As a truck owner, you might be interested to know about the truck’s emission system. If your truck uses gasoline or diesel, it is very likely that it contributes to 24% to 59% of total emissions in the transport sector. This could imply that changes in your truck’s emission systems may have a significant impact on the climate.
However, you might not know how much your vehicle contributes to climate change unless you know more about its emission system. Note that the emission produced by your truck is directly proportional to its fuel efficiency and weight. In addition, the distance traveled by a truck, especially one that uses diesel fuel, also affects the amount of its emissions.
Though the subject of truck emissions can be technical, you can research aspects that might be unclear. The internet provides many resources that you can use to improve your knowledge of your truck’s emission systems. You can read how diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC) converts harmful chemicals like carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, and organic particulates into carbon dioxide and water, reducing the pollution effects of your truck’s emission systems.
Know About Your Truck’s Emission System
To learn more, here are four important things you should know about your truck’s emission system:
1. Source Of Emissions
When thinking about emissions in your truck, your primary question might be where the emissions are coming from. The primary sources of emissions in a vehicle are the exhaust, crankcase ventilation gases, and the fuel system.
Emissions from the exhaust contain remnants of atmospheric air, water vapor, a variety of compounds that are either in gas or solid form and carbon dioxide. Generally, exhaust emissions are a result of incomplete combustion of fuel.
Another truck emission source is the crankcase ventilation, which produces particulate, regulated, and unregulated emissions. You need to note that crankcase ventilation emission can result in the loss of lubricating oil and damage to surfaces and some engine elements. The crankcase ventilation has also been developed to include filters that separate particulate emissions.
The fuel system in your truck produces direct emissions by burning fuel. The concept here is that the heat and power used in a vehicle result from chemical reactions and leaks from equipment, and fuel combustion. In simpler terms, for a car to have energy, there must be consumption of fossil fuels which produce direct emissions.
2. Diagnostic Test
If it’s your first time owning a truck, the idea of testing emissions can be foreign. However, technological advancements make testing your truck’s emission systems common and simple. A technician will use a diagnostic device that’s hooked to your onboard diagnostic ports and do a reading. The technician will also inspect the vehicle to see if the diagnostic test missed anything.
Though the manufacturer should test a truck’s emission system during production, it might be time to test your vehicle if you get a warning of a system failure from the onboard computer. Once the check engine starts to light up, it’s an indication that there’s a problem with the emission controls. You might have the emissions of your truck tested when you move to another state because of regulations.
If your truck fails the test, it could indicate that something is wrong with the engine. The technician should conduct a thorough inspection to determine the specific issue and have it resolved. In most cases, the problem can be easily fixed.
3. Emission Standards
With the world focusing on climate change and good air quality, regulatory bodies have created regulations to reduce truck emissions. It’d be best for you to familiarize yourself with the standards established for truck emissions. Fundamentally, trucks that use diesel engines must ensure that they’re up to the established rules. Further, the standards aim to ascertain that emissions such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide, and sulfur dioxide are reduced.
If your truck is fairly new and manufactured after 2007, it’s likely to have been fitted with an engine that meets the emission standards. That’s because manufacturers are moving towards changes that’ll reduce emissions. Besides, technological advancements now offer manufacturers various tools that help comply with emission standards. For example, cool exhaust gas recirculation is useful in meeting the Nitrogen Oxide standard.
4. System Failure
As mentioned earlier, the check engine light is the most common sign of emission system failure. However, there are other indicators you should be aware of, such as increased gas consumption, reduced engine performance, and a persistent smell of gasoline.
First, when the emission system of your truck is compromised, you’ll realize that it has become a guzzler consuming more fuel. Once you notice a change in your fuel economy, there might be an issue with the Emission Control System (ECS), which controls the loss of gas vapor. It works by sealing the tank and engine to avoid evaporation.
Secondly, once your truck’s performance starts to fall behind, it’s a sign that there’s a problem. However, slowed performance can indicate many issues other than failure in the ECS. For instance, a problem in the ignition system can affect the performance of your truck. Let a technician inspect your vehicle to determine whether the problem is in the ECS once you experience derailment in performance.
Finally, while your truck runs on gasoline, it’s a bad sign when you can smell it inside or outside. When you can smell gasoline, it could be a sign of failure in the ECS or other systems. The smell of gasoline is a problem because emissions are treated and converted to safer gases before release. Thus, the smell of petrol indicates that the emissions aren’t being converted.
Conclusion
Emissions are part and parcel of your truck, and you can try to understand the concept despite being slightly complex. In addition, once you know the ECS of your vehicle, you’ll be in a better position to ensure that you’re compliant with regulations. Another advantage of understanding your truck’s emissions is that you’ll notice issues early and have them rectified.
