleansed each day in the LA area.
Regards,
Hal Rogers
H.D. Rogers & Sons
Import Auto Specialists
3418 Barksdale Blvd.
Bossier City LA 71112 USA
(318) 742-3651 phone (318) 742-5044 fax
http://www.hdrogers.com
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