Epa Says We Don't Really Need 'low Def' Limp Mode In Trucks After All

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The EPA has been taking a hatchet to emanation regulations, which "don't mean a damn spot of quality to nan environment" according to "Home Alone 2" actor, President Donald Trump. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin conscionable announced nan latest chop astatine nan Iowa State Fair, demanding nan elimination of velocity and powerfulness simplification limp modes erstwhile diesel engines tally debased connected diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) starting pinch 2027 exemplary twelvemonth trucks. He besides powerfully urges manufacturers to update older trucks to destruct this nagware.

Admittedly, it's rather annoying to person your motortruck nerf itself conscionable because you haven't kept nan AdBlue fluid topped off. But nan annoyance is nan point. DEF mixes pinch nan gases successful a diesel engine's exhaust to trim harmful nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions. This helps forestall smog and acerb rain, according to nan EPA website, unless they've scrubbed this accusation by nan clip you publication it. Asthma sufferers are peculiarly susceptible to breathing difficulties from NOx emissions, but I don't deliberation immoderate of america bask breathing acheronian clouds of fume from a motortruck that's rolling coal.

Breaking nan law, breaking nan law

A diesel motortruck belching heavy clouds of acheronian smoke

Toa55/Getty Images

These caller regulations really break nan EPA's requirements already connected nan books for diesel vehicles utilizing DEF. From the EPA's ain website, 1 specified request is:

  • Tamper Prevention System: The strategy must beryllium designed to forestall tampering aliases bypassing DEF usage.

However, nan EPA's caller guidance to destruct annoying velocity limiters and powerfulness reductions efficaciously tampers pinch nan tamper prevention system. Is location thing preventing drivers from simply not utilizing DEF anymore? When I lived successful nan north, I drove each wintertime pinch nan TPMS informing ray connected because I was excessively inexpensive to bargain tyre unit sensors for my wintertime instrumentality and tyre set. Similarly, a dashboard informing ray for debased DEF isn't going to extremity anyone from moving without it, efficaciously bypassing DEF usage against EPA regulations. Such a informing would astir apt fail a authorities emanation test, but it's elemental capable to adhd conscionable capable DEF to unopen it off, past not refill until nan adjacent inspection.

I don't for illustration nan thought of a diesel conveyance holding itself ransom until you comply pinch its demands. However, I do for illustration breathing cleanable air, not having smog aliases acerb rain, and not suffering from an asthma onslaught erstwhile riding my motorcycle down a diesel truck. Sadly, I don't deliberation we tin spot drivers to do nan correct point without immoderate benignant of penalty, particularly if what we're asking them to do is inconvenient.

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