onthehunt wrote:
Quote:
You have done the right thing to help the environment also, because disabling the EGR significantly reduces PM coming out the tailpipe
Uhh.. no. Only reason egr's exist is for the environment.
You might want to get educated on the reason for the EGR before saying how good it is for the environment. NOx from automobiles causing acid rain is a myth perpetuated by so-called scientists who want to continue getting Government grants. There is no accurate data which shows a reduction in smog levels after the introduction of NOx control systems on automobiles.
The only reason that the EGR exists is because the EPA is in bed with Big Oil. Anything which will cause an engine to use more fuel is good for business. There are MUCH more effective ways to control NOx besides an EGR (as if NOx was even a real problem anyway), such as water injection. Water injection reduces NOx to virtually zero, as well as lowering Particulates to almost non existent levels also. It is Free and extends the life of the engine. The equipment costs are much less than the complex plumbing of an EGR, but the auto makers can't get Government subsidies for something not mandated by the EPA. However the biggest reason that the EPA has to not mandating it's use, is that it improves MPG over no treatment system at all. ExxonMobil doesn't like that at all.
Ha, ha, I sound like Geordi.
Why are EGR systems bad for the environment? They greatly increase the CO2 produced by automobiles. One gallon of diesel produces 22.2 pounds of CO2. Consider that there are 11000 CRD Libertys on the road. At 12000 average annual miles driven x 22mpg average MPG, that comes to 6000000 gallons of fuel producing 133200000 pounds of CO2. By disabling the EGR an average increase of about 2 MPG is realized, for a savings of 11100000 pounds or 5550 tons of CO2 annually. Assuming that the max allowable limit of 0.07 grams of NOx per mile was produced by our CRDs, that amounts to 10.2 tons of NOx for all 11000 vehicles (it is impossible that they come even close to the max limit). EGRs reduce NOx levels by approximately 50% under ideal conditions, but raise PM and VOCs by more than 50%. EPA allows roughly 10 grams of PM emission per gallon. That equates to 66 tons of PM produced by EGR equipped CRDs.
So you tell me what you would rather have....5.1 tons of NOx which is NOT hazardous to your health, or would you rather have 33 extra tons of particulate matter and VOCs which are EXTREMELY hazardous to your health (think cancer, asthma, and lung disease), along with the extra 5550 tons of greenhouse gas.
Yeah EGR valves are reeeal good for the environment.