The Trump EPA made two big announcements today impacting the automotive market with killing the auto start/stop feature and rolling back the 2009 Endangerment finding. Does that mean it is legal to delete diesel trucks?
First, let’s break down the announcement.
Auto Start/Stop Dead
The first and easier to explain is the removal of the “off-duty cycle credit” for the auto start/stop feature.
This is the feature found in most vehicles that turns off the engine when it is not needed such as at stop lights or sitting in traffic jams.
It has been a hot topic for many with concerns over the life of the starter and batteries.
This feature was never mandated by the EPA. Rather they offered a credit for automakers who put the systems in their vehicles with the guidelines it was set to the auto “on” setting. Removing this credit is believed to lead to the removal of these systems in future vehicles.
Automakers are now left to decide what they want to do with regards to today’s announcement.
EPA Greenhouse Gas rollback
Next is the announcement of rolling back the 2009 Endangerment finding.
The 2009 Endangerment Finding identified “six specific greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, and sulfur hexafluoride) endanger public health and welfare by contributing to climate change,” according to the EPA.
It was created while (D) President Obama was in office and commonly attributed from a landmark 2007 U.S. Supreme Court ruling Massachusetts vs the EPA when (R) President Bush was in office.
The 2009 Endangerment Finding enabled several administrations to use the EPA to target GHG emissions as part of the Clean Air Act to further their goals.
What Gases Diesel Emissions Equipment Actually Removes
Since the early 2000s, diesel engines have started implementing new emissions equipment to reduce gases emitted which have caused many diesel truck owners a lot of frustration.
Specifically, diesel truck owners point to Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) systems in 2004, Diesel Particulate Filters (DPF) in 2007 and Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) in 2010 are identified as key problem areas for diesel engines.
These systems along with the Diesel Oxidation Catalyst, Selective Catalytic Reduction and Ultra-Low Sulfur Diesel fuel work together to reduce carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbons (HC), particulate matter (PM) and nitrogen oxides (NOx). These are considered criteria pollutants and that term is very important.
Is deleting diesel emissions equipment illegal?
Now, the million dollar question. Does today’s announcement from the Trump EPA mean you can delete you diesel truck aka remove the diesel emissions equipment?
“Today’s action is only related to GHG emissions and does not affect regulations that combat criteria pollutants and air toxics,” the EPA stated in a press release.
The GHG emissions and criteria pollutants are two very different things.
Think of it this way, GHG is electric vehicles and criteria pollutants are diesel trucks. The rollback effects electric vehicles and does NOT effect diesel trucks.
Why Delete a Diesel Truck?
If the diesel emissions equipment reduces the harmful pollutants making air safer for people with health issues and less harmful for the environment, why would owners want to remove aka delete diesel emissions equipment?
The simple answer is many see these systems as reducing the reliability of their diesel engines as well as reducing the performance of the engines in terms of power and fuel economy. For these owners, the truck is their livelihood and the emissions equipment causes them increased costs to operate their trucks as well as can cause increased repair time.
When faced with thousands in repair costs versus removing a part, many diesel truck owners opt to remove the part.
They also argue over the proposed scientific benefits of the emissions equipment and challenge the conclusions the equipment serves any benefit. Plus, if the U.S. Military and first responder vehicles get waivers to not use emissions equipment, why do consumers and commercial business have to use it?
DOJ Won’t Arrest Diesel Delete Shops or Tuners Anymore
On a post on X, the DOJ announced it will no longer enforce the Clean Air Act emissions law as it relates to diesel emissions equipment.
“Today, the Justice Department is exercising its enforcement discretion to no longer pursue criminal charges under the Clean Air Act based on allegations of tampering with onboard diagnostic devices in motor vehicles.“
“DOJ is committed to sound enforcement principles, efficient use of government resources, and avoiding over-criminalization of federal environmental law. In partnership with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), DOJ will still pursue civil enforcement for these violations when appropriate.“
This comes on the heels of the pardon of Wyoming diesel mechanic Troy Lake.
Civil Enforcement?
Wait, what is civil enforcement you ask? If you read the DOJ’s tweet closely at the end, you will see where they say civil enforcement can still happen.
It turns out you can turn you neighbor in for deleting their diesel truck. There is an EPA hotline for this and the diesel truck owner has to prove their truck has the equipment on it.
Another way to do it is to sue a company like what happened to diesel influencer Dave “Heavy D” Sparks when he got sued by a Utah Physicians group and lost. Many people think the DOJ came after him. They didn’t. It was a civil lawsuit.
The post Trump EPA Said Deleted Diesel Trucks Now Legal? Kills Auto Start/Stop appeared first on Pickup Truck +SUV Talk.
