All Cars, All the Time

My, My, My Urea (Don't have a cow, EPA)


Diesel engines will soon have to meet Tier 2 Bin 5 levels of emissions set by the EPA. Basically this will mean that diesel engines will be meeting the same requirements that gasoline engines do. A tough order to be sure and one that will mean extra cost for manufacturers. One solution is a NOx trap in the exhaust system that would cost around $1,400. A tall bill for an engine that already costs more to manufacture. The other solution involves injecting urea into the exhaust stream something that engineers call Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) at a cost of around $880. A consortium of manufacturers has simplified SCR down to AdBlue. You can even play "Where's Waldo" and find AdBlue locations around Europe.

However, back to the EPA. The EPA "no likey" urea because it requires the driver to be an active participant. The tank of urea must occasionally be filled and the EPA is worried that because there is no performance loss, the driver has little incentive to fill the tank. The EPA wants to engine to refuse to start once the tank is empty, but manufacturers are looking for something more lawyer friendly like the disabling of climate control, stereos, etc.

However, it appears that the EPA is seeing the light and is willing to set some guidelines for SCR. The EPA wants to make sure that the following items are met:

• The urea system is tamper proof and can't be disabled. Since urea is injected into the vehicle's exhaust system, the engine runs normally without it.
• Assuring that the system works in cold weather. Urea freezes at about 11 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Widespread availability of urea. It could be sold at auto parts stores, quick lube shops, dealership service departments and gas stations.
• Assurance that the urea refill interval is at least as long as the manufacturer's oil change interval so both items can serviced at the same time by the dealership.

I don't know if there is a futures market for cows' urine, but if SCR takes off there just might be a run on the stuff.