VW used "Defeat software" on diesel from 2009 to 2015. They admitted to using the software to change the pollution control devices during emission testing. WOW....... They knew they where breaking US law and continued to do it. Almost 500,000 cars. VW has large iron ***** to do that one. Fines could reach 37,000 per car to VW. I know it not Ford but it is diesel.

EPA: Volkswagen used software to skirt emissions rules

 

Yea, kinda surprised to see that, given the consequences. The fact is, if, and that is IF, these were European spec cars, the environmental "damage" is nil, as theirs is plenty good. But the financial damage to VW--holy smokes!

Would you be surprised to hear about other manufacturers doing the same?

 

Saw my '95 look over at my '13 Golf and say "so which of us will be around here longer NOW, "wunderkind"?"

 

I really have to wonder what the "net impact" as far as pollutants is.

Wheat I mean by this is: You program a VW TDI to meet emissions regulations standards and reduce the MPG by lets say 50%(50% is an arbitrary number I pulled from you know where). So over the life time that "properly" tuned emissions compliant VW TDI uses 2X as much fuel. Are the emissions expended refineing that fuel, transporting that fuel, harvesting that fuel less than or equal to the extra emissions emitted by the offending jetta running efficient but "dirty" tuning?

The reason I bring up the MPG is consumer reports pulled their backing of the VW TDI models and in the article they stated that proper emissions tuning will significantly lower MPG in the Volkswagen line.

 

The impact was on NOX emissions from what I'm reading. Nobody got hurt afaik, while the fines are potentially huge. $18,000,000,000

Something like 175 people were killed by GMs defective ignition switch if that can be believed. Maybe VW didn't donate enough money to the cool kids.

 

It fails EU 6 also. EU 6 is the standard used currently in use in Europe for diesel. Its not just NOX. I looked at the study the VW 2.0 does fail in multiple areas. But NOX is the big one. Its about performance of a high millage car. The fix could make the car no fun to drive. I love our Passat TDI, and don't want them to detune the car.

As note after reading the study the Jetta's are going to be the hardest to fix because they don't use SCR/DEF but use LNT Lean NOX TRAP. This device works great for low speed but becomes over whelmed at high way speeds. I don't know how VW is going to fix one.

On the Passat they will have to use more DEF and EGR and limit power to meet the EPA standard. The car will be less fun to drive and get worse millage.

There is talk on how to backup your current PCM settings before getting your car detuned. I'm going to have a talk with a friend because it will not be the car I test drove, and then purchased. This is a violation/breach of contract. Its like switch the car I purchase for a lesser car.


Read only if you wish to sleep. The bottom of the report is where the meat is.
http://www.theicct.org/use-emissions...el-vehicles-us
Donovan

 

Thanks for that update. Yea, it would be so simple if they just tuned them to Euro standards. I think you are correct--the "fix" is going to turn them into slugs or worse.

Given that these have to pass smog in CA and several other states that have adopted CA standards, I think it's possible we will see a buy-back. You paid for a certain level of performance and MPG, along with the "clean diesel" thing. 2 out of 3 to start, now back to 1 out of 3. Neither case is what you paid for.

Stay "tuned".