emissions test

[aisa0]

so far, i've owned three cars in my life. deep down, that is how many cars i'd like to ever own in my life. i'm not sure that is going to be possible, but i did just pass one hurdle in making that a reality

Comments

Emissions and Other Trivia

[grumpygranpa]

Keeping an older car can be satisfying but it does nothing for emissions. The Emissions Test is based on the standards in place when the vehicle was manufactured, not the current requirement. While emissions standards were pretty good in 1995, they were not as stringent as they are in 2005. Since 2000, most vehicles are pretty much zero emitters except for CO2, water vapor and I think nitrogen. So driving an older car actually contributes to more air pollution than driving a new vehicle.

Also, mileage will be better. I picked up about 2 mpg between my Sportrac 2001 and my Explorer 2005. Same engine and about the same weight. Oh, and same driver with the lead foot. It is an absolute that the vehicle go up Copper Canyon at 80mph, traffic permitting.

Re: Emissions and Other Trivia

[aisa0]

icon love!

i always forget that about emissions tests, that they are based on the year of manufacture. my car is probably beyond this point, but keeping a used car can do something for emissions. if you keep your existing car and don't replace it with a new car, that is one less car built in the world. if your used car is still driveable, it will be bought by someone who is going to be driving it.

another way of saying it is that a vehicle, once built, is going to pollute a certain amount over the course of it's life. it will likely change owners, possibly several times, but the overall emission amount of the vehicle could still be thought of as attached to that vehicle, instead of the driver.

so while a new car would improve my own personal emmissions, i'm also starting an emissions process that will continue after i sell the car.

but in this particular case, i don't think anyone will be driving this car after me!

Re: Emissions and Other Trivia

[cpostrn]

Go read dad's blog. Encourage others.

Re: Emissions and Other Trivia

[grumpygranpa]

Good point about the car continuing on. Hadn't thought of it from that POV. In fact, it's the old used cars that have the greatest effect on air quality.