Green Motoring

Emission control

Maintenance Tips for Diesel and Petrol Vehicles

Car Yoga consists of

1. Green Motoring which is explained here
2. Vehicle Fuel Saving explained under Energy Saving of Conservation Home and
3. Transport Simplicity described in Simple Home

The vehicle which you own a car, motor cycle or truck helps you for transportation. You ensure it also helps environment. Whether it helps or not, it should not harm environment. Hence you must practice Car Yoga (or Motor Cycle Yoga).

The five Car Yoga cardinal Principles are as follows

1. It is maintained well
   
2. It causes less air pollution
   
3. It does not cause noise pollution
   
4. It is fuel efficient
   
5. It is used when it is absolutely necessary

The burning of fossil fuels, and often their incomplete combustion in engines, leads to the release of a number of polluting gases such as carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, oxides of sulphur, hydrocarbons, etc,. into the atmosphere. These gases have serious ill effects on human health, vegetation, materials, climate etc. Other reasons for increasing vehicular pollution are outdated automotive technologies and traffic management systems, the age of vehicles, and poor road conditions. Vehicular pollution can be reduced by minimizing use of personal vehicles and through efficient public transport. The use of unleaded petrol also helps in the reduction of lead pollution. Using alternative fuels such as compressed natural gas (CNG), battery operated vehicles instead of petrol or diesel vehicles, helps in reducing pollution. Maintaining vehicles in good condition can also contribute towards this.

Petrol Vehicles

• Adjust and clean the spark plug periodically.
  
• Clean the air filter and oil filter regularly.
  
• Tune the engine by adjusting correct air to fuel ratio. Clean carbon deposit from the silencer.
  
• Maintain the correct tyre pressure.
  
• Shifts gear correctly Mix recommended quantity of oil into petrol if required.
  
• Carryout the periodical maintenance as recommended by the manufacturer.
  
• Avoid breakdown maintenance.
  
• Get a valid Pollution Under Control Certificate from authorized centre Avoid congested road and rush hours Share car for car pool.
  
• Stop the engine if the vehicle is stopped for more than 2 minutes.
  
• Drive at optimum speed/recommended speed of 30 – 40 kmph for two wheelers and 45 -55 kmph for four wheelers.
  
• Lower the fuel consumption per km run, lower the pollutant emitted in to the atmosphere.

Diesel Vehicles

• Clean oil filter and fuel filter regularly.
  
• Keep the engine well tuned by setting idling speed and tappet clearance of valves.
  
• Clean the fuel injectors and set the fuel pumps according to the manufacturer’s recommendation.
  
• Check the tyre pressure regularly Clean the carbon deposit in the cylinder.
  
• Avoid use of clutch pedal as foot rest.
  
• Check free rotation of wheels.
  
• Drive with optimum speed of 40 kmph.
  
• Get a valid PUC Certificate from authorized testing centre.

Courtesy: Parivesh News letter of Central Pollution Control Board, New Delhi

Carbon monoxide content- Permissible level

• Carbon monoxide content for Petrol vehicle from 0.1% to 0.8% is considered very well.
  
• As per government norms for a new vehicle up to one year, the Carbon monoxide content can be up to 3%. If the vehicle is more than one year old the permissible limit is 4.5%.
  
• Then you need to take steps to reduce the carbon monoxide content by overhauling the engine and replacing some parts. Though you should spend, in reality you will monetarily gain as your vehicle will be better mileage. Controlling carbon monoxide in your vehicular emission is good for both your health and vehicle’s health.

Diesel Vehicle

• Permissible limit of smoke density (Diesel) Hartridge Smoke Unit (HSU) 60 and for non urban areas (HSU) 70.
• The children should insist that they will get it in to the vehicle if only the vehicle has latest pollution PASS certificate.
• There are schools that refuse to allow cars to enter their campus which don’t have the pollution pass certificate.

Vehicular Noise Pollution

1. Similarly the cars should not use pipe horn or vacuum horn. Instead they must use mild and original horns which come with the vehicle.
   
2. The next is the noise pollution caused by the audio systems in the vehicle like Radio and CD / Tape player.
   
3. The third and the most important source of noise pollution in a vehicle is the one from its exhaust. If the level of Carbon monoxide is more, the exhaust will create more noise. That could be leakage of noise due to damage of the exhaust or cracks in it. Important Start your car after opening the garage door and allowing a couple of minutes to pass. This is to safe guard you as the garage could be full of carbon monoxide. There are cases of death.

Emission Norms

Petrol Driven Vehicles

2/3 Wheelers – Carbon monoxide - 4.5 % V/V
Four Wheelers CO - 3.0 % V/V

Four Wheelers 5 Years old or 80,000 km done – CO - 4.5% V/V

Diesel driven vehicles– Smoke - 65 Haritridge Unit.