Here at Highway & Heavy Parts, we’re dedicated to making sure you have the best information about your diesel engine.
Something a lot of people have questions about are emissions regulations, how they impact their diesel engine, and what options they have. You’re not alone if these restrictions have left you frustrated.
In this post, we’re going through the history of diesel engine emission regulations, what their impact is, and what they mean for your engine.
A Look at the History of Emissions Regulations
When Did Emissions Regulations Start
As you probably know, emissions regulations have changed the diesel industry for on-highway applications. But these regulations aren’t new.
In fact, they go back further than you might realize.
Many mark the beginning of emissions regulations in the U.S. as 1974. It wasn’t until between 1988 and 2004, though, that they really became strict.
Enacted by the Environmental Protection Agency, the emissions regulations began to take shape for heavy-duty on-highway applications in 2002. These regulations also set up the fines for manufacturers who didn’t comply with the regulations in all engines manufactured after.
Manufacturer Response to Emissions Regulations
These new restrictions meant that companies had to reevaluate the way they built their diesel engines to ensure compliance. Individual manufacturers made changes to their engines to comply with regulations in different ways.
For many, they created an EGR (exhaust gas recirculation) engine.
Caterpillar, however, began to manufacture: the Caterpillar ACERT (Advanced Combustion Emissions Reduction Technology). This well-known engine was their response to the increasing regulations put on the diesel industry.
Further Emissions Regulations
Between 2007 and 2010, the EPA passed more regulations to help limit PM, NOx, and NMHC.
The standards set up in 2010 are currently the fully phased emissions regulations. They are sometimes called the “US 2010 Standards”.
There are other standards to limit sulfur content in diesel fuel for on-highway applications.
What Vehicles Are Impacted By Emissions Regulations?
The current EPA regulations impact all on-highway heavy-duty vehicles: they’re all subject to them.
Location matters, though. Some places have even stricter rules than the federal EPA regulations, most notably California.
California has long been a driving force behind strict emissions restrictions. Because of the emissions from busy cities like Los Angeles, there are tighter regulations there that must be followed.
Because of this, there are some manufacturers, like Caterpillar, who limit the on-highway options they produce. They instead focus on off-highway applications, where there is less regulation.
We have also seen a rise in natural gas engines to help with this issue.
If you have any questions about the impact of these laws on your diesel engine or business, give our experts a call. We can help you navigate what parts are right for your engine or job and make sure you can get the job done right the first time!
From diagnosis through delivery, we’re Highway & Heavy Parts.
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