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Date: Mon, 14 Apr 2003 11:33:06 -0500
From: "Walt Kienzle" <wkienzlenopsam.net>
Subject: Re: GM to increase SAAB lineup


"Mark Gerritsma" <nl.autonopsamtmfweb.nld> wrote in message news:v9lmi0ab46pt75nopsam.supernews.com... > Walt Kienzle <wkienzlenopsam.net> schreef: > It seems that from all the developed countries the US seems to care > the less for the environment. I wouldn't go that far. Petrolium companies aren't reacting to the auto manufacturers requests for better diesel fuel. If a group of average citizens were to request it, something more might happen. But very few people have an interest in diesel passenger cars, so its not much of an issue and nobody cares. I find it interesting that 2 of the 3 most popular petrolium marketers in the region where I live are now European based: BP/Amoco and Shell. Exxon/Mobil would be the 3rd popular brand in my area. > > > Car manufacturers are trying > > to get the petroleum companies to provide a decent product that they > > can work with to meet clean air standards, but it seems like nothing > > has changed from the status quo. > > The problem is probably that 'it's a free country'-thing, which in > itself is a very good thing, but in this case stops the states and/or > federal government from mandating lower sulfur content. Lowering this > would be a great step towards lowering exhaust emissions. The states and Federal government in the US mandate quite a bit -- in some cases things that are none of their business. (I can complain quite a bit about the Federally mandated low water consumption toilets, yet I have to pay for an extra 1,000 gallons a month for water I don't use because of minimum purchase requirements. The mandate is fine and proper for people living where water is scarce, but I live next to Lake Michigan and we have plenty of water in the area.) But in this case they just haven't gotten around to it yet because of its insignificance in the market. It is kind of like putting clean air requirements on motorcycles. Why bother? Only a small percentage of people have one and can ride one, and for most of the country the weather is so poor (cold or wet) that only the most dedicated rider is able to ride more that a couple thousand miles a year. And yet motorcycle emissions laws are being put into place. Sulfer in diesel is on the radar; they will get to legislating it out eventually, unless one of the petrolium gets a marketing plan advertising that their diesel is better because of low sulfer. That might not work because only about 10% of the gas stations have diesel pumps (that percentage goes up for stations near highways frequented by trucks). > > > Also, as I understand it, such a particle filter would need > > cleaning/changing on a regular basis. Americans (except for car > > lovers like the ones subscribed to this newsgroup) are notorious for > > not following maintenance schedules. > > That's the great thing about these filters. They don't need > maintenance. Every once in a while the motormanagement just increases > the exhaust temperature, which makes the particles burn away at a > proper temperature. I learn something new every day! Walt > > Mark > >

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